The most overused word in English

PhilipX20 · Jan 18, 2018

My niece says 'literally' all the time and I don't think she knows what it means or the majority of people who insert 'literally' to all of their sentences. Honestly, it's kind of annoying to hear everyone say 'literally, literally, literally, literally.' It even surpasses words such as 'like' and 'totally.'
I'd have hoped in 2018 these words would have been left in the past but how unlucky.

psionandy · Jan 18, 2018

I really enjoy dropping the word "figuratively" into sentences.... especially where your niece would say literally

Hadron · Jan 18, 2018

Radio: “I mean the thing about this village is that it’s literally one of the most vibrant communities you could ever visit.”
(Man grunts)
Woman: “Are you alright dear?”
Man: “Well it isn’t! It isn’t literally vibrant! And why must everything and everywhere be constantly described as vibrant anyway! The word has a meaning and it doesn’t mean what everyone seems to think it means. Not unless the place is constantly shaking.”
Radio: “You see, we got the M1 on one side of us and the main goods line on the other. The whole place is just constantly shaking!”
Man: “Right, fine, fine.”

(John Finnemore's Souvenier Programme, Series 3, Episode 1. I knew this thread reminded me of one of his sketches).

Member243850 · Jan 18, 2018

I find myself using the words "insane" and "pork chop" more and more these days so I guess you could say I lack creativity.

I also occasionally from time to time like to use the word "pathetic" I add it to a lot of my sentences because, well sadly most things are pathetic anyway!

I also like to use the words "dangerous", "mother ****er" and as well "evil ****ing tax man".

I use the "EVIL tax man!!!!!!" a he'll of a lot but maybe with even more exclamation marks so I can fuel my insatiable anger towards gubbermints...

Oh!

I almost forgot about that one!

I LOVE the word "gubbernint" - because I ****ing hate them more than satan itself!

Even Satan takes lesson from the pros (gubbermint) because he just can't do it nearly as scary as they can

But this for some strange reason I think this can make me an unpopular guy which is really odd and kind of unfair or scary

I also love using the words "peace" and "all I have ever wanted is peace and quite!"

This I use more and more these days.

In fact when I sit around zoning out trying to be like the first Bhudda - I always try to imagine myself in a perfect flawless world where there are no insurmountable amount of losers and everyone loves everybody else and we all have good spirits and love one another unconditionally and don't let anger get the better of us! :-D

Which is a very sad and extremly distant fairytale...

But the words: "literally" and "totally"...

Naah!

I use literally occasionally / from time to time but not every 10 milliseconds.

olbriar · Jan 18, 2018

I have always liked the word bacon. It's not nearly as easy to slip into every other sentence but it's a great word, bacon.

Bg260 · Jan 18, 2018

When someone says "it is what it is". God that's annoying. No s**t Sherlock, of course it is what it is....

olbriar · Jan 18, 2018

I have a life long friend that loves to frequently say "that's the ticket." It's not a common phrase and at first it didn't bother me. Ten to twelve times an evening is not the ticket.

Another that bugs me and is more commonly used is "you've got that right" or "you know it" I already figured I had it right or I wouldn't have said it and I certainly know it and need no affirmation.

Brian706 · Jan 18, 2018

This should literally be in the rant thread. Why is this literally a topic, all of it's own? I literally can't even.

Literal Edit:

Here is literally a link to the rant thread. Have a read through it if you literally want your head to explode.

https://androidforums.com/threads/rant-thread-what-really-grinds-your-gears.288/

P.S. Sorry, I literally couldn't help myself.

Revenant Ghost · Jan 22, 2018

I always hear the words b**** and motherf***er used like there's no tomorrow. So much for intelligent conversation. :rolleyes:

Dannydet · Jan 22, 2018

"like"......?

Daniel Fernandes · Jan 22, 2018

I actually take things too literally...

luan22 · Jan 23, 2018

Revenant Ghost said:
I always hear the words b**** and motherf***er used like there's no tomorrow. So much for intelligent conversation.

These two words I also often hear and have the word "damn"

dontpanicbobby · Jan 23, 2018

Use that one all the time.
I'd say it was"like". Overused.

Deleted User · Jan 23, 2018

A colleague uses the word 'essentially' in most sentences.
I also hear the word 'nominally' used, but I don't think people really know what it means.

dontpanicbobby · Jan 23, 2018

Do you hear it at the end of sentences?

MoodyBlues · Jan 23, 2018

When *I* say literally, I literally mean literally! For example, "I was literally near death" means exactly that. But you know what? The mangling of the English language--which used to be one of my biggest pet peeves--barely affects me any more. Something about being really ill changed my perspective on a lot of things, including what irks me. Some things are just not worth getting upset over. But I literally understand like why it is what it is and some people are literally going to tear their hair out over it!

lunatic59 · Jan 23, 2018

I propose we replace "literally" with "lugubriously" because it's more fun to say.

Bg260 · Jan 23, 2018

Dannydet said:
"like"......?

erma gerd!

Deleted User · Jan 23, 2018

lunatic59 said:
I propose we replace "literally" with "lugubriously" because it's more fun to say.

I also like gobbledygook, and want to use it more in conversation

The_Chief · Feb 4, 2018

'My bad'. How utterly ignorant.

Every time I hear it I'm tempted to say, 'your bad? You have a bad? Please produce this bad of yours, as I've never seen one and I'm curious about what a bad looks like.'

'Bad' is not a noun, folks. It's not something you can have. And yes, words really mean things. 'Bad' is an adjective that describes a noun. Bad dog. Bad movie. Bad breath. But there's no such thing as a good bad or a bad bad.

So you'll sound a lot smarter (and won't pi$$ me off) by saying 'sorry, my mistake' or 'whoops - my fault' instead of 'my bad'.

Okay, my Captain Literacy cape comes off. For awhile.

dontpanicbobby · Feb 5, 2018

What are your feelings on "My bag" @The_Chief?

Favored by the Afro-American community in the US by late blooming baby boomers it was derived from the James Brown song "I've Gotta Bag of My Own".

Why this was changed to "My bad" I'm not sure but I blame it on "Seinfeld".

lunatic59 · Feb 5, 2018

Aww, c'mon Chief. Don't be 'that guy'.

:vroam:

The_Chief · Feb 5, 2018

dontpanicbobby said:
What are your feelings on "My bag" @The_Chief?

My research leads me to believe that the term "my bag" is/was a legitimate expression of guilt, having its origins in the term "caught holding the bag". This was used to describe robbers and thieves who were, literally, caught holding the bag of stolen items. That evolved to police "bagging the bad guy" and other variations.

dontpanicbobby · Feb 5, 2018

I agree.
Well eludicated sir!

no one · Feb 5, 2018

Fargin Iceholes, my most used words. Especially when those fargin corksuckers disregard literally every road courtesy and traffic law.

The most overused word in English

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