The "Annoying Phrase" Thread

[Nobert]

I recall being initially confused by the line from the Hollies' song Bus Stop, "Strange to think of sweet romance, beginning in a queue."
"Strange?" thought I, "Why it's absolute poppycock! That would make it 'queet romance.''"

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Meanwhile, I just realized how much it annoys me when Americans say they "queued up" for an event rather than "lined up." One, unless you actually are British, it's pretentious as poop, and two, it's a homonym for "cued up," a phrase which to anyone with a background in broadcasting or audio production has an entirely different meaning.

Stop moaning & get in the queue.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I can't, I missed my cue.

 

[Zombie_61]

Queue? Cue? Q?

 

[LizzieMaine]

 

[GHT]

Queue, being a one consonant word is rare, I can only think of one other, and that's audio. But I tell you what isn't rare, the amount of queuing that we do. Just a question for our American cousins, when you wait in line, how do you describe a queue jumper?

 

[LizzieMaine]

"An a**hole."

 

[tonyb]

^^^^
Beat me to it.

 

[Haversack]

There's regional variation over here. Some parts of the country wait in line, others wait on line. I think 'on line' is an East Coast idiom. Growing up in Central California, it was always 'in line'.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Just a question for our American cousins, when you wait in line, how do you describe a queue jumper?

Officially, a line cutter but Lizzie's expletive is more descriptive.

 

[LizzieMaine]

"On line" is a pretty definitive New Yorkism, but over the last few decades it's become more common elsewhere in the Northeast. When I was growing up you never heard it in Maine, but it's spreading fast -- I'd guess it's about 75-25 now in favor of "in line."

When I was in school, the phrase for cutting a line was "butt in line," as in "HEY STUPID DON'T BUTT IN LINE, WAIT YA TURN!" Although, you could ask to get in front of someone by saying "Cutsies?"

 

[Hat and Rehat]

The same sentiment applies to Americans embracing an affectation substituting straightaway for straight ahead, or for, right away. Maybe it is my sheltered Midwest upbringing, but I believed the latter expressions were our way of saying, don't turn, or don't dawdle.
I confess that after moving to Colorado and spending significant time in Arizona and New Mexico, I did embrace some colloquialisms I didn't use in Chicagoland. Some are even mildly archaic here. It was how I identified, in my mind, with becoming a Westerner, which I desired.
But it had "when in Rome..." rationale behind it. Why do Americans on our soil want to sound like transplanted citizens of the UK?

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[Hat and Rehat]

"On line" is a pretty definitive New Yorkism, but over the last few decades it's become more common elsewhere in the Northeast. When I was growing up you never heard it in Maine, but it's spreading fast -- I'd guess it's about 75-25 now in favor of "in line."

When I was in school, the phrase for cutting a line was "butt in line," as in "HEY STUPID DON'T BUTT IN LINE, WAIT YA TURN!" Although, you could ask to get in front of someone by saying "Cutsies?"

Yep!
But it was "Cuts?' around Chicago.

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[LizzieMaine]

The Atlantic Monthly -- about as East Coast an institution as has ever existed -- did a survey a few years back to get to the bottom of the "on line" vs. "in line" thing, and came up with this interesting graphic:

As you can see, New York City is the nexus for "on line," but it's well represented in other Northeastern states. Vermont, however, seems to be rather militantly opposed to it. They're very independent folk in that state. I'm also surprised it hasn't penetrated more heavily into Florida, given the large population of New York expatriates there.

Seems like few people stand on line or in line in the mountain states. Guess you get right to the window quick there.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The same sentiment applies to Americans embracing an affectation substituting straightaway for straight ahead, or for, right away. Maybe it is my sheltered Midwest upbringing, but I believed the latter expressions were our way of saying, don't turn, or don't dawdle.
I confess that after moving to Colorado and spending significant time in Arizona and New Mexico, I did embrace some colloquialisms I didn't use in Chicagoland. Some are even mildly archaic here. It was how I identified, in my mind, with becoming a Westerner, which I desired.
But it had "when in Rome..." rationale behind it. Why do Americans on our soil want to sound like transplanted citizens of the UK?

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I think it's the influence of British television shows -- I know a lot of young Doctor Who fans around here who have taken to saying "Brilliant!" instead of "swell" or "ginchy" or "nifty-galifty."

Occasionally I'll come to attention, click my heels and say "It shall be done!" when told in a pompous manner to do something straight away, right away, or immediately, but I think they know I'm being sarcastic.

The Britishism that grates on me is "loo," which is the euphemism of choice among a certain set of middle-aged bourgie women around here. Their husbands are even worse, because they say "head," even though none of them has the slightest tang o' the sea about them. Me, I just call it "the can."

 

[tonyb]

...

Seems like few people stand on line or in line in the mountain states. Guess you get right to the window quick there.

More antelope than people in Wyoming, and try as you might, you can’t those critters to line up, nor respond to polls.

 

[GHT]

The Britishism that grates on me is "loo," which is the euphemism of choice among a certain set of middle-aged bourgie women around here. Their husbands are even worse, because they say "head," even though none of them has the slightest tang o' the sea about them. Me, I just call it "the can."

Don't forget your wretched exports. In Britspeak we need a crap or we are having a crap, we never take one. It's your's and you can keep it. One Americanism that crept into our lexicon is: dump. Tourists returning home from The States, brought in with them, the ghastly expression, taking a dump. No, you can take it, I'm still going to have a sh*t, not take it, when I get the urge.

 

[ChiTownScion]

I think it's the influence of British television shows -- I know a lot of young Doctor Who fans around here who have taken to saying "Brilliant!" instead of "swell" or "ginchy" or "nifty-galifty."

Occasionally I'll come to attention, click my heels and say "It shall be done!" when told in a pompous manner to do something straight away, right away, or immediately, but I think they know I'm being sarcastic.

The Britishism that grates on me is "loo," which is the euphemism of choice among a certain set of middle-aged bourgie women around here. Their husbands are even worse, because they say "head," even though none of them has the slightest tang o' the sea about them. Me, I just call it "the can."

Tatum O'Neal had perhaps the earthiest variation on that one.

 

[Edward]

You might find this amusing Edward. A photo of Portobello Market circa 1948/9. In the foreground you can see me with my parents at the said market, proof that I once had hair.
View attachment 184206

Great photo!

"Utilize" was one of the obnoxious bits of cop-speak I remember from my reporter days. "We believe the individual utilized a blunt intstrument to obtain access to the vehicle," instead of "We think this guy broke into the car with a crowbar."

I think sometimes a lot of copspeak in official reports is an attempt to sound Serious And Unbiased for the media. Even more important here in the UK, of course, where our judges can and will dismiss proceedings if they feel media coverage has fatally undermined the impartiality of the trial process, and where our contempt of court laws are strong enough that any individual or publisher found to be responsible for the same canbe charged with criminal contempt of court.

Whenever I hear it I think of the anecdote my wife told me. She was an army brat, and dad was called to London on some business and the family came along. Her and siblings were out and about and encountered an ice cream vendor, who hollered the admonition to the kiddies, "Queue up! Queue up!!" She was befuddled by the term but figured out the meaning from context.

I remember asking my dad what "a quarter" was. I knew it represented a certain quantity of sweeties - but "a quarter of what?" When I was at school in the eighties, we were taught metric exclusively, but then sent out into a world where our parents generation had never given up imperial....

The Britishism that grates on me is "loo," which is the euphemism of choice among a certain set of middle-aged bourgie women around here. Their husbands are even worse, because they say "head," even though none of them has the slightest tang o' the sea about them. Me, I just call it "the can."

Herself calls me Teddy (a derivative of Edward) or, often, just 'Bear'. I've taken to referring to our smallest room as "the woods".

 

[vitanola]

I think it's the influence of British television shows -- I know a lot of young Doctor Who fans around here who have taken to saying "Brilliant!" instead of "swell" or "ginchy" or "nifty-galifty."

Occasionally I'll come to attention, click my heels and say "It shall be done!" when told in a pompous manner to do something straight away, right away, or immediately, but I think they know I'm being sarcastic.

The Britishism that grates on me is "loo," which is the euphemism of choice among a certain set of middle-aged bourgie women around here. Their husbands are even worse, because they say "head," even though none of them has the slightest tang o' the sea about them. Me, I just call it "the can."

I've always called it "the smallest room in the house".