The other day in a personal correspondence - I think it was a text - I used the phrase - "I can't wait". UGH!! I cringed! I really don't like that phrase and I don't know what possessed me to use it then, other than, no brain energy to think of something different.
If you "can't wait" for something, then just what else are you going to do? Die? Make it happen sooner? Well, I suppose some things you could make happen sooner. Food comes to mind. Like, I can't wait till noon to eat my lunch, so I'm going to do that now... at 10:15. Okay, I'll try to at least hold out until 11:30.
I prefer to say "I'm looking forward to..." Even that seems a little lame. How about - "I'll be so happy when.." Well either of those aren't great, but so much better than the very overused.. "I can't wait". When someone says that I just want to say ... "Well, honey... I think you'll have to wait. The world only spins so fast." And besides... getting all tied up in something that may or may not be coming in the future - might take your focus off all the fun of today. And in the meantime, you're wishing your life away. (so proud that I used both you're and your in that sentence - correctly!)
Another phrase that I really don't care for is "on the same page." That one is very overused in the corporate world. It's just a cute, catchy and trendy way to make sure we all understand what's going on. It in no way really verifies that everyone does understand. Your "page" may be a bit different than someone else's. Their interpretation of the conversation, or "page", may be different from yours. Instead of saying this cute little catch-phrase, why not just use the time and words to make sure each person understands the "page" line by line, point by point? Just a thought. Are we on the same page here?
Another one that I REALLY don't care for... "at the end of the day." Sort of like the old phrase - "when all is said and done.." Maybe that can be replaced with the word "ultimately" or just not said at all. It depends on the context, I suppose. It's hard to dissect that one since it's used in so many ways. A few years ago, I saw an interview with Justin Bieber and I actually began counting how many times he said that in his interview. A little boy trying to be so mature. Maybe that's when I really got sick of that one. And by that I mean - even though this one is in the center of this blog, it's at the top of my list! If you hear me saying that one, I've been abducted by aliens and you are conversing with their alien Gail replacement. Hmmm, maybe I'll make that a good code phrase for family and friends. Then they'll know something is wrong. So, if you ever call and/or text me and say "how are you doing?", and I reply with something like "at the end of the day, all is fine." Hang up, call 911. I'm being held captive.
I'd be curious to know any phrases that you hear that make you cringe. What would be the code phrase for me to call 911 for you?
Maybe you "could care less" about all this. Really? Could you? I think what you meant to say is "I COULDN'T care less." Just let that one sink in a bit.
Maybe you're just "out of pocket". What pocket were you in? Must have been a big pocket. That's not a comment on weight and girth. Most people would need a big pocket to fit in. How about just saying what you mean. "I'll be out of the office". Or, "I'll be on vacation". A few years ago, Jack and I took a vacation. A trip out west. When driving through Utah, we were "out of pocket". Actually, we were literally "off the radar". No phone service on those open desert roads. I tend to like the phrase "off the radar". I think in today's techno-frenzy world, it's very appropriate and precise and would explain to people why, for just a little while, I may not answer texts, calls or make my snarky remarks on Facebook. It's a quicker way to say - "we're in the middle of Utah". Or, "on the big hill north of Staunton". Or, "I took the back roads to Edwardsville". Besides, when I'm actually "off the radar" I really can't tell you anything, can I? So I'll tell you before my trip that I may be "off the radar", or afterwards explain that I was "off the radar". (disclaimer - we're still in the leftovers of 2020 - there is no trip!) Leftovers!? I can't wait for supper!
I'm just saying...
It is what it is, so don't throw me under the bus.
This post reminds me of how often some of these phrases irk me, especially the "I could care less" phrase...if they could care less, then the situation isn't that bad, right??? Anyway, thanks for making me laugh at the end of the day! :)
ReplyDelete