Top 10 Most Annoying Cliches
What Makes Cliches Annoying?
A cliche is a hackneyed and commonplace expression, phrase or idea that has become irritating through its frequent use. The most annoying cliches are either meaningless or contradictory in relation to the sentence they are attached to. Further annoyance arises when the cliché is intended to be condescending, or confirmatory of an offensive remark.
As well as meaningless, contradictory and condescending cliches, a fourth source of annoyance is their habitual use. For example, the term "you know", appears to be prolifically used by athletes to cajole audiences into deciphering their illiterate ramblings.
The following list of cliches constitutes the most intolerable fraction of the myriad phrases that plague our language and assault our ears.
10. "To Be Honest"
Example: "To be honest, I'd rather drink a diarrhea milkshake than listen to your verbal diarrhea."
Originally, this meaningless expression was used to give extra punch to a humorous or patently clear statement. Unfortunately, it's been hijacked by officious malcontents who believe everything they say deserves the same emphasis. The best reply is: "If that was honest, were you being dishonest before?"
Proper Usage
9. "Basically"
Example: "Basically, quantum theory is about small things we can't see."
This cliché is often used by scientists who are required to dumb down their words for the benefit of others. Nevertheless, some people like to think all the information they convey is equally complex and esoteric. They introduce statements with a condescending "basically" to establish how much more intelligent they are than the recipient of their precious information.
How Many Times Did He Say It?
8. "I'm Not Even Joking"
Example: "I once rode a giraffe into a shopping mall, I'm not even joking"
When communicating something serious or true that may evoke genuine surprise or laughter, it is often necessary to state you're not joking. However, some people believe they would have been the next Chris Rock had it not been for their calling to become a mailman. To avoid confusion, these expert comedians must conclude every statement with a cautionary addendum regarding jocular misunderstanding.
7. "With All Due Respect"
Example: "With all due respect, you should be shot out of a cannon into a volcanic ash cloud."
This has to be one of the most annoying cliches ever concocted. It's nearly always contradictory because it invariably precedes a disrespectful remark. Not only does the cliché give the user a feeling of immunity from retribution, but it establishes the hurtful remark as more considered and truthful than it usually is. It's a weaselly and offensive cliché used by arrogant, petulant people.
6. "Giving It 110%"
Example: "It was hard work, but I gave yesterday's maths quiz 110%"
Giving 110% is something no human being can do. If it were possible, the world would fall apart because everything made to 100% precision would become a flimsy, haphazard deathtrap. The laws of physics would disintegrate into the ether, and the fabric of reality would tumble into the shredder. People claiming to give 110% should be talked to "with all due respect".
The Man in Charge of the British Economy Gives It 110% Effort
5. "The Fact of the Matter"
Example: "The fact of the matter is I am right and you are wrong."
This condescending cliché is often used to needlessly repeat something that has been said earlier in an argument. The cliché is supposed to provide added emphasis and verity. Instead, the facile presumption of truth only serves to annoy the listener. After all, if you can’t justify your argument without using this cliché, your argument is baseless.
4. "Yeah, No"
Example: "Yeah, no, I did well on the quiz but that brown milkshake tasted horrible!"
This is without a doubt the most meaningless cliché on the list. Rather than prefacing a contradictory statement, this cliché is itself a contradiction. It usually introduces a compromise between two competing forces in an accommodating or conciliatory tone. Sometimes it is used as a space filler to escape the torment of having to think for a couple of seconds in silence.
3. "You Know What I Mean?"
Example: "That film so was cliched, you know what I mean?"
When subjected to this ear wrenching cliché, the best way to respond is: "no, I don't know what you mean", because it forces the culprit to attempt a proper explanation. The cliché is a bid to escape this kind of serious thought by coaxing the listener into agreement. As a result, replying in the negative can elicit frustration. Just remember that you're doing it for their own good.
2. "At the End of the Day"
Example: "At the end of the day, I was so bored that I fell asleep like I would at the end of the day"
This cliché is typically used to summarize a collection of events with one key statement. It can also suggest a degree of impatience, which is ironic because it often generates that reaction in others. Taken literally, it is a preposterous cliché because it should only refer to events that occur at dusk. Therefore, the real confusion arises when attempting to talk about something that actually does occur at this time (e.g. rest, sleep, smashing your head against a wall to empty it of verbal diarrhea, etc).
1. "Turned Around and Said"
Example: "So he turned around and said "you need to turn your life around", which I didn't like, so I turned around and walked away"
The most annoying cliché of all time belongs to a curious collection of persistently revolving lunatics. This meaningless expression appears to describe a person who is spiteful or angry; with the revolving motion supposedly giving their words extra momentum or impact. When overused it can be quite amusing, as you can imagine them perpetually pirouetting, whilst projecting their pointed prose at perplexed passers by.
This list of cliches must make some omissions. Here's three more combined into one ear ripping sentence: "I hear what you're saying, but lets face it, it's not rocket science."
If you think I missed any, please leave a comment. However, please note that... `to be honest with you, this article is basically just a list of cliches, and I'm not even joking about that. So with all due respect, I don't have to listen because I gave this 110%. Yeah, no, I know we have freedom of speech, but the fact of the matter is this is my article, you know what I mean? At the end of the day, you can't turn around and say otherwise.' Now that is a cliché overload!
More Wordplay From This Author
Comments
"If that's okay with you", we are going to keep doing XYZ. If it is isn't okay with me, are you going to stop? Probably not!
no offence but...
"With all due respect" i couldn't disagree more.
"At the end of the day" definitely wins silver medal for most annoying. But Gold and Bronze go to anybody beginning their statement with "So" or "Look."
Thanks for addressing an issue that I've long had "issues" with (and annoy acquaintances with regularly). One of the more ubiquitous overused words I've noticed recently is applying 'crazy' to an occurrence or statement. "That's just crazy!" Points to an underdeveloped vocabulary possibly. "At the end of the day" has been so overused in all aspects of communication. I've noticed that a lot of people who use it often pause after saying it, as if to let the listener know that "this is serious stuff." As already touched upon, "You know" and "You know what I'm saying" is Classic Filler 101, making it obvious that the speaker either is too lazy to convey their thought(s) or lack sufficient vocabulary skills and are hoping that you do INDEED know what they're talking about, saving them the exhausting effort of being more descriptive. Other annoying and overused examples: "It is what it is." "Vetted." "Iconic." "Epic." "Cowboy up." "With that being said."
There are dozens more, but at the end of the day ......... it is what it is.........You know what I'm saying?
Ever watch the Today Show? If these people could get through a show without saying "this is cool," "that's cool," "10 cool ways to do so and so,' and so forth, it would be a bloody miracle, The opening of each hour is annoying enough with the crowd outside of the studio yelling and screaming and whooooooooooing at the top of their collective lungs. The jitterbugging camera work at the opening makes me seasick. And this is controlled by NBC's news division. Walter Cronkite, Frank McGee, John Chancellor, Edward R. Murrow, et al must be spinning in their graves.
Thank you, HR.....I take a bow for your kudos.....
Well done fpherj48!
Thomas....TO BE HONEST, I have no idea why I'm on this page nor how I got here. Basically......It must be an out-of-body-experience. I'm not even joking.
With all due respect, I commented on this hub many months ago and I feel at that time, I gave it 110% of........of something.
The fact of the matter is, yeah, no, I just wanted to say, "Hello," you know what I mean?
Oh well, at the end of the day, I suppose we can all turn around and say, "Some cliches are most annoying," don't you agree?
Brilliant! - Thumbs Up and Shared on FB!
Between this and your Interview with Arvind Dixit, I have tears running down my face. I have to admit to saying the stupidest one on your list, "Yeah, no." I don't even know why it comes out of my mouth, like a toad or lizard.
Thumbs up, Funny and awesome - of to follow you and read some more!
Thomas...This makes Hub # 3, written by you, that I found very interesting and most enjoyable! I like your topics and I surely like your writing style. You have earned my "follow." Thanks for being such a great writer!
One of my favorite things to do, in my spare time, is to cruise Hubville and soak up the free education available. We are all lucky to get to know fellow writers from all over the world......while sitting in our own abodes!.........As for this hub.....I am with you 100% Bravo!! UP+++
Yes, if it's a debate and somebody is saying that every time it's their turn, it sounds like they constantly have to correct the other person and are portraying their opinion as fact. "Literally" is up there with that one, another one of these young people situations. Gotta say it to literally sound smart. Literally.
It isn't that impressive of a word, especially when people don't even use it in the right context. I'd literally light myself on fire before I used that word.
Yes Mr. Swan, you are right that it's primarily used in business and sport to try to drive production. I'm not trying to be argumentative or beleaguer the point, but it's a highly duplicitous saying because if going above and beyond is stated as an expectation, then nobody is actually able to "go above and beyond." The phrase denotes something that isn't measured and yet some places institute a performance metric for it. Everything is rigidly measured and so the entire sentiment is rendered meaningless and there never actually is any over achievement.
Basically everybody is expected to kill themselves for little or no commendation but there are, like, laws and stuff that companies have to work around.
Just saying.
I'm not sure a single word can be a cliché. I think you have some good ones on here, however. One of the most annoying cliches I see is "Live. Laugh. Love". Not that the message is bad, but it's just overused.
I loved this, Thomas. Thank you. Your example for "With all due respect" made me laugh out loud--literally, not however teenage texters mean it.
My boyfriend likes to say "The honest truth is..." What is that? What does that mean? It makes less sense than "To be honest" but is equally pointless.
I'm glad I found this one. Well done. People should be called out on these. I'm having a very hard time with "you are expected to go above and beyond" lately. How on Earth is that possible?
Or how about the one, "I'm not a racist but..." It's always followed by a racist comment!
Well done; nailed 8 of my top ones in a funny, interesting manner. Thanks
I hear most of these everyday, I pretty much tune them out. I also inevitably distrust someone who starts a sentence with to be honest.
This was rather entertaining. I'll have to watch what I say as I'm often guilty of several of these. I'm studying in Germany right now though, so I dodge this bullet altogether as German is quite a bit cleaner than English :P
Exellent hub, I just wanted to say about a cliché that irritates me and that I hear a lot is " do you get me ", I think its just as bad as the ones that i use (from your list) that i have spoken to you about when you first published this hub, lol.
I know a person who says "not to change the subject, but..." and he always changes the subject
"With all due respect" lol!
Isn't funny how many have abused this phrase!?
very good Hub, Thomas.
so, would that's what she said be one?
I'm one of the worst users if the cliches' and it made me laugh, my friends always make fun of me for saying them, my favourite cliches that i use are numbers 1, 3 &9
There are other cliches, but I believe you have listed the most common and annoying ones. Some use cliches as a deliberate affectation for effect. To others it has become an unconscious mannerism, like an involuntary facial tic when one is nervous or confuse, suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar situation;making an impromptu speech before a large gathering. Then there are the politicians who have mastered the art of the doublespeak. They use a lot of cliches when there is a need for obfuscatory and dilatory tactics, pretending to communicate but actually not saying anything. Btw, I have bookmark this for future reference. One never knows when the need for cliches might come up. :)
42