It changed the course of history

[matthyaouw]

"It changed the course of history"

No... It didn't change the course of history, it simply added to course of history, just like every other event. Changed implies a pre-destined course of history that was altered by an event.

What other turns of phrase just don't make any sense to you?
Prediction- someone will ask "how do you turn a phrase?" or words to that effect.

 

[russ_watters]

I'm not too concerned about that phrase. History can have a course. Consider a runner in a race who has an (apparently) insurmountable lead. If nothing surprising happens, he's going to win. That's an expected course. If he trips and falls, that's a course-altering event.

 

[Danger]

"If I'd known then what I know now," implies precognition, because what you know now is pretty much based upon how badly you ****ed it up the first time.

 

[mapper]

Ive always disliked "Needless to say." Had a teacher in college that said it all the time while teaching.

 

[honestrosewater]

"... not to mention [blank]." bothers me a little. I guess it makes sense if you take it to mean "... and the preceding didn't even mention [blank]," but at first glance it looks like a blatant contradiction.

 

[Gokul43201]

"it's like deja vu all over again"

 

[Danger]

"...needs no introduction," right before providing one.

"It's always in the last place I look."

 

[Bladibla]

'I don't believe destiny exists. i believe you have to earn what you get'

or something like that..

 

[Smurf]

"It's always in the last place I look."

Ok, but this one is actually meant to be satirical and contradicting.

 

[hypatia]

Dont blame the player, blame the game.

 

[mathlete]

"I could care less"

Mostly because I want to answer "how much less?"

Get it right people, it's could'NT!

 

[Danger]

"I could care less"

Mostly because I want to answer "how much less?"

Get it right people, it's could'NT!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I assume you're not a US citizen...

 

[Danger]

In my opinion... While not nonsensical in itself, it almost invariably precedes something that is.

 

[Danger]

Ok, but this one is actually meant to be satirical and contradicting.

Yes... now, once a few people like thee and me pointed out how stupid it is. You wouldn't believe how many people I've known who said it seriously.

Irregardless... requires no elaboration.
Reiterate I see this in serious writings and hear it on network news all of the time. 'Iterate' means to repeat, so... rerepeat?

 

[Moonbear]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I assume you're not a US citizen...

It's "I couldn't care less" in the US too.

One that really drives me nuts is "Literally." It's almost always followed by something that is NOT literal.

 

[Danger]

It's "I couldn't care less" in the US too.

Pardon my presumptiousness... I've never heard a Yank say that properly. Of course, I've never run into Yanks like you lot before.

One that really drives me nuts is "Literally." It's almost always followed by something that is NOT literal.

Oh yes... this was actually the first one that came to my mind, but I wanted to cite one of the more glaring examples and couldn't remember it.

How about If you ask me...? I didn't; you're the last person I'd ask; shut the hell up, you flamin' idiot!

 

[Moonbear]

How about If you ask me...? I didn't; you're the last person I'd ask; shut the hell up, you flamin' idiot!

Oh, that made me think of, "...you know." Um, no, I don't know, why don't you finish your sentence so I will know.

 

[Danger]

Oh, that made me think of, "...you know." Um, no, I don't know, why don't you finish your sentence so I will know.

3'll get you 8 that there isn't any continuation to the thought. They hope that you'll fill in the blanks and think that they're brilliant. (I know, because I depend upon it to appear clever when I have nothing to say. It's amazing how well it works. )

 

[Moonbear]

3'll get you 8 that there isn't any continuation to the thought. They hope that you'll fill in the blanks and think that they're brilliant. (I know, because I depend upon it to appear clever when I have nothing to say. It's amazing how well it works. )

Yeah, it's usually when they haven't thought through what they were going to say to the end, and just ran out of thoughts halfway through. But, I'm mean. If someone says that to me, I will say to them, very politely and innocently, "No, I don't know. Could you please explain?"

 

[Danger]

If someone says that to me, I will say to them, very politely and innocently, "No, I don't know. Could you please explain?"

Yeah... heh heh... I do that too. Just be prepared to walk away disappointed.

 

[Moonbear]

Yeah... heh heh... I do that too. Just be prepared to walk away disappointed.

Oh, I've never been disappointed. I may look sweet and innocent but I find great pleasure in watching someone squirm to come up with the answer they were hoping I'd fill in for them.

 

[Danger]

Oh, I've never been disappointed. I may look sweet and innocent but I find great pleasure in watching someone squirm to come up with the answer they were hoping I'd fill in for them.

Maybe that's a cultural difference due to my employment in a cowboy bar for so long. (I hesitate to say this, since our beloved little MIH listed her occupation as 'cowgirl', but I define a cowboy as a biker with the brains kicked out.) They don't even try to think something up. You wouldn't believe some of the things that I said to obnoxious customers just for my personal satisfaction, and then had an intellectual friend say 'how the hell did you get away with that?'. Easy, says I; he didn't understand it. For instance, in a very complementary tone of voice praising a fellow for being a misanthropic troglodyte. He blinked a couple of times, smiled, and said 'hey, thanks man'.

 

[Moonbear]

Maybe that's a cultural difference due to my employment in a cowboy bar for so long. (I hesitate to say this, since our beloved little MIH listed her occupation as 'cowgirl', but I define a cowboy as a biker with the brains kicked out.) They don't even try to think something up. You wouldn't believe some of the things that I said to obnoxious customers just for my personal satisfaction, and then had an intellectual friend say 'how the hell did you get away with that?'. Easy, says I; he didn't understand it. For instance, in a very complementary tone of voice praising a fellow for being a misanthropic troglodyte. He blinked a couple of times, smiled, and said 'hey, thanks man'.

Oh, I love doing that! The key is to have someone else around who does understand what you just did so you can laugh about it with them later. I think it's called "diplomacy."

 

[Danger]

Oh, I love doing that! The key is to have someone else around who does understand what you just did so you can laugh about it with them later. I think it's called "diplomacy."

Sort of like we're doing with Franz and BicycleTree?

 

[Smurf]

One that really gets me is "You have no idea" or any equivelant, especially when it comes directly after an explanation for emphasis. YOU JUST TOLD ME! I HAVE A PERFECTLY CLEAR IDEA!

 

[Danger]

Good'n, Smurf!

 

[JasonRox]

I never really thought about quotes or lines that are annoying.

I think the one I hate most is ...

"The NHL is on strike..."

We figured that one out a loonngg time ago. Fox viewers might need the constant repetition, but we Canadians don't ... most of the time. :)

Also, the most annoying thing is people talking about things they know nothing about. This happens a lot with things regarding politics and science. Most people think they know something about politics because they "hate" Bush, like me, but never really look at both sides of the story, or neither side of the story. Science is also a popular one, but I'm sure you experienced this MORE than enough.

I think the worst quote of all time is ...

"Math sucks..."
"Math doesn't apply to life..."

... anything along those lines. First of all, how can you say "Math sucks" when no one actually learns mathematics. I'm a math major and I'm not even learning math. I'm just waiting for all this boring crap to be done with. They never even discuss math concepts. I just wasted thousands of dollars on a school who partially smokes crack.

Anyways, some of you may know I hate my school, so I will not carry on.

I mean LITERALLY the school sucks, you know...

 

[jma2001]

"I could care less"

Mostly because I want to answer "how much less?"

Get it right people, it's could'NT!

That one used to bother me a lot, too, but then it occurred to me that it makes sense if the speaker is deliberately using it in a sardonic way.

That is, someone is boring you with all the sordid details of the Michael Jackson trial. You reply "I could care less", meaning (sardonically): "Yeah, I could care less, I don't know how, but it is theoretically possible, I suppose."

Of course, that interpretation might be giving the mis-users of the phrase more credit than they deserve ...

 

[Danger]

Also, the most annoying thing is people talking about things they know nothing about.

One of my favourite sayings was on a shirt or mug or something. I've added it to my home-made button library. "You people who think that you know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."

 

[Moonbear]

I think the one I hate most is ...

"The NHL is on strike..."

LOL! I didn't know about that until maybe a month ago when someone mentioned the NHL strike and I said something incredibly insightful like, "They are?" I don't follow sports at all and never noticed one missing. Now how do we convince all the others to go on strike?

 

[Danger]

how do we convince all the others to go on strike?

They probably never will, since they've seen how well this one went over...

 

[matthyaouw]

Some more:

"I'm not going to dignify that with a response."- That was a response.
"I don't mean to offend you, but..."- Yes you do. If you know that you are about to offend me and carry on purposefully, you have every intention of offending me, whether or not it pleases you.

 

[Danger]

She has a great personality... (I guess this actually belongs on MIH's thread...)

 

[Informal Logic]

"To be honest" implies one isn't usually honest, so I say "to be candid" --and because my name isn't "Frank."

 

[SOS2008]

Some more: ..."I don't mean to offend you, but..."- Yes you do. If you know that you are about to offend me and carry on purposefully, you have every intention of offending me, whether or not it pleases you.

Totally -- I knew someone who would say "I don't mean to be mean" and then go on to say something mean.

I like "cuter than a bug's ear" though it's meant to be goofy because most bugs don't have ears...