Minor things that bother you

[Max Rockatansky]

"Reach out"  is still overuse business slang from I observe in my interactions with people.  I get asked "reach out"  to a person and/or people at least three times weekly.

Other overused office language:

"Touch base"
"Livin' the dream"
"Open a can of worms"
"Shoot you" a text/email/contact.  Don't shoot me.  I don't want to be shot.

Other incorrect office language:
"in regards to".  If you can't figure out how to say this phrase correctly, just say "about."  It accomplishes the same thing.  If you can't take the heat of complex prepositional phrases, stay out of the kitchen.
Overuse of generic nouns like "item," "element," or "component," without explaining the context.  These words might as well be pronouns.

When questions are followed by the phrase "Asking for a friend".

I do that ironically as a joke, like with "yolo," or "swag," because I think it's dumb

One that really gets to me is calling an employee a "associate"  or "team member."    Associates own stock in a company, it seems that term came from places like Walmart.  I don't play sports with my co-workers or employees so therefore they cannot be teammates.  My co-workers and employees aren't "my family"  either.

All part of the PC/feel-good psychological naming kick. They're not "used cars" they're "pre-owned" because used gives a bad vibe. 

So if a person gets divorced and starts to date again should they just say "I'm pre-owned?"

Say that to a feminist and you may not come out alive.

It's all in how you sell it.  You have to accentuate the positives a pre-owner husband and/or boyfriend.  I'm sure one could season it up with all sorts of common cliche descriptions someone would use to push the value of a used car:

Pre-owned Husband

-  Great value
-  Low years
-  Fresh coat of hair
-  Comes with a fresh set of shoes

[Rothman]

Although we roll our eyes at marketing tactics, they still work.  So, "pre-owned" is here to stay, my fellow consumers.

[jeffandnicole]

My carpool guy gets offended at some of the sales tactics used by car salesmen, both new and pre-owned. I will say it is funny though how these tactics still are still in play...and work...after decades of being used.

I think the last time someone tried using the "4 boxes" I just told him to stop. I already had it calculated on paper what the price and payment would be.

[Scott5114]

"Reach out"  is still overuse business slang from I observe in my interactions with people.  I get asked "reach out"  to a person and/or people at least three times weekly.

Other overused office language:

"Touch base"
"Livin' the dream"
"Open a can of worms"
"Shoot you" a text/email/contact.  Don't shoot me.  I don't want to be shot.

Other incorrect office language:
"in regards to".  If you can't figure out how to say this phrase correctly, just say "about."  It accomplishes the same thing.  If you can't take the heat of complex prepositional phrases, stay out of the kitchen.
Overuse of generic nouns like "item," "element," or "component," without explaining the context.  These words might as well be pronouns.

One that seems pretty common in my workplace is "utilize" in place of "use".

"The cashier will utilize the barcode scanner to input the ticket number..."

That's because "utilize" just means "use", but using three times as many syllables, so people say it when they want to sound smart or formal. These people don't realize that "utilize" carries a different connotation of "making the full use of", and should only be used (not utilized) in that context. So "The casino will utilize the cage department to sell bingo tickets" would be fine, for example, because utilize conveys the implication that the department has extra resources that could be applied toward selling bingo tickets.

But "utilizing" a barcode scanner? It scans barcodes, what untapped potential could the damn thing possibly have?

[Beltway]

One that seems pretty common in my workplace is "utilize" in place of "use".

I rarely use "utilize," but the one place that I would tend to use it is in technical or engineering terminology, like in utilizing a particular tool or computer program or design process, etc.

But "use" can work just as well.

[jakeroot]

One that seems pretty common in my workplace is "utilize" in place of "use".

"The cashier will utilize the barcode scanner to input the ticket number..."

That's because "utilize" just means "use", but using three times as many syllables, so people say it when they want to sound smart or formal.

Not only do I use "utilize" on a fairly-frequent basis, I usually spell it "utilise" (en-GB) just to doubly fuck with people.

"Shoot you" a text/email/contact.  Don't shoot me.  I don't want to be shot.

"Shoot" means a lot of things beyond "firing a bullet". I'm sure you realize this, so I'm not sure why it bothers you.

[kphoger]

Other overused office language:

"Touch base"
"Livin' the dream"
"Open a can of worms"
"Shoot you" a text/email/contact.  Don't shoot me.  I don't want to be shot.

I'll add two of mine to the list:

- circle back
- It is what it is.

[formulanone]

I've learned to just roll with it at work; you can try to create new terminology, but it's going to fall flat.

There's one I'm really tired of:

"That's above my pay grade" = company recognizes my laziness and lack of adaptability, thus pays me accordingly

[MNHighwayMan]

So if a person gets divorced and starts to date again should they just say "I'm pre-owned?"

Say that to a feminist and you may not come out alive.

I'm curious why you think that someone advocating for equality of the sexes would find that offensive.

[jeffandnicole]

But "utilizing" a barcode scanner? It scans barcodes, what untapped potential could the damn thing possibly have?

Temporary blind a potential shoplifter at Walmart that doesn't want their receipt checked?

[MNHighwayMan]

But "utilizing" a barcode scanner? It scans barcodes, what untapped potential could the damn thing possibly have?

Temporary blind a potential shoplifter at Walmart that doesn't want their receipt checked?

Considering the lasers that some of those things work with, it may not be temporary.

[Rothman]

I've learned to just roll with it at work; you can try to create new terminology, but it's going to fall flat.

There's one I'm really tired of:

"That's above my pay grade" = company recognizes my laziness and lack of adaptability, thus pays me accordingly

Eh, sometimes.  I've seen the phrase used also by people who were doormats and just did everything management threw at them when they finally realize that they are being exploited and look around at the do-nothings around them.

[Rothman]

So if a person gets divorced and starts to date again should they just say "I'm pre-owned?"

Say that to a feminist and you may not come out alive.

I'm curious why you think that someone advocating for equality of the sexes would find that offensive.

Think of a woman saying that she's "pre-owned."   I can see feminists taking issue with that.

[DaBigE]

So if a person gets divorced and starts to date again should they just say "I'm pre-owned?"

Say that to a feminist and you may not come out alive.

I'm curious why you think that someone advocating for equality of the sexes would find that offensive.

Think of a woman saying that she's "pre-owned."   I can see feminists taking issue with that.

Bingo!   

[wxfree]

People conducting two transactions at the ATM when they only need one.  Often when I'm behind someone at an ATM they check their balance and then make a withdrawal.  I make a withdrawal and get a receipt with my balance on it as part of the same transaction.

[Scott5114]

People conducting two transactions at the ATM when they only need one.  Often when I'm behind someone at an ATM they check their balance and then make a withdrawal.  I make a withdrawal and get a receipt with my balance on it as part of the same transaction.

Possible they check their balance first to see how much they can get out...?

[DaBigE]

the phase "s/he's not my __________"

[texaskdog]

"Reach out"  is still overuse business slang from I observe in my interactions with people.  I get asked "reach out"  to a person and/or people at least three times weekly. 

God I hear people say it 2-3 times within 5 minutes. 

Thank you for contacting Equifax. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any additional questions or concerns. -Jason B.

[texaskdog]

“Reach out” is still overuse business slang from I observe in my interactions with people.  I get asked “reach out” to a person and/or people at least three times weekly.

Other overused office language:

"Touch base"
"Livin' the dream"
"Open a can of worms"
"Shoot you" a text/email/contact.  Don't shoot me.  I don't want to be shot.

Other incorrect office language:
"in regards to".  If you can't figure out how to say this phrase correctly, just say "about."  It accomplishes the same thing.  If you can't take the heat of complex prepositional phrases, stay out of the kitchen.
Overuse of generic nouns like "item," "element," or "component," without explaining the context.  These words might as well be pronouns.

When questions are followed by the phrase "Asking for a friend".

I do that ironically as a joke, like with "yolo," or "swag," because I think it's dumb

One that really gets to me is calling an employee a “associate” or “team member.”   Associates own stock in a company, it seems that term came from places like Walmart.  I don’t play sports with my co-workers or employees so therefore they cannot be teammates.  My co-workers and employees aren’t “my family” either. 

Or a guest.  I'm a customer, it's okay to be a customer. 

[GaryV]

If I'm a guest, why do I have to pay?

[Beltway]

Has anyone mentioned the irritation caused by motorists who don't utilize a turn signal when it obviously would be helpful to other motorists to know what that vehicle will do?

Probably 40% or more motorists don't know when to use a turn signal.

[DaBigE]

If I'm a guest, why do I have to pay?

Kinda like asking for the check but always getting a bill? 

[Rothman]

If I'm a guest, why do I have to pay?

Kinda like asking for the check but always getting a bill? 

This is going to annoy me from now on.

[jeffandnicole]

If I'm a guest, why do I have to pay?

If you're a guest, shouldn't you have brought a gift for the host?

[Rothman]

If I'm a guest, why do I have to pay?

If you're a guest, shouldn't you have brought a gift for the host?

...or something to go along with the meal?