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Wednesday 20 June 2012

Trying To Be Funny? Don’t Use These Expressions

For whatever reason, (maybe because I've been spending way too much time reading random crap on the internet when I should have been cooking/cleaning/being generally productive) I have been thinking a lot about overused expressions and words. So, as long as I'm already wasting time, I figured I would compile a list of these overused expressions. I will preface this list my admitting that I use all of these expressions, so I won't judge you if you do too.

1. The word "hilarious" is often used when the more appropriate word would be "funny". See, "hilarious" means "really really funny", but it is frequently used to describe things that are just regular-funny.

        Eg. "Did you just eat that entire box of cookies? That's kind of hilarious."

No. No it's not kind of hilarious because things can't be kind of really really funny. It just doesn't make sense. But then, maybe it's the juxtaposition of "kind of" and "hilarious" that makes it....a little bit hilarious? I don't know, but we're all over the over-the-top words. Awesome. Perfect. Fabulous. It's a big superlative party, and I want to go home.



2. “…Just Saying.” I think people think that if they follow whatever they say with “just saying”, it allows them to say whatever the hell they want (and makes them funny?)

        Eg. “You probably shouldn’t have eaten that entire box of cookies. Just saying.”

Um, no, you are not just saying, you are “just” being a douchebag.

3. “Remember the time when…”  to refer to something that happened 30 seconds ago.

       Eg. Person eats entire box of cookies. Said person then says “Remember the time when I ate an entire
       box of cookies?”

Okay, this joke is seriously overplayed and passee, and it’s not even funny. Remember the time when we used to make Remember-The-Time-When jokes? Well, that time has passed. Move on.

4. “May or may not have” used to mean “did” with a hint of guilt.

        Eg. “I may or may not have eaten the whole box of cookies”.

Yeah, it’s an annoying, overused expression, but I contend it’s still funny, and I may or may not continue to use it.

5. “And by____, I mean _____.”

        Eg. “I ate a few cookies, and by a few, I mean the entire box.”

Yes, we all know this one. We also know its not-so-distant cousin, the strikethrough,

        Eg. "I just ate a whole box of  a few cookies”.

I personally love the strikethrough, and you will likely see me overindulging in its deliciousness from time to time. And cookies too. I was the one who ate the whole box, in case you were wondering.

39 comments:

  1. I do all of these, and I love them all, and I hate myself for loving them every time I use them because I know they're terrible, but then I just can't stop also loving them. :)

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  2. Dang, I knew I was lame...I use all of these. ;)
    Except for Just sayin'...I hate that one because you're right, it just gives people an excuse to be douchey.

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  3. Yes, guilty. I'm new to the strikethrough thing though... so you can just let me off with a warning, right?

    Visiting from Bloggy Moms!

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    Replies
    1. Totally. The strikethrough is my very favourite, and I'm going to keep using it, and I'm not going to feel bad about it!

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  4. Oh and what about EPIC? Everything is bloody EPIC these days. Just saying.....

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    Replies
    1. I love that you said 'Just saying' after your comment.

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    2. Yeeeeesss! It's true. I was actually going to write in this post that the word "awesome" has hit epic proportions, and then I realized, oh crap, "epic"- that's bad.

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  5. These may not be for comic effect but are overused in my book

    awesome: Awesome is a dancer doing 15 pirouettes, Halley's comet or a fat man fitting through the eye of a needle. It is not cousin Ted's 5-alarm chili.

    no problem: why say this instead of thank you? I mean jeez, I sure hope it didn't strain your milk to hold the door for me, my two kids and 30 lbs of groceries in my Hummer of a stroller.

    We're all guilty of these, but yeah, they need a purge!

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  6. Following you back from exposure 99% blog hop.Thanks for linking up.

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  7. this really was hilarious.
    I agree... I HATE the inappropriate use of Epic. It’s like 2005’s version of x-treme. The Weather Channel had a show on during Christmas called “Epic Holiday Lights”. Really, Weather Channel? I expect more.

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  8. Ooo I was going to use the strike through on todays post! glad I didn't :-)

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    Replies
    1. I'm going to keep using the strikethrough because it makes me laugh.

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  9. Oh my goodness. I do all of them! Just sayin is probably the one I say the most.

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    Replies
    1. I think most of us do all of them. We need to start a support group. :)

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  10. I'm a fan of the strikethrough,too :-)

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  11. You caught me on #1, #2 on occasion. Coming to you from the blog hop.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by! Your blog makes me very very hungry. Mmmmm. Chocolate...

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  12. Thanks, I'm off to check out your blog!

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  13. Ha! Great advice! I'm terrible at being funny, so these are phrases I'll probably never utter :)

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    1. I wish I never uttered these phrases, but I just. can't. help. myself. :)

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  14. I occasionally catch myself saying some of these things! :)
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm following you back from What's Cooking in the Burbs. Have a great weekend!

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  15. The strike through is my favorite thing about blogging but I don't use it anywhere near enough.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, the strikethrough IS pretty great, I must admit.

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  16. Hey girl, I so agree with the "Just sayin" one. UG!

    I found you from the blog hop! You have a new follower! Would love you to check out my site: http://talesofbeautyforashes.blogspot.com

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  17. Hilarious! Joking, joking...but seriously, I suck b/c I use that all the time! Now I won't!

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    1. Oh, I use it all the time too. In all seriousness, I'm mocking myself more than anyone else in this post! :)

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  18. I love the strikethrough! And I love the "may or may not have." Hilarious - I totally get that one. And aren't you right - you see so many things that are really annoying online, don't you???

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    Replies
    1. Yes, the strikethrough is great. There are times when the strikethrough expresses what nothing else can! I have a love-hate relationship with all of these expressions, and I definitely use them all.

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  19. Agree with you on all fronts, except the strikethrough. That's just trying too hard. ;)

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  20. guilty as charged on trying a lot too hard to be a little hilarious. =)

    Aloha,
    Following ya now from the Melomomma linky. If you're up for a bit of a ride we're riding the wave of life at localsugarhawaii.com one hilarious adventure at a time, and by hilarious I mean really, really funny. =) I'd love it if you'd join us. And it's just about ALOHA Friday so our weekly hop is up and running, come add your voice to the mix.

    xo,
    Nicole
    localsugarhawaii.com

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  21. Very nice. I always get annoyed when people say they're "kinda pregnant." Um...you either are or you AREN'T. :) Great post!

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  22. I agree and am also guilty. I use all of them except the strike through. I tend to use the 'just sayin' when I know I'm being douchey so it fits.

    Visiting via the Melomomma blog hop.

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