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"I just need to reach out to...." is creeping in at work.
'Reach out'? Fk off, what's wrong with "I need to contact...." or "get in touch with"?
A lot of these examples aren't an evolution of language, as is often cited by those defending it, it's Americanism bastardisation of a perfectly good langauge.
"Reach out" Yep, that really does my crust in and has come in to our office parlance in the last couple of years.
If I want to "Reach Out" I will listen to a Motown song thank you very much, in the meantime I will "contact" my esteemed colleague to "ask for assistance with said problem"
Literally is the one that annoys me. It literally doesn't make me explode with rage.
I've been in the US a while now and unfortunately have started using some of these, including "can I get" which I know it's wrong, but I'm too lazy to have the argument or have to repeat myself every time.
I draw the line at the phrase "soccer" though...
Soccer was a word I believe created by the English, but was quickly shunned by the English and the Scots in preference for good old fashioned football. However in nations where there are different codes of football ie Ireland, USA and Australia, the term soccer is often used in preference so as not to confuse the uninitiated to their codes. Gaelic football [GAA] is nearly always referred to as football over here, so the term soccer is used for Association Football or as many old timers or staunch republicans refer to as 'the English game'. However those not into the Gaelic games refer to soccer as football. I always say football [ being English ] and if talking about about GAA I say Gaelic. On no uncertain terms refer Gaelic Football to as Gaelic Soccer as some naive Yanks have quote. The end result can be quite unpleasant!
The term 'sick' for something good or 'cool' is a really daft usage of the word, but I believe now no longer fashionable, though I heard it used by a jazz musician on a radio programme the other week. My youngest nephew in England was always using it when he was still at school. It's a slang term from Australia apparently. Yes, well,say no more.
as used every 2.763 seconds by the good people of brentwood, essex.
"im not gonna lie" before everything.
"to be fair" after everything
Hmm the "to be fair one": A lot of people on the telly use that when they actually mean "To be honest".
One horrible expression which Sky now seem to be contractually obliged to insert into their programming at least once an hour is: "We'll keep you *across* XYZ". That is just pure gibberish.
As is "I'm *good*, thanks" in reply to "How the devil are you, old fruit?" The word they are looking for is "well".
Then there's the "let's take a noun, sprinkle fairy dust (when it's not being used to power cars, that is ) over it and magically turn it into a verb". Perhaps the people who do that are used to the way the German langauge allows it, but English doesn't work that way plus there are invariably existing ways of saying the same thing. Bah!
RFA (dyed in the wool humbug)
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
Hmm the "to be fair one": A lot of people on the telly use that when they actually mean "To be honest".
One horrible expression which Sky now seem to be contractually obliged to insert into their programming at least once an hour is: "We'll keep you *across* XYZ". That is just pure gibberish.
As is "I'm *good*, thanks" in reply to "How the devil are you, old fruit?" The word they are looking for is "well".
Then there's the "let's take a noun, sprinkle fairy dust (when it's not being used to power cars, that is ) over it and magically turn it into a verb". Perhaps the people who do that are used to the way the German langauge allows it, but English doesn't work that way plus there are invariably existing ways of saying the same thing. Bah!
RFA (dyed in the wool humbug)
Americans reckon there isn't a noun that can't be verbed.
Others I hate are the over-use and inappropriae use of the word 'like' as in 'I was like...'
Also 'literally' and 'absolutely'.
'Nothink' and 'loose' instead of lose.
Grrr
Ah the "literally" one... I still remember the Colemanball cartoon of that one. "A wicket could fall at literally any time," was the quote and the cartoonist had depicted two cricket teams tucking into their cucumber sandwiches as the bails mysteriously descended. Beautiful.
RFA
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
You tightwad. It's not legal tender any more so go on, let them have it! The joke's on them.
Err, now where did I put my pills?
RFA
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
You know I don't care for folk saying they are going to "meet with" somebody rather than just "meet" them.
Take this example from George Smiley in "The Honourable Schoolboy":
‘They want to meet with you at the Annexe as soon as possible. I'm to ring back by yesterday.’ ‘They want what?’ ‘To meet you. But they use the preposition.’ ‘Do they? Do they really? Good Lord. I suppose it's the German influence. Or is it old English? Meet with. Well I must say.’ And he lumbered off to the bathroom to shave.
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) over it and magically turn it into a verb". Perhaps the people who do that are used to the way the German langauge allows it, but English doesn't work that way plus there are invariably existing ways of saying the same thing. Bah! 
