Comments on: What Are Your Poison Phrase Pet Peeves?

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:50:11 +0000

I found it very interesting reading all the poison phrases that have been submitted, as well as how many of them I could identify with. One I would like to add is “yeah, but”. this is usually followed with a lengthy excuse to justify why an item has not been dealt with or the person is avoiding dealing with. (when is it spoken, it reminds me of Abbot and Costello when Costello hollars “Heeeeeey AAAAbbooooooot!” Any time Costello used this tone, he had done something that was not going to make Abbot happy. The parallel is uncanny sometimes.

By: Carla

Carla — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:09:02 +0000

A phrase that makes me cringe:

“Let me circle back with you….”
just say, I’ll let you know.
Circle back? I picture a car going around the block.

By: merylrunion

merylrunion — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:20:58 +0000

I define a Poison Phrase as something that derails a conversation rather than moving it forward. It could be inflammatory or unclear, and the same phrase that is a PowerPhrase in one context could be Poison Phrase in another. So it’s not an exact science.

Thanks for asking!

By: Anne Dryden

Anne Dryden — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:20:57 +0000

What is the definition of a “poison phrase”? It seems to me that many of the expressions listed are overused and tiresome. Does that make them poison? Some of the others depend on context and/or tone of voice. Let’s be careful about “throwing the baby out with the bath water” (to use another trite expression)!

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:40:05 +0000

“I told you already.”

Well, you know what? People don’t remember everything they are told. Grrr.

By: Janell

Janell — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:07:43 +0000

I cured my husband from saying “Bite me”. I reached over and playfully acted as if I was going to take a chunk out of his arm. That was over 6 yrs ago, and he has rarely said it since. When he does, he backs up. We both just laugh.

By: DLPoff

DLPoff — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:06:49 +0000

I, like, really don’t like, you know, like extra words that sound, you know, like unnecessary. You know? :+)

By: Majesta Lang

Majesta Lang — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:46:43 +0000

“Don’t misinterpret me”

“I am not fussing”

By: josh tolliver

josh tolliver — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:44:17 +0000

“Let me (acts/axe) you a question”

Is the speaker saying they are too ignorant to know the proper pronunciation?

Is the speaker saying you are too ignorant to know the proper pronunciation?

Or is the speaker saying they don’t respect themselves, or you enough to bother with pronunciation?

By: Charity

Charity — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:49:42 +0000

My poison pet peeve are:
1. When one replies, “I guess”
2. When my boss highlights all meetings and trainings
“MANDATORY”, sometimes it’s just general staff mtg.
3. lastly, using “you know what I’m saying?” at the end of each sentence.