Five Words and Phrases that need to go away.

There are plenty of things that people say that are dumb, annoying or inane. I will focus on five of the biggest offenders. To facilitate understanding, I have included cutting edge pictures and illustrations.

To the list!


1. “Literally”

literally1

Here is an example: “I was so mad my head literally exploded!” No. Your head did not literally explode. If it had literally exploded, we would not have to listen to you abuse and destroy the English language. Do us all a favor and literally stop talking.


2. “Hump Day”

Wednesday is also known as Hump Day. Stop and think about that for just a second. Hump Day.

Hump Day?

HUMP DAY!

humpday

And people say that like it’s a good thing! How is it possible for a day that is called “Hump” to be good? It’s not. The word hump brings all sorts of unpleasant and unsavory images to mind. Why would we intentionally equate the middle day of the work-week with anything unpleasant?


3. “We need to love on them”

In an effort to keep this as clean and as family friendly as possible, I am going to avoid really dissecting this one. You see it, right? Why have we decided that saying “We need to love them” is so much less effective than to “love on them”? As for me and my house, there shall be no “loving on” anyone. We will love, show love, be loving, act with love, and above all share love. And all of those things will be done to and for others, not on them.

loveon

4. “I could care less”

thecareline1

If you can care less, then that means you actually care at least a little bit for whatever it is that you are talking about. Let me provide you with a very simple visual representation of what you are saying and what you should be saying. First, we will look at “I could care less”:

What you should say in this situation is “I could not care less” about soccer. Let’s go to the chart!

thecareline21

5. “It is what it is”

It’s either lazy or apathetic. Or both. Too often, we try to sum up a really complex issue or conversation with this nifty little catch-all phrase. It is nonsensical in that it is so mind-numbingly obvious. Of course IT is what It is. What else could it be? It’s like saying “The ocean is the ocean” or “Blue is blue” or “this pizza is pizza.”

Sample conversation below:
Human Being 1: Man, things are really difficult for me right now.
Human Being 2: It is what it is.
HB1: What is it?
HB2: It’s what it is.
HB1: Why is that?
HB2: Because it just is.
HB1: Oh, is it?
HB2: Yes, it is.
HB1: I don’t think it is what it is. I think it’s not what it is.
HB2: That’s not possible.
HB1: Why not?
HB2: Because it is what it is.
HB1: But what if it doesn’t want to be what it is anymore?
HB2: It can’t just decide that. It has to be what it is at all times.
HB1: But what if what it is is stupid?
HB2: It’s not.
HB1: Are you sure? There are a lot of stupid things out there.
HB2: I’m sure. It is what it is and that is enough for me.
HB1: Fine. Does that mean it’s not what it’s not?
HB2: What?
HB1: Exactly.
HB2: This conversation is boring and dumb.
HB1: It is what it is.
HB2: You are the worst.

The End.

itiswhatitis
Phill Lytle
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Phill Lytle

Phill Lytle loves Jesus, his wife, his kids, his family, his friends, his church, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, 80s rock, the Tennessee Titans, Brandon Sanderson books, Whiteheart, Band of Brothers, Thai food, the Nashville Predators, music, books, movies, TV, writing, pizza, vacation...

20 thoughts on “Five Words and Phrases that need to go away.

  • February 5, 2016 at 9:08 am
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    I literally couldn’t care less about people who say “it is what it is.”

    Reply
  • February 5, 2016 at 9:13 am
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    Instead of “Hump Day” we should say, “Oat bag, I got my oat bag now, Oat bag time for me.”

    Reply
  • February 5, 2016 at 10:22 am
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    I have noticed that “surreal” and “jaded” have both become less frequently abused so there is hope. Great post.

    Reply
  • February 5, 2016 at 10:39 am
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    Thank you for speaking truth into our lives, Phill.

    Reply
    • February 5, 2016 at 10:55 am
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      You are most welcome Mike. That was almost on this list, by the way.

      Reply
    • February 5, 2016 at 5:36 pm
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      An entire other post should be dedicated to Christian-isms, or Christian-ese, that need to go away. We can unpack that later as we live authentic lives in community…

      Reply
      • February 5, 2016 at 7:13 pm
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        Let’s all soak up the Word! Soak up God’s truths. Soak it up!

        Reply
      • February 5, 2016 at 9:49 pm
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        Popcorn prayers with praise items for traveling mercies and a HEDGE OF PROTECTION.

        Reply
        • February 5, 2016 at 11:09 pm
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          Don’t EVEN get me started on “unspoken” requests. “I have an unspoken.” Really? Then why did I just hear words coming out of your mouth?

          Reply
  • February 5, 2016 at 1:15 pm
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    I literally died from laughing so hard at this. The illustrations were the icing on the cake.

    Reply
    • February 5, 2016 at 1:24 pm
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      I’m happy to see you have figured out how to post comments from the great beyond.

      Reply
  • February 11, 2016 at 10:46 am
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    That list is “Awesome”, and by awesome I mean funny, and well done, not it’s actual definition of inspiring awe, or a sense of reverence, admiration, or fear.

    Reply
    • February 11, 2016 at 10:58 am
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      I think this list fits all those definitions.

      Reply
  • July 22, 2017 at 8:22 pm
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    I can’t believe I had forgotten about “love on” being used in this post. This is so good. Short, excellent illustrations, and 5 well identified things. And the “it is what it is’ conversation is gold.

    And the comments from our readership (and us) from when it was first released are great.

    Reply
  • July 22, 2017 at 9:04 pm
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    “Brings to the table.”

    I’m so tired of that one.

    Reply
    • July 22, 2017 at 10:45 pm
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      Don’t get me started. I patented that phrase, but no one ever pays me.

      Reply
  • March 21, 2018 at 9:25 am
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    I had forgotten that one from some time ago. Good, humorous responses. I would say some should never be used; “I could care less,” because they’re inaccurate. Others might occasionally be used for emphasis, but not overused. Just a thought.

    Reply
  • March 21, 2018 at 11:38 am
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    I’m glad this got brought back up. Ben’s last comment is LOL worthy. I can’t believe I didn’t read it or didn’t respond last time.

    Reply

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