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Words that most people knew were words all along are now officially words! The editors of the Oxford English Dictionary (hot off the heels of announcing the most annoying phrases in the English language) and the Collins English Dictionary have added a host of "new" terms to their tomes, which are generally regarded as the authorities for modern English. A few gems include "crunk" (ha), "zombie"(duh), "Yogalates" (ugh) and the deceptively exciting-sounding "blowback." But perhaps none is more exciting than "meh," that guttural grunting sound you've been making instead of saying, "I don't care." Although its origins are unclear, researchers believe "meh" owes its current degree of usage to an oft-quoted episode of "The Simpsons," which makes it even more awesomely geeky.
True, some people feel that the addition of such terms degrades the English language, but they can kiss our collective bahookie. That's right -- "bahookie" is another add. Oxford claims it's Scottish slang for "a person's buttocks," but we suspect it's some kind of elaborate joke played by exceptionally bored lexicographers. Stop trying to make "bahookie" happen, guys.
(Psst, dictionary dudes -- if you need to know how to perfectly illustrate "bahookie," you might enjoy Asylum's journalistic investigation of the world's most beautiful butt contest. Link is NSFW, obviously.)
Irritating Phrases: Reader Pet Peeves
from user "Rex": Put me down for the most meaningless phrase in the English language.That being By and large.I have no idea what that means.
NBC
from user "lois": "I am from the old school and am irritated by the use of awesome."
Everett Collection
User "williamdaley" : I hate hearing basically. Basically, that word is over used.
Fox
User "lester": I swear if you took the phrase you know out of the english language 80 of the people in this country wouldnt be able to carry on a conversation.
Getty Images
user "Arnie": By far, the worst is any variation on what's up?
Getty Images
user "Skeeter": my daughter uses is whatever. Even though she's forty, every time she opens her mouth and utters that word I want to wash her mouth out with soap.
foam, Flickr
user "Allison": Not!
Getty Images
user "meledstick": I'm "reaching out" but "can't get my arms around" "sharing" "at the end of the day", but I guess it's just my bad.
shira golding, Flickr
user "Mike W".: LIKE, every third word in a sentence.
Paramount
user "JB": Living in the NYC area I also hate this little gem: How you doing?
Getty Images
Comments:
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Tuesday 18 November
By Bob
Moo = A multi-purpose exclamation with various meanings, depending on situation and/or delivery, can express sadness, frustration, disgust, etc. Also as a very casual greeting to someone you see multiple times a day or to announce your proximity when you can't actually see the adressee. In the latter case the person acknowledges with a "moo." (Inspired by a TV commercial in which a cow vocalizes the word "moo")
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Thursday 20 November
By Lin
The worst phrase is: "No Problem"
I can't stand that when I am shopping or in a restaurant....
Wednesday 19 November
By GrammarPolice
I hope to never see the non-word "nuther" added, as in, "a whole nuther" - ewww!
Reply
Friday 05 December
By Allan
What is texting like in languages other than English? Have other cultures bastardized their word usage or is it only an American thing? I mean, wasn't the Ebonic Plague bad enough? Will we be actually teaching our kids text-speak someday in the near future? Or will our collective insanity finally do us in to a point where we don't even know how to use all this precious technology that we waste every cent on that is only adequate for a grand total of three years? I feel so sorry for children of this and every future generation.
Sunday 07 December
By songbird
I truly detest the following expressions: "it's a NO BRAINER, It's time to GO on WITH YOUR LIFE , and last but not least, IT'S ABOUT ----------- not ABOUT ---------- ! "
Wednesday 19 November
By Emmeh
YAY! I love using meh! Though I use it for a different meaning and I didnt get it from the Simpsons.Meh for me means that I dont want to answer, not because I don't care though. ^^
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Wednesday 19 November
By m
Does no one have any pride in their speech any longer. We do not have to dissolve into a culture that expects so little of ourselves. Picture the best person you can be....then be that person. Speak well, act ethically and others will think more highly of you.
Wednesday 19 November
By MAH
"Good to go" and "it's all good" have to go. They're almost as annoying as "like." Can any conversation be conducted without one of those three?
Reply
Wednesday 19 November
By Katie
I'm almost positive that "meh" derives from the Online Cartoon website "Homestarrunner.com," created by the Brothers Chaps. One of the characters, the Cheat, has his own "language," a serious of squeaky noises and voice inflection. Although not not pronounced exactly as we humans pronounce it, "Meh" is the closest approximation of one of his more commonly used words. It was first fully accepted/pronounced as a word in email 130, "Do Over," in which Homestar Runner (a "human" character) dresses up as the Cheat to annoy Strong Bad (the Cheat's "master") and/or "help him" with his do-over.
www.homestarrunner.com - main site
http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail130.html -strong bad email 130- do over
Wednesday 19 November
By Ruth
Think I will scream if I ever hear yada, yada, yada again.
Reply
Wednesday 19 November
By uswarrior1111
They failed to add the new word "pelosi"
It has the same definition as bull**sht without the vulgarity.
Reply
Thursday 20 November
By Robbie
I disagree - I find "Pelosi" to be VERY vulgar! In fact, now I have to wash my keyboard out with soap, for spelling it!
Thursday 20 November
By Robbie
I disagree - I find "Pelosi" to be VERY vulgar! In fact, now I have to wash my keyboard out with soap, for spelling it!
Wednesday 19 November
By Adrien
That's what we need, this is like the no child left behind thing. Instead of teaching people how to speak, lets include their made up words into the dictionary. Here's another one for you lol and hehe, unless they're already in there, and can anyone help me out with the word irregardless? I could have sworn the proper term was regardless, but I found that gem in the dictionary too. Maybe it's just me.
Adrien
TheNakedHippie.com
Organic Tshirts
Reply
Wednesday 19 November
By MICHELLE
regardless and irregardless are both actually real and proper grammar. they mean exactly the same thing, despite the "ir" prefix which means without. simply put, both are proper grammar and both mean without regard. what tends to bother people is the "ir" prefix which on the surface appears redundant.
Wednesday 19 November
By cheryl
The word is regardless, and irregardless is not a word, even if it's in this botched up version of a dictionary. I worked with a guy who believed he was of superior intelligence who used irregardless CONSTANTLY, and I just grinned like a Cheshire cat at his utter ignorance and stupidity!!
Thursday 20 November
By Bryan D
First off irregardless is the antonym of regardless. As much as i agree with you, talking about it over internet reply places like I am doing right now doesn't help the situation one bit. Take the proactive approach and talk directly to the companies that publish the dictionaries and those that write them. If you have any comments feel free to email me at canond08rocks@aol.com. I will gladly answer any and all questions you have about any and all subjects.
Monday 12 January
By Translator Prof
I'm trying to find out: who is "Transubstantiation" @ http://transubstantiation.wordpress.com/
Any ideas?
Wednesday 19 November
By Barb
These new additions really show where our society is headed and unfortunately it is not a good sign. What is happening people?!!
Reply
Wednesday 19 November
By Kay
Text language must go!!! Kids are writing 2 for too, 4 for for, in their compositions. They do not understand why their compositions are being handed back to them. My granddaughter is nine years old and does not understand why it text-speak is ungrammatical. I told her when I was in school if I wrote in that manner my composition would have been graded a zero with no opportunity for a do-over. She still did not understand the need for correct grammar. The teachers today must have a big headache trying to teach grade school children.
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