The top ten irritating phrases

Oxford compiled the following list of their top ten most irritating phrases:

1 - At the end of the day

2 - Fairly unique

3 - I personally

4 - At this moment in time

5 - With all due respect

6 - Absolutely

7 - It's a nightmare

8 - Shouldn't of (instead of "shouldn't have")

9 - 24/7

10 - It's not rocket science


Some of those certainly irritate me, although I personally welcome the use of "With all due respect," invariably used when the speaker is about to say something the hearer won't like. First, it gives one a couple of second's warning to brace oneself for the unwelcome comment, and second, by giving the courtesy of that warning the speaker reduces the extent that making the following unwelcome statement appears directly hostile.

I'd substitute "getting on with the job" as my number five instead.

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