Question of the Day: What is a common saying that annoys you?

December 8, 2025

I have a lot of patience for people. I do not always have the same patience for the things people say. There are certain phrases that make me instantly aware of how close I am to losing my grip on being a civilized, well adjusted adult. And the one saying that does it every single time is quote, unquote.

It bothers me so much that I know my face changes when I hear it. I do not hide it. I cannot. Half the people who say it do not even know what it means. They fire it off like a verbal glitter bomb, sprinkled right into the middle of a sentence that did not ask for it. Worse, they usually use it wrong. They say quote, unquote, then nothing gets quoted. Nothing. They might as well clap twice and announce, I have no idea why I said that.

What really gets me, though, is how automatic it is for some folks. It is like a sticky verbal habit they have practiced without noticing. They heard their boss say it once in 2012 and now it follows them everywhere. It is the linguistic version of a pop up ad. You did not invite it, but there it is anyway, blinking in your face.

But if I am being honest, these sayings only annoy us because they poke at something deeper. They break the flow. They remind us how often people talk without thinking. And they shine a light on the fact that we all have our own weird little verbal tics too. I definitely do. My kids copy my phrases, which is how I know I need to retire a few. Nothing hits your humility faster than hearing your own sarcasm come out of a five year old’s mouth.

So maybe today’s question is a chance to notice the things we say on autopilot. The ones worth keeping. The ones worth tossing. And the ones that make us twitch every time someone else decides to share them with the world.

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💬 Your Turn

So… what is a common saying that annoys you?

Share your answer in the comments or on social. Your weird little truth might be someone else’s comfort zone.