The most annoying expressions...

Telling someone who is genuinely traumatized that "it could be worse" is inappropriate
but I use it often to remind myself and other people not to sweat the small stuff.

I wouldn't say it to someone who is distraught - but I think it helps with perspective.   

You can't control the past, you can only control how you react to it.

Yes, but how small is the "small stuff" relative to ...what exactly? As I said in my post, I'm talking about the "big stuff" and people DO say it when something pretty damn "big" has happened. If they limited it to truly small stuff -- something red got in your white laundry etc -- it would be appropriate. But my point is, they don't.

"Well, obviously!"

Yes, but how small is the "small stuff" relative to ...what exactly? As I said in my post, I'm talking about the "big stuff" and people DO say it when something pretty damn "big" has happened. If they limited it to truly small stuff -- something red got in your white laundry etc -- it would be appropriate. But my point is, they don't.

Often when people say they are very upset about small stuff (red getting into white laundry), it's really big stuff that you don't know about that is getting to them.

Often when people say they are very upset about small stuff (red getting into white laundry), it's really big stuff that you don't know about that is getting to them.

Absolutely! I've started sobbing once over spilling some water while doing the dishes. Not because that usually drives me to tears but because I've been dealing with other things besides, and that just happened to be what sent me over the edge.

That's why I'm also not keen on "It could be worse!" Some people need to be reigned in, no doubt, like someone who goes on and on about how their life is over cause their laundry is pink in front of someone who just lost their job, or a parent or diagnosed with something bad. But I think for the most part people get that it could be worse and just want some sympathy and those who really think that a broken plate is the end of the universe aren't gonna be moved by others' plight anyway.

1)  "Ta"

2)  "Hit the ground running"

I don't know if this is appropriate  but I don't like it here in the states when I ask for something in the store and the clerk sometimes gives a reply "I don't have any right now but the truck comes in tonight so I will have it tomorrow"?

My complaint is I'm shopping at a business so why are they saying "I" instead of "we".
Do they own the store - no!

I know there are bigger things to think about but it does bother me.

"I couldn't be asked."

Is that the polite version of "I couldn't be arsed?"

I hate "Talk to me" as an equivalent of "Tell me about it" (but then that has a different meaning now)  It just sounds rude to me.

Is that the polite version of "I couldn't be arsed?"

No, it's the wrong version.

Today, I'm super annoyed at 'digital (business) ecosystems'.  Spent all morning tring to figure out what the heck the term means.. found that it has different possible meanings, and still working on a presentation about it, with practical ideas about implementing it at Toshiba.  Due tomorrow, natch.

Our Director keeps talking about "empirical research"  Well, I know what each of those words means, but what exactly does he mean by the phrase? And, more importantly, how does it affect me?

didn't read the whole post, so maybe this was already mentioned but I HATE the word "safe". My fiance says it all the time to mean like "cool" or "okay". It drives me crazy. I've asked him not to say it around me haha!

I hate the word 'tipsy'.  I just read it in a newspaper article and it annoyed the hell out of me.

didn't read the whole post, so maybe this was already mentioned but I HATE the word "safe". My fiance says it all the time to mean like "cool" or "okay". It drives me crazy. I've asked him not to say it around me haha!

I've never heard it used in that way before! Is it a new thing??

That's why I'm also not keen on "It could be worse!" Some people need to be reigned in, no doubt, like someone who goes on and on about how their life is over cause their laundry is pink in front of someone who just lost their job, or a parent or diagnosed with something bad. But I think for the most part people get that it could be worse and just want some sympathy and those who really think that a broken plate is the end of the universe aren't gonna be moved by others' plight anyway.

Ugh!! I just got onto DB about that today because he says that ALL. THE. TIME!!!! Then he started saying "It could be better." That made me frustrated, too!