Can you explain this...today?

[bionichamster]

Why is it that so many shop assistants/till operators in recent times insist on ending their questions with "today"?

e.g.
Is that all for you today?
Did you get everything you wanted today?
Do you want a bag today?
Are you paying by card today?
Are you sick of hearing me ending sentences with today....today?

I suppose it clearly avoids giving me an opportunity of winding them up by saying I do want a bag and then waiting till they find one before then saying I don't actually want it now but would like it sometime in late July. However it seems to go against the convention of a normal conversation, the 'today' is superfluous and frankly sounds daft. I can't believe that so many different staff in so many different shops have come up with this weird conversational quirk themeselves so can only imagine some ****wit consultant did the rounds of companies a few years ago telling them all to say it and trousering £1000's for the privilege. But why?

BH

[wheypat]

That's so, like, annoying.

[bungeejumper]

Hello, my name is Veejay. And how are you today?

[bionichamster]

That's so, like, annoying.

Totes!

[sg31]

People adding 'at all' to the end of questions drives me mad.

'Would you like a cup of tea, at all?'

'Would you like a carrier bag, at all'?'

'Would you like a smack in the mouth, at all?'

Just ask the question.

[kiloran]

Cold callers at the door always start with "Sorry to disturb you, but...."
Just tell me what you want. And anyway, if you were truly sorry, you wouldn't disturb me in the first place

--kiloran

[poundcoin]

iconic. People telling me something is iconic.

Iconic iconic iconic iconic. I hate the word.

One I hate hearing is eclectic .

Such as ...."I sell an eclectic range of goods"
(actual meaning .....I have a load of stuff no one in their right mind would want to buy ! )

[redsturgeon]

What about "reaching out"?
Makes me cringe every time I hear that.

John

[AleisterCrowley]

"Can I get a large skinny white decaff crappé to go?"
Can I get?
Can I get?

[bungeejumper]

"Can I get a large skinny white decaff crappé to go?"

[stevensfo]

One of my favourites is 'Outrage'.

If millions complain, it's 'reaction'.

One or two BBC luvvies or a so called celebrity complaining about something that shouldn't even be newsworthy, then it's 'outrage'.


Almost as daft is 'gone viral', meaning more than two people have seen it.


Steve

[AleisterCrowley]

If we're getting on to clichés -
Why do people die from a 'lethal cocktail of drugs'
That's offensive to cocktails, some of which are quite palatable

[Slarti]

If we're getting on to clichés -
Why do people die from a 'lethal cocktail of drugs'
That's offensive to cocktails, some of which are quite palatable

Aren't they the ones that are lethal?

Like a Zombie. Tastes wonderful and innocuous, but kills your legs.


Slarti

[oldtimer]

Come on - it's an "existential threat"!

Does anyone who writes this actually understand what existential means?
(and it doesn't mean "very large", which is how most people seem to use it)

[bionichamster]

Yesterday (not today!) The girl at the cinema ticket desk said... "that will be eight pounds today" as if it needed underlining that there was no option to pay in installments or to go back in time and pay in advance.

If you are looking for an overused and highly annoying trendy word then the current use of the word "Epic" fills me with despair! It appears to have somewhat replaced the equally irritating use of the word "Sick" as in " wow Mr your car is totally Sick/Epic" when they mean you have a nice car (not something ever likely to be said to me, thankfully).

On the telly there is a new phrase which has climed to prominence over the last year or so, it is primarily to be found in documentaries when looking for a superlative to describe an impressive object or acheivement and frankly is currently for me the most annoying phrase...ON THE PLANET!

A phrase that if used in moderation is fine but it seems to be treated by many documentary makers now as almost cumpulsory to use at least once per episode. Even Sir David Attenborough is getting in on the case, in one episode of Planet Earth II I heard it at least three times, I suppose given the nature/name of the programme there might be an excuse but it still offends my ears as such a superlative surely shouldn't be so ubiquitous and such fequent repetition undermines any impact the phrase might have been intended to have

This is the hottest place ON THE PLANET!, she is the fastest woman ON THE PLANET, It's the heaviest cheeseburger ON THE PLANET!

Pah!

BH

[macbrains]

Passion/passionate - seems everywhere (I should be so lucky! )

[Rhyd6]

At this moment in time I am finding this discussion so so so so so interesting.

R6

[saechunu]

What about "reaching out"?
Makes me cringe every time I hear that.

So, I fracking hate "reaching out" with a passion. The next version of Google's Contacts app is to be renamed ReachOuts, which arguably is better than ReachArounds.

So, regarding 'today', the consultants are just prepping shop staff for a return of inflation, the full hit being, "That's just £8 today", ie. you think today's prices are a scam you just wait until tomorrow...

[bungeejumper]

The next version of Google's Contacts app is to be renamed ReachOuts, which arguably is better than ReachArounds.

I daresay Donald Trump would settle for either approach.

BJ

[WrenChasen]

Where to begin? [drumming fingers]

1. "You alright there?"

2. Those who don't know the difference between alternate and alternative.

3. Parents referring to their youngsters as "legends".

4. "My name is Mr Smith". No it's not, sunshine; it's either Smith or John Smith. (I'm not a fan of James Bond, but at least he introduces himself correctly.)

5. So...

6. "It was my neighbours that hosted the party." WHO hosted the party...bl@@dy WHO!

7. "A women"

8. Question marks at the end of a written statement, e.g., "I was really surprised?"

Gah!