In 2008 researchers at Oxford University listed the 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

9 – 24/7

10 – It’s not rocket science

I’m not guilty of any of these crimes against the English language. Though I may have uttered 10 in jest a few times because the last place I worked in the UK before emigrating to New Zealand was the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. At the time it was a rocket science establishment. I t’s hard to believe the compilers didn’t include ‘game changer’ which is both irritating and a cliché. Perhaps it wasn’t so overused in 2008.

My other personal hates are going forward sometimes used as moving forward and the ever-awful ‘reach out’. Do you have a phrase you hate?