What Are the Words or Sayings That Drive You Crazy?

"Where's the Beef?" "Go ahead, make my day!" "It's not you. It's me."

Certain words, catchphrases, and sayings pass through our societal vocabulary.

Eventually, they reach the point of saturation.

While they're currently in usage, you're "hip" when using them, but when they've run their course and you're still using them, you're passé or "out of touch."

Or even worse, "Not Cool."

What You Say Says a Lot About You

There are common phrases we get familiar with using.

We don't even realize we're using them.

For example, if you're working in a coffee shop, saying "thank you" to customers who say "thank you" all day long might be a little boring.

So, if a customer says thank you, your new hip response might be, "no problem."

Or if there is a complaint, you might hear, "Not my problem."

I couldn't wait for "sorry about that" to leave, but I'm even more excited about that glorious day when I no longer hear, "No Problem."

Old Habits Die Hard

Most phrases and words we use are part habit and defense mechanism. We've learned what's acceptable to say and what's not.

We don't talk to our grandparents like we would speak to our peers. Communication is hard enough without the jargon that only a few understand.

But using it makes you one of the "cool kids."

Thanks to cell phones and social media, teenagers have mastered a language foreign to most parents.

"Jelly" is short for jealous. As in, "Chloe, I'm so jelly of your unicorn phone case."

"Word" was such a saying. I'm not even sure what that even means.

Danny Glover tried unsuccessfully to use it with his son in the movie, "Lethal Weapon."

"Word" is often used with "I heard that" and "know what I'm talkin' about?"

When Did All This Craziness Start?

If you were "bad," that, of course, meant you were good.

"Crazy" didn't mean mental illness. It defined you as eccentric.

"Out of Sight" didn't mean a problem with far-sightedness.

The phrasing "23 Skidoo" was famous in the 1920s. But where did it originate?

In the early 1900s, a Death Valley town had 23 saloons (many were only tents). A visit to all, or going 23 Skidoo, meant having a very good time.

People in the 60s were "cats."

And if they were really "with it," they were "Cool Cats" or "Hip Cats." Police became the "fuzz," "five-0," or "pigs."

Your boss at work or someone of authority was called "The Man."

Perhaps you were "86ed" (thrown out) of a bar in your early years.

Money was "bread." five dollars bills were once called "fins." As in flip me a fin.

Mob wives in the 30s were "Molls." Women eventually evolved into such endearing terms as "broads," "chicks," or "skirts." Men, of course, remained "studs."

If you created a bad situation, you "Made this scene." If you "left the scene," you "cut out."

Asking if you understand would not be nearly as clear as, "Can you dig it?"

"Basically" is basically overused in basically every conversation — basically.

If you're a person who uses "like" more than like 30 times in a sentence, you're probably like a teen.

Grammarly hates those two sentences.

What's not to understand?

Some Final Thoughts on Words and Phrases

Well, Daddy-o, time for me to split this scene. I must cruise the main drag and then crash in my crib.

Catch you on the flip side if you're down with that.

Keep it real.

Don't worry; I got your back. I'm with it.

See ya later, alligator after while, crocodile.

I'm out.

Word.

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