Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Phrases They Wish Everyone Would Stop Using

People Explain Which Phrases They Wish Everyone Would Stop Using
Kate Kalvach on Unsplash

A lot of people like to talk.

Being outgoing or an extrovert is encouraged in popular culture as an ideal, so prattling on is seen as better than remaining silent.

But is it?

Especially when all that's said are the same tired clichés that stopped being clever a long time ago.


Redditor Medium-Grapefruit-86 asked:

"What’s a saying or phrase that people should stop using?"

Not an Excuse

"If someone is being a bully, and hurting people (mentally or physically), I hate hearing the phrase 'they are probably going through a lot'."

"That is almost definitely true, but that doesn’t make it OK to do."

‐ Jeffityfeffity

Just Unoriginal

"That's it. That's the tweet."

"LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK"

"I'll wait."

- TeaRexQueen

Echo Chamber

"'Why is no one talking about this?'

"Usually it's because OP has a very closed circle of followers/people they follow, people, in fact, are talking about 'this'."

- ReceptionExpensive

With 0 Self-awareness

"*post linking to a CNN or NYT article*"

"Top comment: 'Why isn't the media talking about this?'."

- Indercarnive

Rude

"Idk if this exactly counts, but I f*king hate that stupid tv/movie cliche where someone makes a genuine mistake tying to be helpful and they’re like 'I didn’t think that…' and the other person just cuts them off like 'That’s the problem, you didn’t think!'”

- KingOf_Anarchy

“OK—“

“NO, IT’S NOT OK!”

- BigbyWolf94

"Glad I'm not the only one. The amount of time I wasted trying to explain that 'okay' in that context is used for acknowledging what the person is saying. 🤦"

- craftjensin

Not That Deep

"Let that sink in'. Specifically as a mic drop in a poorly researched Facebook meme."

- RazrbackFawn

"People often leave their kitchen basin outside in winter... Let that sink in."

- Slanderous

Don't Get Paid Enough For This Joke

"'It must be free today' when something doesn't ring up. Even worse when something just takes an extra second to scan."

"Heard that so many times as a cashier."

- 0kokuryu0

Gotten Old

"I was today years old when…"

- niebla081

Trauma Isn't Great

"'What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger'."

"Bro when ? I’m just more traumatized."

- R_May0

Not Comforting

"When my dad died, a family friend said to 12-year-old me 'God needed him more'."

"I don't get how that's meant to be comforting."

- Complete_Entry

"People say all sorts of useless things when someone experiences loss."

"I had 'God needed more angels in heaven'—which I liked, because that made sense to me. At the time, I was 5 and understood that my mom would be a perfect angel."

"However, this same thing (my mom’s death that is) made my siblings instantly stop believing in God. As no God would do this—take away our mom."

"I’m sorry you had that negative experience—it’s so hard to know what to say or what we even want to hear."

- m37an13

"When our cat died, my mother span this yarn about how God happened to be passing by our house and saw a lovely cat that would look beautiful in his garden."

"Cue a lifelong perception of God as a jealous, opportunistic predator."

- joshii87

"God just decided to steal from us but it’s ok because hE LoVeS yOu."

- ccfenix

Words have impact, but sometimes its easiest to stick to the familiar.

But if you're just talking to have something to say, but not to say anything of value, silence works equally well if not better.

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

J.K. Rowling; Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe
Mike Marsland/WireImage; Dave Hogan/Getty Images

JK Rowling Slammed After Implying 'Harry Potter' Child Stars 'Ruined' The Movies

They may have made her a billionaire, but writer and transphobic weirdo JK Rowling seems to hold little regard for the iconic child stars who led the film adaptations of her books.

Rowling is being raked over the coals for disparaging comments she made on X that seemed to be about Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the three main stars of the Harry Potter film franchise.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from Croissant Woman's TikTok video
@croissantwoman/TikTok

Former Camp Counselor Weirded Out After Getting 'Creepy' Letter From A Camper's Dad

This week, we've gathered yet another reason why women always choose the bear.

While deep-cleaning her room, TikToker Croissant Woman uncovered a letter, and a terrible memory, from the summer of 2022 when she was still working as a camp counselor. At that time, she received a letter from one of her camper's dads, asking her to be his "friend."

Keep ReadingShow less
Scott Campbell; Beyoncé
Stupid Things for Love Podcast; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Dad Shares How Beyoncé Randomly Praised His Daughter's 'Crazy Hair' At The Dentist

There's nothing more epic than a child with low self-esteem getting validated by world-renowned music icon Beyoncé.

A dad named Scott Campbell went viral on social media for his touching anecdote about how the Grammy-winning artist helped his young daughter overcome her insecurities after she was being bullied at school because of her appearance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot from Kelli Klement's TikTok video; Child stressed out on flight
@kelliklement8/TikTok; Cunaplus_M.Faba/Getty Images

Dad Sparks Debate After Leaving Young Son Alone To Sit Between Two Strangers On Flight

Can we all agree that parents who leave their children in the care of women, simply because they're women, are among the biggest "parenting fail" candidates?

TikToker Kelli Klement recently boarded a flight and sat down in a row of three seats, with another woman sitting at the other end of the row, leaving the seat between them empty.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump signing executive order flanked by children "signing" the same thing
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Ripped For Using Children As Props In Bizarre Signing Ceremony To Dismantle Education Department

President Donald Trump was criticized after he used children as props during a dystopian signing ceremony to officially begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education (DOE).

Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the DOE—an apparent attempt to bypass Congressional approval, which is required to formally shut down a federal agency.

Keep ReadingShow less