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Fantastic and other superlatives?

(88 Posts)
Nonnie Tue 09-Jan-18 12:19:28

Just been on livechat with my mobile phone provider. They asked for 2 digits from my PIN which I gave and the response was "Fantastic!" I was so tempted to give them the dictionary definition of the word but restrained myself.

Does anyone else get irritated by the overuse of superlatives? What is left when such words are used randomly instead of kept for appropriate use?

Won't go into the rest of the rubbish I went through before sorting out our new contract!

Nonnie Thu 11-Jan-18 15:23:12

Grandma70s but I respect the performers on stage as well and don't clap them when they come on. When the orchestra is in the pit only some of the audience see the conductor appear but we all clap him (or occasionally her) when they haven't even lifted the baton. Seems unfair to the performers on stage.

Surely such notes could be made on some sort of electronic device? Then there would be no need for anyone to stop playing to turn the page. I really must ask next time I see one of the orchestra I regularly watch.

Grandma70s Thu 11-Jan-18 15:09:38

Nonnie: soloists in classical concerts are frequently applauded as they come on. Often the leader (first violin) is as well. It’s respect, I suppose, for musicians who have got that far.

Sheet music is useful to write all the conductor’s instructions on before the concert, and making your own notes in rehearsals.

gillybob Thu 11-Jan-18 14:16:39

My middle DGD (9) is very fond of the word "Magnifique"

as in Je suis magnifique

She is too. smile

gillybob Thu 11-Jan-18 14:12:59

I was never praised as a child. Okay so I probably didn't deserve any, but I blame this for my low self esteem and the fact that I can't take even the tiniest of compliments or look in the mirror in hairdressers.

I will continue to praise every lovely little thing my DGC do. I would hate them to end up like me.

Nonnie Thu 11-Jan-18 10:36:17

Day6 you brought out a random thought when you said We destroy folks self esteem if we endlessly over praise normal activity."

Does anyone know why we clap the conductor of the orchestra when they appear before they have done anything? We don't clap whoever appears on the stage until they have given us a reason to.

Also, why in this day of technology do orchestras still have paper music? Why isn't there a system where they just tap something with whichever part of the body and the music move on?

Clearly a mind wandering day.

Newquay Wed 10-Jan-18 23:36:46

Lol! Just LOVE you guys! However, I must say I've been taught by my DDs, when I'm told something that just takes my breath away and I have no idea what to say, to say "wow! Big news!" which, of course, is perfect in that it says absolutely nothing but buys you time to think. . . . .just saying.

pollyperkins Wed 10-Jan-18 22:58:10

Oh dear. I tend to say ' absolutely' when I agree. I suppose whatever we say annoys someone!
DH was annoyed once when he signed a document and was told 'brilliant!' He replied that he'd been able to write his name for a number of years.
Actually I agree that words like fantastic are not technically superlatives and are actually adjectives, but I do know what OP means in that the words are very OTT and often described as superlatives.
I hate it generally when we are called 'you guys' too but find it amusing when our four yr old GS calls us that!

graninthemist Wed 10-Jan-18 21:45:39

"To die for* is one phrase that I really dislike. I have yet to see the view for which I would happily kick the bucket.

codfather Wed 10-Jan-18 21:24:17

My pet hate is "enjoy". I'll enjoy something if there's something there to enjoy not because I'm being told to!

Day6 Wed 10-Jan-18 16:18:53

As for 'no problem' -- that one makes me want to scream because it's used inappropriately. We were in a nice restaurant in December and when we ordered from the menu the waitress informed us it was "no problem". Why on earth should it be a problem at all when we had what was available written down in front of us? I almost said something.

Not only that, the effusive "Hi guys!" which greeted us is becoming a bother. We aren't guys. We are paying customers. Since when did "Good evening" as a greeting go out of fashion?

Day6 Wed 10-Jan-18 16:11:32

"We destroy folks self esteem if we endlessly over praise normal activity."

This is true Neilspurgeon0 I have noticed a tendency for little ones to be told how absolutely wonderful they are for no good reason. How will they cope in the real world when the boss doesn't lavish praise on them for just showing up? Many teenagers have this sense of entitlement, as though everything should be perfect in their worlds, always.

It's a dangerous game to play with little minds if you shield them from all harshness.

Fennel Wed 10-Jan-18 16:06:51

Here it's 'parfait', or 'impeccable'

Alexa Wed 10-Jan-18 15:57:22

I understand that the social purpose of cliches is group solidarity. When someone is more interested in expressing self as independent self the cliches are abandoned in favour of explicitness and conciseness.

Alexa Wed 10-Jan-18 15:52:42

I enjoy daytime TV progs about people buying houses . Most of the prospective buyers are willing to head instead of go. Prospective buyers enthuse maniacally using the standard cliches. I wonder if they have been coached by the director to do so.

VIOLETTE Wed 10-Jan-18 15:15:43

Wow ! Fantastic (sorry, couldn't resist it !!!!) AMAZING so many get worked up about such a ridiculous thing ...when there is so much more to worry about in today's society I agree with Iam64 and Rosina ............Brilliant (or even Brilyant (!) responses !!!!!! wink

Rosina Wed 10-Jan-18 14:31:11

'Brilliant' - in response to giving the lady in the opticians my name (??) and the endless, endless use of 'WOW' . That really does grate, but all in all I let it all wash over me - life's too short to get niggly about misplaced enthusiasm!

lovebeigecardigans1955 Wed 10-Jan-18 14:11:22

It's 'so, so good' gets me.

petalmoore Wed 10-Jan-18 14:01:25

Jalima1108, I loved your glaucoma story! Something similar happened to me when I was queuing to pay for meat at the butcher’s. I was next in line and since I can’t stand for long periods, I leant against a door frame next to the person who was paying, and explained, rather apologetically, why I needed to come forward before it was my turn. Without even looking at me, the cashier said: “Perfect”. Luckily the customer, who was the person I was apologizing to, smiled at me and said OK.

At least the cashier didn’t go on to ask me what my plans were for this afternoon. Check-out operators seem to be prompted to ask this, since they often do so even while talking over their shoulder to someone else. Sorry, a bit off-topic - nothing in the slightest bit superlative about people having to trot out stock phrases when they’re bored, and I feel for them. Their own plans for the afternoon have to be to repeat such phrases ad infinitum.

Atqui Wed 10-Jan-18 13:55:15

I remember a colleagues in the 70 s telling a child about (7 years old) that he was all manner of negative things. His reply "( Well you ent perfect"). No doubt we all say things that irritate other people. "Just sayin" smile

booboo Wed 10-Jan-18 13:40:09

I get really irritated with tv presenters who are paid ridiculous sums of money because they overuse descriptive adjectives like 'amazing' 'stunning' and 'wow' and then they cry.

Nonnie Wed 10-Jan-18 13:22:45

TV newsreaders do that and it infuriates me as they cannot see us at all.

Aepgirl Wed 10-Jan-18 13:13:15

Wow! Everyone on Escape to the Country says 'wow' when they go into each room. And what about 'Brilliant' (usually pronounced 'brilyant'?

MissAdventure Wed 10-Jan-18 13:01:52

My grandson starts almost every conversation with 'basically'. It drives me mad!

sarahellenwhitney Wed 10-Jan-18 13:00:32

menopaws .You and me both.
Add to that' basically' if that is how you spell it.

starlily106 Wed 10-Jan-18 12:39:27

"See you later."This is a reply I often get from someone I have just seen for the first time, and may never see again, such as a shop assistant or a bus driver.