Words or phrases people say

I used to work with someone who, in a vain effort to impress upon us all how knowledgeable he was, would often begin sentences "Well, basically..."

Sounds quite innocuous but when done repeatedly it started to become obvious he was placing himself above everyone else intellectually and would kindly condescend to us poor fools by making it simple for us.

It's always the little things that start to grate isn't it!
 
On "tenderhooks" and "chomping" at the bit get on my wick a bit, as does someone saying they went to the shop and "brought" some food, I've only know 1 person that said that and she insisted it was correct to say, for example, she brought a new telly at the weekend 😡
I actually quite like some of those older phrases and like finding out the original
Meaning of them.

i.e tenterhooks were used to stretch fabric and left the fabric tense when stretched like you would be if stressed or anxious.
 
I used to work with someone who, in a vain effort to impress upon us all how knowledgeable he was, would often begin sentences "Well, basically..."

Sounds quite innocuous but when done repeatedly it started to become obvious he was placing himself above everyone else intellectually and would kindly condescend to us poor fools by making it simple for us.

It's always the little things that start to grate isn't it!
I don't really think that's the case. It's just a verbal tick. Like people who say obviously

 
Also fine-tooth is poor english. It should be fine-toothed as all the teeth are fine, or indeed the distance between the teeth is fine, either way it is plural. Anyway whats wrong with bone-comb

What's wrong with "bone-comb" I hear you ask? Nothing apart from the fact it sounds like an implement used for detangling pubic hair from around an erection.
 
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