...the kind that exasperate me
We all use them, those clichés that help us to 'let off steam' but what do they actually mean? Here are just a few examples.
Good Grief! How can grief ever be good? It makes no sense to me.
Good Lord! There are, no doubt, many Lords who are, indeed, good, but why do we have to shout out about their goodness when we're exasperated?
Gordon Bennet! Most people are aware that he was once a politician and I can understand why people might want to exclaim a politician's name when they feel exasperated but we could at least use a more up-to-date example. I can think of a few politicians from recent times who deserve this accolade but I won't name names.
Stone the crows! I like this one. It's not because I would ever stone a crow. They may be large, raucous birds but I wouldn't ever hurt one. It's because I imagine myself doffing a flat cap whilst saying it and adding, 'Cor blimey, Guvnor!'
Modern ones are every bit as exasperating as the older, well-worn examples above:
OMG or as Daughter tweeted the other day, OMGeeeeee. I suspect it was tweeted with a degree of irony, but even so!
What expressions of exasperation exasperate you?
