"Clinically proven" oxymorons and misnomers

[minarri]

You don't need to be a grammar Nazi or anal-retentive jerk to get irritated by some phrases, I think. Are there terms you run into on a regular basis that rub you the wrong way, either because they make no sense or are just plain wrong?

Does hearing terms such as "koala bear" or "clinically proven" make you want to slap someone? Or maybe it just makes you want to laugh, like when you found out that the GameCube isn't actually a cube.

Either way, please post some of your favorite (or most-hated) incorrect phrases, hopefully so that we can all have a laugh.

 

[Berethond]

PIN number.
PIN is an abbreviation for Personal Identification Number.
Personal Identification Number number?

 

[NeutralDrow]

...okay, I get the part about koala marsupials, but what's wrong with "clinically proven" again?

I don't have many hated oxymoronic phrases that I can think of. Maybe others will jog my memory.

 

[megapenguinx]

Jumbo shrimp is the only one that comes to mind at the moment.

 

[101194]

Flamewars...No fire but you still get burned by a child with a funny smile.

 

[RavingPenguin]

PIN number.
PIN is an abbreviation for Personal Identification Number.
Personal Identification Number number?

or ATM machines
ATM is an abbreviation for Automatic Teller Machine.
Automatic Teller Machine machines?

 

[Berethond]

PIN number.
PIN is an abbreviation for Personal Identification Number.
Personal Identification Number number?

or ATM machines
ATM is an abbreviation for Automatic Teller Machine.
Automatic Teller Machine machines?

Yup, that too.

 

[Pseudonym2]

PIN number.
PIN is an abbreviation for Personal Identification Number.
Personal Identification Number number?

or ATM machines
ATM is an abbreviation for Automatic Teller Machine.
Automatic Teller Machine machines?

I just assume someone means an Automatic Transfer of Money machine. It makes me feel better.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Crash landing...that one always confused me.

Why? It's perfectly possible to land on the ground in a heap.

 

[APPCRASH]

Crash landing...that one always confused me.

Beats just crashing.

 

[The Shade]

I can't stand it when people say, "I could care less."

The saying is "I couldn't care less." This indicates that you are at the minimum caring level.

The other way makes no sense. Think about it!

 

[Berethond]

I hate it when people say, "I could care less."

The saying is "I couldn't care less." This indicates that you are at the minimum caring level.

The other way makes no sense. Think about it!

They usually call it sarcasm.

 

[The Shade]

I hate it when people say, "I could care less."

The saying is "I couldn't care less." This indicates that you are at the minimum caring level.

The other way makes no sense. Think about it!

They usually call it sarcasm.

Still doesn't make sense. Unless, where you live, everyone says it with an exceedingly sarcastic sneer.

Where I'm from, people say it and think they're saying it the proper way.

 

[Dys]

Communist dictator....just no
Also ATM machine.

 

[quiet_samurai]

Play fighting.

Why do we say the alarm goes off when it really goes on?

 

[APPCRASH]

Crash landing...that one always confused me.

Beats just crashing.

True enough, but tell me this what exactly is an original copy?

Businesses and agencies record if a document has been copied for filing and security reasons. An original copy is Document Copy Number One.

 

[yosophat]

The phrase Same Difference.
Just admit you are wrong!
A lot of people use this in the south.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Crash landing...that one always confused me.

Why? It's perfectly possible to land on the ground in a heap.

Well yes i suppose, although i think we all want to avoid doing that.

Crash landing...that one always confused me.

Beats just crashing.

True enough, but tell me this what exactly is an original copy?

Not sure, but either way, same difference.

 

[Rigs83]

George Carlin made a career pointing them out.
Here's a few
Hot Water Heater, if the water is already hot you don't need to heat it.
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect.
If we could just find out who's in charge, we could kill him.
One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like.
Go to:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_carlin.html
for more.

 

[iamnotincompliance]

If I may get my George Carlin on for a moment...

When two planes almost collide, they call it a "near miss." It's a near hit! A collision is a near miss!

*WHOOM!*

"Look, they nearly missed"

"Yes, but not quite!"

But enough of that before I'm ninja'd by someone who types faster than I do. I also take exception with "VIN number" (VIN, of course, being Vehicle Identification Number), and, tangentially, the Rio Grande River, "Rio Grande" of course translating to "Big River." The Big River River? If you insist, people in charge of naming things!

I'm missing plenty more Carlin quotes that fit here, but that requires more effort on my part.

[EDIT] Eh, close enough to a ninja, I guess. Did it really take me eight minutes to slam that out?