h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I *HATE* it when people say that they "could care less". If you could care less, then you CARE! What you mean to say is that you *couldn't* care less.
It's a simple idea, but people are constantly saying it the wrong way.

It really irks me when I hear or read that.

I'm sure that my speech (and writing)is splattered with cliches, but I do hate the use of the word "basically" - particularly in pupil essays on class texts, where "the story is BASICALLY about..". Or "same difference", or "and I'm like "..." and they're like "...""
All of these are guaranteed to bring me out in a rash.

OH! 'Same difference', that's a good one! That makes no sense at ALL! I agree, that is highly irritating.

'very much so.'
what is that all about? people are always saying that when interviewed on the telly.

The most annoying use of "basically" and other essay cliches is in cheap powerpoint presentations with annoying animations. Some people have a bizzare compulsion to make words spin on a screen. One more.....

aaarrrggh - I never say basically but after reading this thread I had a meeting with my boss and couldn't stop saying it.

Hmm,

I think it started as a longer phrase, but got shortened with the end of the sentence being filled in by implication, ie

"I could care less, but I'd really have to try"