Big in Japan

This is REALLY a must read, via themorningnews.
The top 60 most popular phrases in Japan this year. They are truly amazing!

Here's 2 of my favorites:

9. Hime-den (姫電): This abbreviation of hime-denwa (lit. “princess phone”) describes a garish style of mobile phone decoration popular with junior high and high school girls. Hime-den are typically decorated with glitter, fake jewels, ribbons, lace, and little teddy bears.

















JEALOUS! Kind of.


16. Taste for middle-aged men (karesen - カレセン): An abbreviation of “kareta ojisan senmon” (lit. “specialty in withered old men”), “karesen” refers to the particular preference some young women have for middle-aged or older men who are calm, unassuming, and lack sex appeal. This type of man is the subject of a photo-heavy book entitled “Karesen,” which profiles a host of dandy gents and extols their virtues.

WHAT!? Specialty in withered old men! Who lack sex appeal?? And there's a coffee table book!?!
Plus there's like 5 different phrases that refer to cartoon or plush mascots for everything from jury duty awareness to the 1,300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijokyo Capital.

You're Irritating Me

No not you. I like you!

But 'researchers' at Oxford University have isolated the 10 most irritating phrases in the English language. My 1st feeling is, maybe you could get to work on that cancer thing, 'researchers', and my second thought was who says what's irritating. You know?

Most of the irritating phrases seem 'irritating' mainly to grammar wonks, like the #3 choice, 'I personally' which is redundant. #10 is the iconic, 'It's not rocket science' which I personally love.

The boyfriend HATES when anyone uses the word 'literally' as hyperbole, as in, 'There were literally a million cats in that house.' A crime I'm constantly committing.

I hate how reality TV contestants seem to all be working from a semi-literate phrase book. Hearing, 'That being said' or any iteration of someone being 'thrown under the bus' grates like knee caps on cement.

I didn't find any of the list very annoying let me know what you think

1 - At the end of the day

2 - Fairly unique

3 - I personally

4 - At this moment in time

5 - With all due respect

6 - Absolutely

7 - It's a nightmare

8 - Shouldn't of

9 - 24/7

10 - It's not rocket science