Millennials, It’s Time to Retire These 19 Cringey Phrases

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Millennials always come up with trendy phrases that can sometimes confuse older generations. While we typically bear most phrases, some are getting too old and becoming a little annoying. Let’s face it — there are even some phrases that don’t make much sense anymore. Maybe it’s time to let a few of these go. Here are some millennial phrases we should say goodbye to and stop using in every conversation.

Adulting

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Millennials have been using adulting to describe actions and responsibilities associated with being an adult. While it sounded cute initially, saying you’re adulting is just tooting your own horn. Why can’t we just say we’re being adults? It often feels like a way to seek validation for doing everyday tasks.

I did a thing

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We all know a friend who’ll say this before revealing some of the craziest decisions they’ve ever made. And let’s be honest; most revelations that follow this phrase rarely sound good and only come off as attention-seeking. It’s become a way to downplay questionable choices while still drawing attention to them.

Basic

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Calling something ‘basic’ is relating it to mainstream and stereotypical trends. Most millennials use basic when disagreeing with someone’s style and preferences. The slang has long become rude and encourages negativity. It’s a judgmental term that dismisses individual tastes and promotes a sense of superiority.

I can’t even

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We’ve all muttered this when we’re overwhelmed or can’t handle our emotions, but this saying has gotten too old. It sounds vague and incomplete, too, so how about we stick to being genuine and just saying we can’t handle it? Clear communication can help others understand and offer support more effectively.

Feels 

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Saying something is in the ‘feels’ was once a way to express nostalgia and convey your emotional reaction to something. But now, this phrase has overshadowed most compliments, so it no longer delivers the praise we aimed for. It’s become an overused catchphrase that fails to capture genuine emotion.

Extra

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There’s no better way to say it: extra is extra. The word introduced to express something over-the-top and overly dramatic has become what it swore to make fun of, and now it sounds like an insult anytime we try to use it. It’s time to find more precise words to describe what we really mean.

Snatched 

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This is one of the few compliments that never made much sense. Saying someone looks snatched is meant to convey that they look amazing, but it’s just confusing. If you used this as a compliment with boomers, they’d assume someone got kidnapped. Let’s stick to clear, universally understood compliments to avoid any awkward misunderstandings.

Savage 

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There was once a time when everyone used the word savage in witty situations. But the world has evolved since then; we’ve seen it as a compliment, a reaction to honesty, and an insult, which is precisely why we need to stop using it altogether. It’s time to move on to expressions that don’t carry such mixed and potentially harmful connotations.

Clap back 

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Aiming for a more literal sense, clapback was used by most high schoolers and teenagers when responding sharply with a comeback. That makes it annoying; clapback is just another word for comeback, so why not just resort to the older one? It keeps things simple and clear.

Bae 

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We admit it: we all use bae with our loved ones. For “before anyone else,” bae has been a romantic word for a long time, but it’s a bit too cute and overshadows a simpler nickname for your loved ones: babe. What once felt unique and affectionate now often sounds forced and overly trendy.

High-key 

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High-key means something we strongly and openly feel, so naturally, we’ve used this term a lot. But, the overuse of high-key is why we can’t bear it anymore. Hearing adults say high-key feels annoying and lazy now. It has lost its impact and comes across as trying too hard to sound trendy.

I have the receipts

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This started as a way to say we’ve got proof to back up our words. But people use this phrase so much that it loses its credibility and instead sounds like you’re being unnecessarily blamed for something. It’s better to just present the evidence without the drama.

Sorry not sorry

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‘Sorry, not sorry’ is a classic non-apology wrapped up in a smirk. It started as playful, but now it just skips the warmth of a real “I’m sorry.” If you’re genuinely sorry, say it, or don’t say anything at all instead of using this annoying phrase. Authentic apologies go a long way in showing genuine remorse and respect.

This is everything

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This phrase started as a way to say we’ve got proof to back up our words. But now, it’s used so much that it’s lost its punch and just sounds like you’re being accused of something unnecessarily. It’s gone from being a cool way to show evidence to feeling defensive and over the top.

Throwing Shade

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While once a clever way to describe subtle insults or criticism, it’s now overused and lacks originality. It’s become so common that it’s lost its impact, often used in situations where genuine communication would be more effective. Being direct and clear is usually more respectful and productive.

Yas Queen

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Yas Queen is something you say in response to someone who you believe is fabulous. While it’s meant to be supportive, the phrase has been used so much that it no longer feels genuine. It’s lost its original impact and now just feels overused. Let’s find more heartfelt ways to show our admiration and support.

On Fleek

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“On fleek” was all the rage when talking about perfectly shaped eyebrows, flawless makeup, and wearing a stylish outfit, but it’s safe to say that time has passed. What started as a catchy phrase quickly got overused and now feels a bit cringe. It’s probably time to let it go and just say something looks great or well done without trying too hard.

Epic Fail

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Calling every mistake an “epic fail” is a bit much. It makes small slip-ups sound way more dramatic than they really are. Also, it often comes off as mocking, which isn’t cool. Everyone messes up sometimes, but labeling it as an “epic fail” just adds unnecessary negativity.

Lit

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Remember the days when you would string words in a proper sentence when you found something exciting? Then, the millennials came and decided to replace it all with the word “lit.” While saying it would have sounded cool a few years ago, at this point, it’s just gotten boring. Not only does it reflect poor vocabulary, but it’s also too vague.

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This article was first published at Rbitaliablog.

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