Do you love using the phrase “let’s go back” in business meetings?
Your colleagues want you to quit.
To prepare, an online language learning platform, recently surveyed more than 1,000 people to ask them what they thought of certain trendy business jargon. “Circle back” was considered the most annoying phrase, followed by such overused doozies as “put a pin in it” (#6) and “low hanging fruit” (#8).
Related: What Do You Do When Your Coworker Is Prejudiced? Try these 5 phrases to call it out professionally.
Buzzwords you need to stop in 2023
The study also looked at what they called “modern buzzwords,” which will become popular in 2022.
The new words that survey participants wish they’d retire immediately include “new normal,” with 42% calling it the most maddening phrase of 2022, “lean in” (18%), and “jump in”. conversation’ (16%).
“Level up” and “out of pocket” were not far behind in annoyance.
HR representatives may want to take note. The survey highlighted phrases that should not be used in job postings, with 55% of participants saying they view buzzwords in job postings negatively.
Among the worst offenders are: ‘fast environment’ and ‘rock star’. The words “guru” and “ninja” thankfully also got a thumbs down.
Related:
Acceptable buzzwords
Not all business buzzwords were considered unbearable. The survey also revealed the least annoying buzzwords, such as “sync” (#1), “loop in” (#7), and an old classic, “get offline” (#9).
We’re not saying these phrases will make you popular in the office, so use them sparingly.
Here are the full lists:
Top 10 Most Annoying Buzzwords
1. Circle back
2. Work hard, play hard
3. Boots on the floor
4. Let’s put this on the table
5. Synergy
6. Insert a pin
7. Get ducks in a row
8. Low-hanging fruit
9. Reinvent the wheel
10. Throw it on and see what sticks
5 Most Annoying Modern Words
1. New normal
2. Lean in
3. Jump into conversation
4. Level up
5. Out of pocket
10 Least Annoying Buzzwords
1. Sync
2. Setback
3. Pipeline
4. Level set
5. Have it in your back pocket
6. Opportunities
7. Loop in
8. Align
9. Get offline
10. On the same page
8 buzzwords to avoid in job postings
1. As a family
2. Fast-paced environment
3. Rock star
4. Guru
5.Ninja
6. Busyness
7. Work hard, play hard
8. Put your foot in the door
