Every generation has its quirks, but sometimes, these can be more annoying than they may realize. Today, we’re looking at 25 phrases that millennials use that are guaranteed to rub people the wrong way. But we’re not here to judge anyone, as this is just a bit of fun.
OK, Boomer
“OK Boomer” is just a complete insult. Yes, to millennials, it’s a quick joke, but it’s really just a way of widening the generation gap and hurting our feelings. It’s a way for them to dismiss our feelings without actually saying anything worthwhile, and we wish millennials weren’t so dismissive.
I Can’t Even
Millennials use “I can’t even” when they think something’s too much to handle, but to us, it sounds like a huge fuss over nothing. Why complain in the first place if you’re not going to make your issue clear? It’s frustrating, and we think it’s a clear sign that they don’t value communication.
Literally
When everything is “literally” amazing or awful, the word starts to lose its punch. Do they “literally” mean literally, or are they saying “literally” in a metaphorical way? They might be trying to make their words seem stronger, but all they’re doing is confusing us even more. We literally can’t stand it.
Adulting
Talking about paying your bills or doing laundry as “adulting” makes it seem like you’re playing grown-up instead of actually being one. We really don’t know why millennials think it sounds funny because we think it makes them sound so unserious. After all, we’ve been “adulting” for years without the fanfare.
I’m So Broke
Millennials just love to complain about how they’re “so broke” all the time. Honestly, we think some of it’s self-inflicted because they’re not looking after their money problems properly. And the worst kind of people are those who say it as a joke because it’s pretty insensitive to those who are actually struggling.
This is Everything
If you love something, that’s cool, but saying it’s “everything” is a bit over the top. Is that new Subway sandwich really “everything?” We don’t think so. Like some of their other phrases, it’s just a way for millennials to declare their opinion as the best one, which isn’t a great way to connect with others.
Sorry Not Sorry
“Sorry not sorry” is just a way to apologize while taking it back at the same time. Some millennials think that it’s cheeky, but we think it’s just snarky, especially because we remember the days when people would actually apologize and mean it. Millennials just have a problem with taking responsibility for themselves.
I Was Today Years Old
We’ll never understand why millennials love to butcher the English language, particularly with phrases like “I was today years old.” Why can’t they say they “just found out” something instead? “I was today years old” sounds ridiculous and it can sometimes come across as a little condescending, too.
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Yes, it’s good to be driven, but repeating “can’t stop, won’t stop” makes you seem a little stubborn. Anyone who uses this phrase doesn’t care about anything but their own ambition, and they’re not exactly someone you want on your team. We completely understand flexibility, but millennials just don’t.
Is This Gluten-Free?
Of course, it’s important to know exactly what’s in your food, especially if you have allergies. But what’s with this sudden rise of people being allergic to gluten and asking, “Is this gluten free?” Honestly, we wouldn’t be surprised if this fussy phrase was just a way for millennials to get some attention.
It’s the [Something] For Me
When millennials use “it’s the [something] for me,” they’re trying to poke fun at something, but we think it just sounds stupid. If you don’t like something, be upfront and honest about it. There’s no point beating around the bush. It’s just one of those phrases that make people seem spineless, and we wish people wouldn’t use it.
That’s So Basic
Millennials really love to call the things they don’t like “basic,” and it comes across as both judgmental and dismissive. What’s wrong with liking popular things? Millennials love to criticize other people’s choices, but honestly, we think they’re probably the most “basic” generation out there.
Hashtag [Anything]
There’s no phrase more millennial than saying “hashtag” about anything. Got some good food at a restaurant? Hashtag, delicious. Having a bad day? Hashtag, terrible. It’s okay to use hashtags on social media or in texts, but using them in regular speech comes across as a way to stay trendy.
Feels
Talking about your feelings is much more grown-up than talking about your “feels.” Millennials use it to talk about their emotions, but we think it makes them seem childlike. Be honest and open with your feelings instead of trying to brush them under the carpet. We’ll never understand this one.
You Do You
“You do you” might sound supportive at first, like you’re telling someone to “go for it,” but it’s really anything but. Millennials are basically saying, “I don’t care/agree with what you do,” which we think is just plain rude. It makes them sound like they’re being selfish by washing their hands of the situation, which is never a good thing.
Totes
If there’s one thing millennials love to do, it’s shorten words more than they need to be. Take “totes” instead of “totally,” for example. Are they really saving a lot of time by skipping out on two syllables? The worst part of all is that some of them don’t understand that they should avoid this during serious discussions, and they’ll use “totes” during an interview.
Ghosted
Millennials are always worrying out loud about being ignored when they talk about being “ghosted,” and we think it makes them seem paranoid. After all, there’s probably a good reason why somebody else is ignoring them. If you’re talking about being “ghosted” like it’s a crime, you might want to check yourself out first.
This Ain’t It, Chief
Here’s another phrase millennials use to shut down something they don’t agree with. This time, it’s “This ain’t it, chief,” which we think sounds completely dismissive. Why do millennials get the final say on what’s cool or not? We’re not looking for someone to just dismiss our thoughts immediately.
Big Yikes
It’s strange how many phrases millennials have to express their unhappiness about something, and perhaps it’s got something to do with the high number of mental health issues in this generation. Either way, “big yikes” is one of these phrases, which makes it sound like they’re not taking things seriously. Or worse, like they’re enjoying someone’s misfortunes a bit too much.
Stan
“Stan” is a word that came from online culture, and millennials use it to show their support for someone or something. While we don’t really have an issue with that, it’s the fact that millennials overuse it that’s the problem. We can’t understand why they’re “stanning” ordinary things and why they care so much.
Sending Vibes
Millennials would rather “send vibes” to solve a problem than give any actual help or actions. They believe they’re showing care for the other person, but we think it’s just laziness and shows that they don’t want to actually put any effort into solving things. Vibes might be scientifically proven, but we don’t think “sending” them is.
Bet
This generation will use “bet” as a quick way to show they agree with something. Sounds harmless enough, right? But we think this one-word reply just sounds like they don’t care. There’s a time and a place for being concise, and most of the time, millennials don’t seem to understand that.
Cancel Culture
Millennials love talking about “canceling” someone or “cancel culture” because they think it holds people accountable. Yes, it does do that sometimes, but most of the time, it’s too extreme. It’s a way of cutting someone off without giving them the chance to learn from their mistakes, even if they were mistakes they made when they were much younger.
Simp
Calling someone a “simp” means you think they’re going overboard with their affection. But honestly, what’s wrong with that? Shouldn’t we all be a little nicer to each other? This phrase just sounds mean, and it feels like millennials are trying to police people’s emotions. We don’t need that.
It’s Giving [Something]
If you hear someone say, “it’s giving,” followed by a feeling or thing, that’s millennial-speak. They’re saying this person or thing reminds them of a particular moment or look, for better or for worse. But if you’re not up to date with the lingo, it just sounds confusing and like they’re butchering English again.
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