Keller @ Large: Most Annoying Words, Phrases

BOSTON (CBS) - What words or phrases that you hear all too often in everyday life are the most annoying?

The pollsters at Marist College put that question to a thousand adults across the country each year, and they are out with the latest results. Let's count them down for you.

In fifth place: "actually," one of those extraneous words people use to stall while they try to think of something intelligent to say. The fourth most annoying phrase was "to tell you the truth," which in most cases is a clear signal that an untruth is about to follow. Finishing third: "you know what I mean," shunned by 15-percent of respondents, and I assume this also covers "y'know," which for many of us seems to have replaced breathing in our discourse.

In second place is a word chosen as most annoying by, like, 28-percent of the population, drum roll please: "like," which the Marist people call an "uber-filler." I hear that one so often I, like, don't even notice it anymore, you know what I mean? But when I, like, DO hear someone use it too much, to tell you the truth, I want to grab them by the lapels and shake them while shouting: "Is it really LIKE that or IS IT THAT?" But I don't do that, because, y'know, that would be, like, hostile.

And the number one most annoying word or phrase in America? "Whatever," which is often followed by another highly-annoying word, "man," as in, like, whatever man, you know?

"Whatever" topped the Marist poll last year too, but there's hope for the future. Absent from this year's survey was one of last year's winners, "it is what it is," a Bill Belichick-ism that was overdue to be retired.

But I want to send you off thinking of your own additions to this list. Here are a few to get you started: "to be sure" - if you're sure, just say so; "at the end of the day," and yes, Charlie Baker, this means you; "hot," in reference to anything but the weather; and "cool," in reference to anything that isn't fireworks or jazz.

Actually, those are truthfully the best I can do, man, like, I could come up with more, you know, but whatever, it is what it is, to be sure. Are we cool? Peace out.

Listen to Jon Keller's commentary here:

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.