Bastardization of words

What made me start the topic is seeing the phrase "light years" used to quantify how far behind a team/player is in several different locations. Light years measure distance, not time, and the misuse of the word bugs the hell out of me. "Unbelievable" is another one that just drives me up the wall because almost always, the scenario is believable.

What other consistent misuses of words make you cringe?

 

Literally.

 

Senseless.

 

basically

I also hate "on the season" and "on the year" and even "on Saturday" but I veer toward threadjackery and shall stop.

 

You mean like, "He is literally on a high wire without a net," vis a vis Jerry Jones when referring to Pacman Jones?

 

I could care less.

No, really, too many people say that when what they mean is, "I couldn't care less."

 

Notoriety to mean fame rather than infamy.

 

I made that mistake in a story once and it was brought to me attention by a reader.

 

"shocked the world/ surprised everyone"
East Podunk beating West Podunk in table tennis was not shocking to the world...just the kids on the table tennis team and their parents.

over/more than is also a pet peeve. I won't shop at stores that use over in their ads when they mean more than.

 

"quantum leap". Refers to subatomic measurement, not vast improvement.

Also, I was taught early on that 'very' is a meaningless word, and I live by it.

 

Well, I always hate it when a coach throws out the phrase, 'One game at a time.' I want to say, no sh*t.

 

That's more if a trite cliche than a bastardization, however.