Speaking multiple languages has its advantages, but for one Vancouver woman, it became the ultimate weapon in a moment of unexpected linguistic revenge.
Reddit user u/Pixel__Detox, a 28-year-old woman living in a high-rise, shared how she overheard a French family openly judging her looks in an elevator—thinking she wouldn’t understand. Instead of reacting immediately, she waited for the perfect mic-drop moment.
A ride she won’t forget
Returning home from an evening run, she entered the building lobby at the same time as a French-speaking family—a couple with their three sons, around 8 to 10 years old.
One of them held the door for her, and she thanked them in English before stepping into the same elevator.
"They were chatting in French, and since it's my mother tongue, I could understand everything they were saying," she explained.
The group had a long ride ahead—more than 30 floors—when the father decided to ask his sons an unexpected question.
"He asked them in French if the woman in the elevator was pretty or not."
Representative photo by Canva
An unexpected insult
At first, she thought she misheard—but then one of the boys gave his answer.
"I stopped breathing for a second, realizing fully that it was truly me they were blatantly judging."
Freezing in disbelief, she debated her next move. With just a few floors left before she could escape the awkwardness, she had two choices: ignore it or seize the opportunity.
The ultimate elevator exit
As the doors opened at her floor, she made her choice.
Instead of confronting them, she turned around and—in flawless French—cheerfully wished them a nice evening before stepping out.
The family’s reaction? Pure shock.
"The look on their faces was priceless."
A moment she’ll never forget
While she left quickly, she later wished she had held eye contact until the doors closed, just to let it sink in.
"I've dealt with rude comments before, but this moment was a chef’s kiss moment."
For years, she had dreamed of a situation like this, where she could use her language skills to surprise someone who assumed she couldn’t understand them.
"I'm just saying, keep your language skills to yourself. You never know when it can come in handy!"
Representative Image Source: Pexels | MART PRODUCTION
The internet celebrates her perfect response
Reddit users loved the story, sharing their own experiences of calling out rude people in their own language.
u/InevitableTrash9596 related to the situation, saying:
"I have the same experience in France. They don’t expect foreigners to speak French, but I do. Yes, I made them feel awkward a few times."
Others appreciated how she handled the situation with class, with u/pip-whip commenting:
Another user, u/bright_shiny_day, added:
"I'm a New Zealander and have never been formally taught French. I just lived in London for 16 years and worked with all nationalities. I would have understood that mean-spirited question instantly. I couldn't have responded in anything but the most pidgin French, though!"
Image Source: Reddit | u/Humble-Astronomer396
A lesson in never assuming who’s listening
People tend to assume they can speak freely in their native language without being understood, but this story is a perfect example of why that’s a risky move.
For this French-speaking woman, what started as an awkward moment quickly turned into the perfect bilingual comeback.
And if that family learned anything that day, it’s probably to be a little more careful about what they say in elevators.
Furry friends are importantRepresentative image via Canva
Couple has annoying conversation
The one phrase people most want to ban forever—and 20 more that drive us all nuts
If you’ve ever cringed at hearing “It is what it is” or rolled your eyes at someone saying “No offense…” before delivering something totally offensive, you’re definitely not alone. Some expressions are so irritating, so overused, or so grammatically cursed that hearing them once more might just push us over the edge.
We asked our Facebook audience, “ If you could ban one annoying phrase from existence forever, what would it be?” and holy moly, did the floodgates open. Typically, a given question might rack up around 5,000 comments—but this one? Over 14,000. People shared responses that were funny, petty, brutally honest, and occasionally downright poignant. From phrases that try (and fail) to sound wise, to those so overused they've lost all meaning entirely—here are the top contenders folks are completely done with.
The one phrase nearly everyone wants to vanish
By far the most repeated offender was:
Over and over, users cited this as the ultimate non-response. It’s dismissive, it ends conversations, and it offers exactly zero comfort or help.
Another big category? Expressions meant to comfort that end up being painful or insulting. These include:
Many commenters explained that these phrases, while often well-intentioned, feel dismissive in times of grief or hardship.
Grammar gripes and word crimes
Grammar lovers had a lot of feelings. Some of the most-cited “please stop saying this” phrases included:
And let’s not forget the collective rage over “pacifically” when people mean “specifically.”
Words that reveal more than they intend
Several users took issue with phrases that feel passive-aggressive or intellectually lazy, such as:
As user Jacqueline C. put it, “'To be honest...' What does that mean? That you're not honest any other time?”
Phrases tied to racism, sexism, or toxic positivity
A significant number of respondents took aim at harmful or politically charged phrases. Among them:
These comments weren’t just about annoyance—they were about the emotional weight and social impact of language.
James G. didn’t mince words when he wrote: “‘Go back to your country, then’ 🤬. The epitome of racist. I love my country, plus my ancestors did not ASK to be brought here the way they were.”
Corporate speak and empty buzzwords
You knew these were coming.
These phrases sparked a different kind of rage—one reserved for staff meetings and marketing emails.
Iris H. summed it up: “Most corporate speak. Downsizing. Low hanging fruit. Pivot. etc…..” Just say what you mean, please.
Why this resonated so deeply
There’s something unifying about shared irritation. These phrases might seem harmless or routine, but for many people, they’re like verbal paper cuts—tiny annoyances that, over time, sting a lot more than they should.
Whether it’s poor grammar, dismissive condolences, or flat-out hate speech in disguise, we’re collectively craving language that’s thoughtful, clear, and kind.
So the next time you find yourself reaching for one of these expressions, take a beat. Maybe there’s a better way to say what you mean. Or maybe… just don’t say anything at all.
And if you’ve got your own phrase that should be banished from existence? Don’t worry—there’s still time to add to the list.
Got another phrase that needs to go? Drop it in the comments on our original Facebook post.
Bonus: The top five most hated phrases from our poll
Let’s make 2025 the year we finally stop saying all of them.