The  Valley Girl expression Whatever may have run its course. It was trendy in the 80s, along with gnarly and gag me with a spoon. Those locutions faded, but whatever remained.

In a recent poll, however, whatever was rated the single most annoying expression for all geographic areas, income and education levels, races, ages, and genders in the United States. Its competition in the poll included You know, Anyway, It is what it is, and At the end of the day. If it’s annoying people, then it’s on its way out.

I’m hopeful that like, as in “I was like, what time is lunch? and he was like, why are you asking me?” may one day join it in retirement.

Special thanks to Michael Quinion at World Wide Words.