Things that people say that make them sound too pretentious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard anyone call it anything other than a credenza. The facilities people where I work call it a credenza. There is nothing pretentious about it.

The office supply people seem to have taken over the word "credenza" to mean "file cabinet with wood or melamine instead of metal." Not to be confused with "cadenza" which is a little musical interlude. My favorite is when furniture companies try to sell you a "bedroom suit."

So while "credenza" might have worked in your grandparents' day for the thing in your dining room that you store the silver and placemats in, it's now a sideboard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard anyone call it anything other than a credenza. The facilities people where I work call it a credenza. There is nothing pretentious about it.

The office supply people seem to have taken over the word "credenza" to mean "file cabinet with wood or melamine instead of metal." Not to be confused with "cadenza" which is a little musical interlude. My favorite is when furniture companies try to sell you a "bedroom suit."

So while "credenza" might have worked in your grandparents' day for the thing in your dining room that you store the silver and placemats in, it's now a sideboard.

Now THIS! This is pretentious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I learned here that saying 'Brava' to a female is pretentious. I'm ok with that- at least I'm not ignorant and uneducated.

An American friend once informed me that it would be seen as pretentious in America to put beverages or condiments in non labeled crystal or stoneware instead of utilizing original containers. This seemed like something a cave dweller would do- we just never had labels on the table while growing up.

I must have an arsenal of pretension as I am British as well.

Not pretentious. Just unnecessary dirty dishes. But if you're washing the dishes, then I don't care.

I grew up in New England and we always put condiments into a bowl and beverages into a pitcher for meals served in the dining room (as opposed to rushed midweek dinners in the kitchen). My mother was neither rich nor pretentious, just attuned to aesthetics and probably doing what she had seen her own mother and grandmother do back when they made a lot of the things that now come in jars from scratch.

[Anonymous]

My pretentious (also charming and eccentric southern) grandmother called her sideboard a hunt board. But she was really into steeple chasing and so would invite the "hunt" back to the house where the buffet was set on the hunt board.

I didn't realize this would be perceived as pretentious until I met people who didn't have grandmothers who were into horses.

[Anonymous]

Mentioning an Ivy League education they've acquired but in a veiled way (I went to school in Cambridge)

Complaining about maintenance for a yacht or plane. (Or in one conversation I was in, both.)

Bemoaning how little they use their second home. (Or third. Or fourth.)

Name dropping people of wealth or power even though it doesn't really contribute to their point or the conversation.

Complaining how long house renovations are taking because the custom marble from Italy was delayed.

Mentioning how much they are inconvenienced by something when in actuality, someone who works/reports to them is the one really bearing the brunt. (And we all know it.)

[Anonymous]

Saying they live in North Potomac. Or North Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

"as well" instead of "too"

[Anonymous]

Referring to your date with a PhD as Doctor four times in three minutes in a conversation with the same person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I spoke to Mother yesterday" -- said to someone who is not your sibling.

"I went to school in Boston" -- hoping for the listener to ask. "Oh yeah, which one?"

"Cinema"

You didn't get that quie right, pretentious people look down their noses at those who went to school across the river.

[Anonymous]

"The senator and I still have mystery."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't watch television.

Nice one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mentioning an Ivy League education they've acquired but in a veiled way (I went to school in Cambridge)

Complaining about maintenance for a yacht or plane. (Or in one conversation I was in, both.)

Bemoaning how little they use their second home. (Or third. Or fourth.)

Name dropping people of wealth or power even though it doesn't really contribute to their point or the conversation.

Complaining how long house renovations are taking because the custom marble from Italy was delayed.

Mentioning how much they are inconvenienced by something when in actuality, someone who works/reports to them is the one really bearing the brunt. (And we all know it.)

We have a winner. This answer touched all the bases.

[Anonymous]

Yeah ... what's with the "don't watch television"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saying they live in North Potomac. Or North Bethesda.

I guess the US Postal Service is pretentious, then.

[Anonymous]

"Should I take my 4 year old to see the Nutcracker"