Pet peeve

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For the 1980s metal band, see Pet Hate. For other uses, see Pet peeve (disambiguation).

A pet peeve is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to himself (or herself), to a greater degree than others may find it.

Origin

Its first usage was around 1919.[1][2] The term is a back-formation from the 14th-century word peevish, meaning "ornery or ill-tempered".[1]


Pet peeves often involve specific behaviors of someone close, such as a spouse or significant other.[3] These behaviors may involve disrespect, manners, personal hygiene, relationships, and family issues.[4]

A key aspect of a pet peeve is that it may well seem acceptable to others. For example, a supervisor may have a pet peeve about people leaving the lid on the copier up and react angrily, be annoyed when others interrupt when speaking, or be upset by messy desks of their subordinates. [5] To most people, these may seem minor annoyances, but not to the supervisor. That same supervisor may witness employees coming into work late, and not feel any annoyance whatsoever.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harper, Douglas. "peevish". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-09-28. 
  2. ↑ pet peeve – Definition from the Miarriam-Webster Online Dictionary
  3. ↑ Kowalski, Robin M. (2003). Complaining, Teasing, and Other Annoying Behaviors. Yale University Press. 
  4. ↑ James, Leon. "Congressional Testimony on Road Rage". 
  5. ↑ Green, Thad B., Jay T Knippen (1999). Breaking the Barrier to Upward Communication. Quorum/Greenwood. pp. 34–37. 

External links

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