Pet peeve
A pet peeve (or pet hate) is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to him or her, to a greater degree than others may find it.
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[edit] 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]
[edit] Description
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 by messy desks of his or her subordinates.[5] That same supervisor may witness employees coming into work late, and not feel any annoyance whatsoever.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. "peevish". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=peevish. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ pet peeve – Definition from the Miarriam-Webster Online Dictionary
- ^ Kowalski, Robin M. (2003). Complaining, Teasing, and Other Annoying Behaviors. Yale University Press.
- ^ James, Leon. "Congressional Testimony on Road Rage". http://www.drdriving.org/articles/testimony.htm.
- ^ Green, Thad B., Jay T Knippen (1999). Breaking the Barrier to Upward Communication. Quorum/Greenwood. pp. 34–37.
