I hate that expression too, especially as a substitution for a hard deadline.

hah i agree....anybody who's a hard working sane individual is trying to get whatever it is done as soon as they can. I've never met anyone so vindictive to a client or consultant that they purposely delay finishing something.

i often delay or otherwise withholds things...usually just out of curiosity

as soon as I see ASAP I purposely slow down, go to lunch, walk around the block or leave early...that'll teach'em

i file this in the same bin i use for filing emails that come in labeled HIGH PRIORITY.

Somewhat related:

Oxford Researchers List Top 10 Most Annoying Phrases

link

The great hierarchy of verbal fatigue includes:

1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science

I use at least three, maybe four of those regularly.

But I *never* say "should(n't) of". Sets my teeth on edge.

What I also say too often:

Honestly.
For godssake.
What's up?
Crap.

What I don't say often enough: "vado, let's get a coffee".

"ASAP" is meaningless to me. It means the requester is lazy or just a jerk. (Me: "What is the deadline for these ten submittals that you just dumped on me?" Them: "ASAP. They are all equally important.")

Rather than use "ASAP," I usually suggest deadlines and give the responder a chance to confirm. Or if there are multiple tasks, I make the effort to prioritize them. It's the responsible and proactive thing to do.

Usually I hear ASAP in the context of: ohmygodohmygodmohmygodifwedon'tgetthesedrawingsoutwe'reallgoingtobefiredanditsyourfault

befiredanditsallyourfault

the bastards

I only use it when I mean it. Like I need it now, not 3 days from now when you feel like getting around to it. For instance, you wrote the wrong date on your drawings, fix it and send them back to me ASAP, you dufus.

I prefer to specify that work be completed ALAP... as late as possible. I don't want to see it at the end of the week, I don't want to see it tomorrow, and I certainly don't want to see it later today.