I was reminded of this one whilst watching Breakfast on the BBC this morning. Such a classic use of it in the way I hate. Today's Word I Hate is 'Nightmare'. Not in the sense that I cringe when someone says they've had a nightmare the night before and then tells me in gory detail about their stairs eating them or whatever - for that really is a nightmare. But when someone says they've had a real-life experience that was 'a nightmare' I want to punch them (and I'm a pacifist).

This is because, without fail, what they are talking about is something no-one in their right minds would have a nightmare about. It is sometimes something unpleasant, but usually a mere inconvenience.

Thus, this morning, we hear about 'every parent's nightmare'. Their child being abducted and never found? Their child dying painfully of leukaemia? Being murdered? In a drive-by shooting? No. Having to take their child out of private school.

Similar 'nightmares' include Christmas shopping in the credit crunch, trying to get on the housing ladder in one's twenties, driving in cold weather, finding a cheap train fare and throwing toddler birthday parties.

I know I'm not middle class because my nightmares are genuinely terrifying and never involve money.