I also just remembered an ex-friend who used the word "illiterate" to mean "stupid." I guess she thought that using a bigger word made her sound smarter. One day I asked her what not being able to read had to do with anything. I think maybe she finally went home and looked up the word because she finally stopped using it. The same woman once heard me use the word "oblivious" and thought she liked the sound of that, only she said "bolivious." I never corrected her so that all of those illiterate people wouldn't remain bolivious to how stupid she is!
kjeter got a reaction from Gibson in Do you have words that irritate you?