A couple of months before the start of freshman year, a girl named Faith liked one of my Instagram comments. I didn’t know her at the time, but I recognized her name as a fellow Illinoisan who was also headed to Notre Dame in the fall. The comment was under the post of comedian Connor Wood (you may know him from his most famous moment, “Luckily I have purse”) announcing his tour: “Come to Chicago PLEAAASEEE,” I had written. Little did we know that that comment would be a major part of the formation of our friendship, as well as of a lexicon I am certain annoys everyone around us at least 80 percent of the time.

Wood makes up one half of Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast (BNCMAP), which Faith and I realized was a shared love of ours once we got to campus. Each week, Wood and fellow Internet sensation — at least in our corner of the Internet — Brooke Averick release what I can best describe as an hour-long stream of consciousness on Spotify. And we enjoy every second of it.

Wood and Averick’s friend group includes two other podcasters, Channing Glenn and Tristan Watson of the show Not That Y’all Care (NTYC). These four people, widely unknown at Notre Dame but incredibly dear to our hearts, have unique lingos that have seeped into our brains via osmosis, permanently altering our vocabulary (perhaps for the worst, depending on who you ask). I present Scholastic readers with this guide for two reasons: first, to inspire you to listen to these podcasts as well, as they’re a bright spot in my often jam-packed weeks, and second, so you’re not as put off if I drop one of these phrases in conversation.

So here’s your starter pack of phrases to become 10 times more annoying (or, if you’re in good company, more well-liked). There are about five million more I could include, but you’ll have to discover the rest of the world of BNC/NTYC on your own. Happy listening!

Mr./Mrs. Hol·ly·wood

mis-tər / mis-əz ˈhä-lē-ˌwu̇d

This is a great term to use any time your friend greets someone you don’t know or when they get a phone call. It makes them feel very important.

Example: “Well, you are just Mrs. Hollywood today, aren’t you?!”

I feel hor·ri·ble

ˈī ˈfēl ˈhȯr-ə-bəl

I use this one for even the slightest blunder.

Example: Stepped on your friend’s foot? “I feel horrible.” Misheard someone? “I feel horrible.” Spilled water? “Oh, I feel horrible.”

Came a·cross my desk

ˈkām ə-ˈkrȯs ˌmī ˈdesk

Much more dynamic than saying “I saw this online today.”

Example: “You will not BELIEVE the post that came across my desk today!”

Pa·cif·i·cal·ly / the Spe·cif·ic O·cean

pə-ˈsi-fi-k(ə-)lē thə spə-ˈsi-fik ō-shən

I’ve gotten to a point where any time I want to say “specifically,” I have the urge to instead reference the large body of water on the West Coast. Even in class. Sometimes, when I use this around people I know, they think I’m being serious and that I genuinely don’t know the difference, but I’ll take the embarrassment. Of course, you also have to reverse it if you want to talk about the Pacific Ocean.

Example: “You pacifically are the funniest person on this side of the Specific.”

Thank you for let·ting me know

ˈthaŋk ˈyü ˈfȯr ˈle-tiŋ ˈmē ˈnō

Typically used after finding out something negative.

Example: Sometimes when I check the syllabus and see I have 150 pages of reading due the next day, all I can say to my computer screen is, “Thank you for letting me know.” Like, genuinely, thank you for letting me know. TYFLMK.

Ho·ly freak·ing air·ball

ˈhō-lē ˈfrē-kiŋ ˈer-ˌbȯl

Use it to mean the opposite of what it actually means.

Example: “This food is so good. Holy freaking airball.”

It’s al·ways been you

ˈits ˈȯl-wēz ˈbin ˈyü

For showing your love.

Example: “Thank you so much for putting my plate away. It’s always been you, BTW.”

You know my heart/I know (blank)’s heart

ˈyü ˈnō ˈmī ˈhärt / ˈī ˈnō (blank)'s ˈhärt Basically, a sweeter way to say, “you know what I meant.”

Example: “I would never say that. You know my heart!”

Cham·pi·on/champ

ˈcham-pē-ən / ˈchamp

My favorite nickname to throw at the end of a sentence. Bonus points if you use the phrase “Ain’t gonna happen, champ.”

Example: “Hi, champion!”

In a pret·ty big way/a pret·ty good bit

ˈin ə ˈpri-tē ˈbig ˈwā / ə pri-tē ˈgu̇d ˈbit

Add this to the end of your sentence for emphasis.

Example: “I just failed that exam in a pretty big way.” Or “I’m looking forward to our formal a pretty good bit.”