1.26.25: Adverbial Phrases

I “collect” adverbial phrases. It’s a weird little habit, but I love it. They’re everywhere, scattered through books, movies, and TV shows, quietly adding depth or humor. Once I started jotting them down, I realized how much punch they pack. Some favorites? Fundamentally unlikeable—the perfect insult wrapped in brutal honesty. Irretrievably lost—achingly sad but final. Emotionally incontinent—oddly hilarious and painfully accurate. And Morally neutral—a whole ethical debate in two words. It’s fascinating how these phrases, so small and subtle, can evoke such vivid images or emotions. Now I can’t stop noticing them, like little gems hiding in plain sight.