What are your pet peeves re English usage?

Steve, you are right, in a literal way.

But it seems to me a phrase, no matter what, means whatever people decide it shall mean.

So for example, "That's great, just great!" (usually, and used in a certain way) means precisely the opposite of what the words indicate.

Heavy irony, of course, but still....

Whaddaya think?

It beats me though, how "I could care less" acquired the meaning it has in the US.

0 Replies

I think it did so because our Amerian cousins couldnt get their tongues round

I couldnt care less

clearly

I could care less

is easier...

but thats just a guess

but the logic is the same as

"Free frees five"

No its not my friend, three times three is nine.

0 Replies

Steve 41oo wrote:

JTT wrote:

A paraphrase of "I could care less";

I could [possibly] care less about this issue that you've raised if I really tried but it's now, so near to rock bottom now that you'll not be seeing any empathy from me.

I could care less can NEVER mean the same as

I could not care less

be told JTT

you are beginning to annoy me.

But it does mean the same thing, Steve. It's just that simple.

0 Replies

McTag wrote:

Steve, you are right, in a literal way.

But it seems to me a phrase, no matter what, means whatever people decide it shall mean.

So for example, "That's great, just great!" (usually, and used in a certain way) means precisely the opposite of what the words indicate.

Heavy irony, of course, but still....

Whaddaya think?

Can you think of any more?

DDR- German Democratic Republic: but not democratic

Little John: big guy in Lincoln green

0 Replies

McTag wrote:

McTag wrote:
Steve, you are right, in a literal way.

But it seems to me a phrase, no matter what, means whatever people decide it shall mean.

So for example, "That's great, just great!" (usually, and used in a certain way) means precisely the opposite of what the words indicate.

Heavy irony, of course, but still....

Whaddaya think?

Can you think of any more?

DDR- German Democratic Republic: but not democratic

Little John: big guy in Lincoln green

Aren't those just oxymorons of a sort, McT? Like 'Microsoft Works'? Smile

0 Replies

Yes, I'm wading into waters which are too deep for me.

I was hoping to be rescued with a lot of good examples. I like the joke, btw. Smile

0 Replies

McTag wrote:

McTag wrote:
Steve, you are right, in a literal way.

But it seems to me a phrase, no matter what, means whatever people decide it shall mean.

So for example, "That's great, just great!" (usually, and used in a certain way) means precisely the opposite of what the words indicate.

Heavy irony, of course, but still....

Whaddaya think?

Can you think of any more?

DDR- German Democratic Republic: but not democratic

Little John: big guy in Lincoln green

I take your point. I cant think of any more examples off the top of my head. Except I know someone called Lofty who is...

But in all cases there is a heavy sense of irony which is obvious. It seems to be lacking (to me at least) in the phrase

I could care less

Or if its there its confusing to an English ear.

...........................

Do courts of law understand irony? "Of course yer honour when I said I could whack him, you have to take into account the deep sense of irony in that statement, which clearly illustrates my inability to do just that."

0 Replies

Good point, Steve. It just SOUNDS wrong to me, I could care less. Like your last example.

0 Replies

It sounds wrong to me too.

Heard on the radio this morning, something I hate: "year on year", to indicate passage of time.

What's wrong with "year after year"? Why can't the bastards leave well enough alone? :wink:

...And time after time, I tell myself that I'm
So lucky to be loved by you...."

0 Replies

Do you feel the same way about their folksy 'Come Sunday the wind will have dropped...'? My mother-in-law hates it, says it's slang!

0 Replies

Clary wrote:

Do you feel the same way about their folksy 'Come Sunday the wind will have dropped...'? My mother-in-law hates it, says it's slang!

Our weather people are guilty of some terrible crimes, with their "quieter weather", "temmitures", and sundry other ghastly things.

No, I don't mean it. They're trying to be interesting and informative, speaking quickly, and being nice to us.

0 Replies

I don't like being nannied by them though - Make sure you take your brolly, and Time for those winter woollies.... Evil or Very Mad

0 Replies

Clary wrote:

I don't like being nannied by them though - Make sure you take your brolly, and Time for those winter woollies....

True.

What's worse imo are the weather girls sent out to be in it. "Well as you can see its raining cats and dogs here in Norwich".

"Another hot sunny day in Great Yarmouth, dont forget the sun screen".

Even better when they have to go and find a puddle to stand in..

Actually its quite interesting how weather and the forcasting has gone from being deadly serious (during the war it was all classified) to being a form of reality tv show. The only sanity left is the shipping forcast.

0 Replies

German Bight, South Utsera, Scillies- wonderful stuff; but I usually kill the radio after 'Sailing By'.

0 Replies

So thats how you spell Utsera...

I cant think of German Bight without remembering the little lad in Kes I think it was who said Germans Bight and the teacher realised he was up late at night listening to the radio.

0 Replies

Ooh I'm not sure about Utsera... no, it's Utsira, my mistake; in Norway

0 Replies

Clary wrote:

Ooh I'm not sure about Utsera... no, it's Utsira, my mistake; in Norway

From Wikipedia

"Shipping Forecast

Utsira (under the spelling Utsire) gives its name to two of the sea areas of the British Shipping Forecast." Laughing

0 Replies

Steve 41oo wrote:

Clary wrote:
Ooh I'm not sure about Utsera... no, it's Utsira, my mistake; in Norway

From Wikipedia

"Shipping Forecast

Utsira (under the spelling Utsire) gives its name to two of the sea areas of the British Shipping Forecast."

Yeah I always thought it was Utsire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utsira

What were these areas called before? Part of Viking, I expect.

0 Replies

This is good

http://www.answers.com/topic/sea-areas

....for those in peril on the sea.

0 Replies

According to the 64th Brigade Birkenhead Sea Scouts...and they should know

Bailey Lundy
Biscay Malin
Cromarty North Utsire
Dogger Plymouth
Dover Portland
Faeroes Rockall
Fair Isle Shannon
Fastnet Sole
Fisher South East Iceland
FitzRoy (formerly Finisterre) South Utsire
Forties Thames
Fourth Trafalgar
German Bight Tyne
Hebrides Viking
Humber Wight
Irish Sea

0 Replies

What are your pet peeves re English usage?

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know