On that Nimrod Gently Awards thread I was going to say, "Welcome, dweller on the threshold" having assumed "dweller on the threshold" to refer to someone who is perpetually waiting on the doorstep and never comes in. But I thought I'd better check that's the proper definition of the term and Googled and found myself waist deep in a Mystic Meginess of complexity.
As far as I can make out, a Dweller on the Threshold is supposed to be the entity (perhaps soul?) of a person's previous incarnation which has not quite disintegrated and is therefore drawn to the living person. It may have evil connotations - like it carries all the bad bits of your previous existence. The preference seems to be not to meet your Dweller on the Threshold if at all possible.
You have to wade through a hell of a lot of mumbo jumbo to even get to that simplified conclusion though.
So, I was wondering what phrases or concepts other people might have come across which they never knew the proper meaning of before. Everyone knows what Schadenfreude means, for example, but that sort of thing would count as well.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Oh yeah, another one is Taal Zamaan, which is the title of a very lovely Transglobal Underground song which I never knew the meaning of. I was on a train the other day and this very fidgety chap sat opposite me. He had "Islam" tattooed on the back of his hand. He was talking to anyone and everyone and asking for spare change. I asked him if he spoke Arabic and said I'd give him 20p if he could translate Taal Zamaan for me. And apparently it means "long life". I'm assuming that's a blessing you give to people, rather than that the song is about UHT milk, but anyway, that was 20p well spent I thought. I was hoping to get his email address so I could get him to translate all the other Transglobal Underground songs I don't understand, but he got off next stop before I could ask.
Posted by Waynster (Member # 56) on :
Ah the latter has just reminded me of last week - there is a phrase in Japanese at the end of The Tubes White Punks on Dope which had been bugging me for years what it meant. A few days ago my mates from Electric Eel Shock had stopped for a couple of nights and I managed to get them to listen.I was quite dissapointed to discover they thought it was just an old detergent commercial from the 70's.
Posted by Gordon T Gofer (Member # 24) on :
Y'know if I had spent a little bit more of my hard earned on a Gigabit network I'd not have to read this shit. Instead I'm waiting for what seems like an age for stuff to transfer from this place to that.
You can be both - see Irvine
Posted by vikram (Member # 98) on :
thoiuh depends on what you mean by 'accomplished' or indeed 'historian'
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
"Cheap at half the price" - this phrase fucking vexes me. It's either a statement of the utterly obvious - ie. most things are 'cheap' at half price - or it's actually meant to say "that would (still) be cheap at twice the price" and has somehow been muddled up over the years, to the point where people parrot something that's technically meaningless.
Posted by London (Member # 29) on :
I recently discovered this gorgeous etymological fact. You know when you learn something new and you grab at it thinking, man, this is totally going to impress the chicks. Like, I don't know, I remember once I met Froopyscot and he created the figure of an animal from a piece of twisted wire and dangled it from the rim of a glass I was drinking from. I remember thinking 'wow that's ace! I wish I was a dude so I could totally impress the ladies by doing stuff like that!' Well, when I read this particular definition I had that same feeling, like, this is a lovely little nugget of fact. I could already see myself in the future, imparting this fact into the tipped-up admiring faces of my soon-to-be lovers. And so with no further ado, the etymology of the word tawdry IS:
quote:The main sense of tawdry, dating from the seventeenth century, is 'showy and cheap; gaudy'. This sense is a derivation of the earlier noun, meaning 'lace worn by women about the throat'--a common fashion accessory in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries--itself a shortening of the mid-sixteenth-century tawdry lace.
This tawdry lace is short for Saint Audrey lace. Saint Audrey was a queen of Northumbria and the patron saint of Ely who died in A.D. 679; her name in Old English was Aethelthryth. According to tradition, Audrey died of a throat tumor, which she considered just punishment for her youthful fondness for showy necklaces. Thus, Saint Audrey's lace. (The lace was sold at an annual fair commemorating St. Audrey's in Ely, which probably strengthened the association.)
Isn't that yummy? I think it's yummy.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
I knew this one, and I thought I'd share it because it's just lovely:
old hat
"out of date," first recorded 1911. As a noun phrase, however, it had a different sense in 18c. The "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" (1796) defines it as, "a woman's privities, because frequently felt."
isn't that awesome?
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
"Glamour" is a nice one, in that it means a magical spell ~ I picked it up from relatively obscure Celtic adventure strip Slaine, but it was unfortunately then used repeatedly in Sandman, so I expect lots of people who own figurines and ankhs know it now, too.
"As large as life and twice as natural" was originally "as large as life and just as natural." "Brand" new was originally "bran" new. This sounds like one of those ~ what was it? Meccano? myths about "box standard", but is TRUE.
The phrase "it was the least I could do" remains a bit troublesome for me... because it is, of course, admitting you did the minimum to help.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Good ones there. Nice. I too have trouble getting my head round "cheap at half the price". I'd kind of taken it to be a slightly sarcastic comment: "I got this shirt for fifty quid." "Nice. Cheap at half the price." Meaning, you've been done mate. But I don't suppose it gets used like that so it doesn't work really does it.
My partner used another of her weird mixed up phrases last night when she referred to our 5-year-old as "sharp as a button". Presumably a squelch of "sharp as a new pin" and "on the button"?? Who knows.
The rather bland "parting shot", for a cutting comment made just as you leave a discussion, should really be Parthian Shot of course. Which is a war tactic where the Parthians pretended to retreat on their horses, then suddenly turned round in their saddles and fired arrows back into the persuing enemy, who were effectively unarmed because they were holding the reins of their own horses.
Conversely, you sometimes see people use "under weigh" for a ship leaving anchor and moving off, thinking that it's related to weighing anchor. But the correct term is "under way", so "under weigh" is a mistakenly clever clever phrase, whilst "Parthian Shot" is a genuine clever clever phrase.
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: The phrase "it was the least I could do" remains a bit troublesome for me... because it is, of course, admitting you did the minimum to help.
Yes, but it's good old British modesty isn't it. "Thank you so much for cleaning the carpets, washing the bathroom, performing a triple bypass on my uncle, saving our family from bankruptcy and discovering a sustainable source of clean fuel." "Oh - oh that? It was nothing. It was nthe least I could do."
It's only an 'admission' if - say - your partner spent all Sunday slaving over dinner, while you played Nintendo, wanked, and then eventually put a spoon or something on the table and they looked at you and rolled their eyes and went "Thanks so much for putting the spoon on the table." If you then turned round and said "It was the least I could do", then you'll probably get smashed in the face with a piping hot skillet.
[ 02.03.2007, 03:41: Message edited by: Nathan Bleak ]
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: The phrase "it was the least I could do" remains a bit troublesome for me... because it is, of course, admitting you did the minimum to help.
This one's ok though isn't it? It's supposed to be reassuring, saying "it was no trouble, don't feel that you inconvenienced me at all," even if the person obviously did go out of their way to help.
ETA: Explained much more entertainingly by TD.
[ 02.03.2007, 03:43: Message edited by: dang65 ]
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
"Phyrric victory" is also a nice phrase from the classics, which I learned from comics.
Plutarch relates in a report by Dionysius:
"The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him..." Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nathan Bleak: Yes, but it's good old British modesty isn't it. "Thank you so much for cleaning the carpets, washing the bathroom, performing a triple bypass on my uncle, saving our family from bankruptcy and discovering a sustainable source of clean fuel." "Oh - oh that? It was nothing. It was the least I could do."
Yees, but the logical next step is that you might as well have done more to help, really. That the person you helped would have the right to say "oh, well in that case, do you mind going out for milk too?"
Perhaps what I've done there is get confused by a stand-up comedian who spent 10 minutes interrogating the phrase as if it was ludicrous, you know, complete with absurd situations and sceptical expressions and such ~ and I've been persuaded by that. I expect you could do the same with a lot of phrases.
[ 02.03.2007, 03:50: Message edited by: wonderstarr ]
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: "Phyrric victory" is also a nice phrase from the classics, which I learned from comics.
Plutarch relates in a report by Dionysius:
"The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him..."
I read The Brothers Karamazov because Blue Beetle said that it was his favourtie book in issue 3 of Justice League - who says comics don't learn you nothing.
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: Yees, but the logical next step is that you might as well have done more to help, really. That the person you helped would have the right to say "oh, well in that case, do you mind going out for milk too?"
I dunno - I think the helper in this situation would be perfectly within their rights to reach for the skillet at this point.
One that I only found out about a few years ago is 'Just deserts', which people always spell as 'just desserts' because - I don't know - they assume it's got something with getting pudding because you've been good or some shit, when actually it's derived from the word 'deserve'.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
An ex of mine was convinced that 'no rest for the wicked' was actually 'no rest for the wicket' as, you know, wicket keepers are the hardest working cricket players.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by ben: "Cheap at half the price" - this phrase fucking vexes me. It's either a statement of the utterly obvious - ie. most things are 'cheap' at half price - or it's actually meant to say "that would (still) be cheap at twice the price" and has somehow been muddled up over the years, to the point where people parrot something that's technically meaningless.
In a similar vain, I can't abide the American usage of "I could care less" in place of "I couldn't care less" (i.e. I care so little about that, that it's impossible for me to care about it any less than I already do ). Sadly this seems to have made its way across the Atlantic.
Some have said this is meant sarcastically, but by my reckoning that would be spoken with the intonation on the word I, whereas those crazy yanks seem to emphasise the word care. It makes people sound stupid but, hell, they could probably care less.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
I didn't know the "just deserts" one. I've always pointed and laughed when people misspell "desserts" in that one. I feel such a (gooseberry) fool now.
Posted by London (Member # 29) on :
Tangent - is The Brothers Karamazov worth reading? It's always held up as some kind of bastion of intellectualism and I wondered if it was as boring as that suggests.
Hey, what's a bastion?
*googles*
What's the verb form of *to look something up on wikipedia*? We need to invent one.
*wikipedes*
?
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by London: What's the verb form of *to look something up on wikipedia*? We need to invent one.
*wikipedes*
I know it doesn't make much sense, but could we anglicise it to Wikipaede?
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
Will Smith attempted to do this with his track Wild West - but the best he could come up with was 'Wiki wiki wah wah'.
Brothers Karamazov is, IMO, one of the better big russian novels, because it doesn't bang on and on and on about farming for 800 pages!
But er, yes, the answer is, it's a pretty good read, full of self doubt, loathing, sweaty criminality, questions about god and the devil. I really liked it.
If you can't be bother to read it or wait for the abridged didalo version that will probably be released some time soon - then apparently there is a film of it with WIlliam Shatner and Yul Brenner somewhere out there.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nathan Bleak:
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: The phrase "it was the least I could do" remains a bit troublesome for me... because it is, of course, admitting you did the minimum to help.
Yes, but it's good old British modesty isn't it. "Thank you so much for cleaning the carpets, washing the bathroom, performing a triple bypass on my uncle, saving our family from bankruptcy and discovering a sustainable source of clean fuel." "Oh - oh that? It was nothing. It was nthe least I could do."
It's only an 'admission' if - say - your partner spent all Sunday slaving over dinner, while you played Nintendo, wanked, and then eventually put a spoon or something on the table and they looked at you and rolled their eyes and went "Thanks so much for putting the spoon on the table." If you then turned round and said "It was the least I could do", then you'll probably get smashed in the face with a piping hot skillet.
Isn't that what the phrase is a little bit about, though? Surely "It was the least I could do" is shorthand for a longer phrase or broader context along the lines of "...considering you'd already fellated the cat to the brink of orgasm / ...given that the last four times I phoned mum were all to ask for money / ...without appearing to be completely taking the piss and using you like an inefficient fleshy bootscraper".
I think the phrase is more to acknowledge some kind of uneven reciprocity than simply being a false modesty - though it could, of course, be abused in that way.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
Also: has anyone else noticed how "sorry" seems to have become the principal unit of exchange between an English person encountering any other English person?
Person treading on foot: "Sorry." Person having foot trodden on: "Sorry."
What's that about, eh?
Posted by Vogon Poetess (Member # 164) on :
Crime & Punishment is a bit skinnier, but also a good intellekchull conquest.
I'm reading The Golden Notebook. It's a bit meh, but worthy I suppose.
I've heard from two independent sources that the Russian word for station (can't insert the Cyrillic, which none of you can read anyway) originated because Vauxhall was the first station the Rusky engineers were shown when they were sent over by the Tsar to bring back the Industrial Revolution.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
Hey VP - I just got the prospectus for the OU short courses through - there's a pretty interesting one about listening to music that has caught my eye. Thanks again.
Ben - I try so hard not to do that - even tried using 'excuse me' instead of 'sorry' but almost everything else sounds aggressive or something - perhaps English people aren't very good at assertiveness?
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vogon Poetess: I've heard from two independent sources that the Russian word for station (can't insert the Cyrillic, which none of you can read anyway) originated because Vauxhall was the first station the Rusky engineers were shown when they were sent over by the Tsar to bring back the Industrial Revolution.
I think I read somewhere that, although the Russian word for railway station sounds like "Vauxhall", it's actually more likely to come from an origin to do with "folk hall"... some kind of peoples' gathering area of old. But that sounds a bit vague really so probably safe to stick with the Vauxhall story for the time being.
There was a discussion/moan about evolving language on the radio yesterday, though I only heard a bit of it. But one thing they were complaining about was people starting sentences with "Basically, blah blah blah..." Which I do a lot, sorry.
"At the end of the day" has seriously got out of hand though. People will quite happily say, "At the end of the day, breakfast is my favourite meal" or "At the end of the day, nothing beats a beautiful sunrise." I don't think I say that phrase. Yet. Maybe at the end of the day I will.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: "Basically, blah blah blah..." "At the end of the day"
See also: "To be fair..." Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
Literally is another one - I was quite literally dead on my feet, for example - I blame bad sports commentary - he literally has an engine in his feet (something I head once). End of the day for me is up there with to cut a long story short - something people only say after boring you for three hours but have only just started to notice the glaze in your eyes, you yawns and the fact that you've gnawed your own arm off.
Posted by missgolightly (Member # 34) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: I can't abide the American usage of "I could care less" in place of "I couldn't care less" (i.e. I care so little about that, that it's impossible for me to care about it any less than I already do ).
Oh good, this really winds me up too. Everytime I hear someone say this I just want to scream "Oh for fucks sake, if you could care less, then you obviously care about it a bit at least, so what you've just said makes no sense, you ignorant twat". It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
Freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
Apparently, in days of yore cannonballs would be stored on a ship's deck in a pile, held in place by a brass disc, called a monkey, attached to the deck. In very cold weather the brass disc would shrink, causing the pile of balls to fall over. Why the balls didn't shrink also I don't know. Maybe iron shrinks less than brass.
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
What's your source for that? Call my Bluff? It's complete bullshit. Only a maniac would stack cannonballs on a ship like that - they'd all roll off as soon as you hit choppy water. And they were stored in a 'shot garland'. 'Brass Monkey'. Jesus Christ.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
There are so many great phrases that come from navel termanology - not that any spring to mind - if any one every asks where such and such a saying comes from, you're always safe to bet that it's from the land of rum, sodomy and the lash.
Someone asked Mrs the Ball about what 'navel-gazing' meant at work the other day - I said she should have made up a fantastic tale of Queen Elizabeth looking out at her fleet, lost in thought, just before they beat the spanish amada
I can't wait to move to america and make shit up - to date my two best ones so far were 1) telling someone that it's better to by a canadian fax machine as it was bilingual and 2) telling my father in law, when asked where the advocados that you buy in england come from, that in Holland they have huge green houses specifically for advocados. Sometimes saying 'I don't know' never seems enough.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
We took a guided tour round HMS Victory in (I think?) Portsmouth once. The guide spent the whole tour revealing origins of phrases like the brass monkey one (I imagine "shake a leg" was in there somewhere too), and also debunking others. It was very entertaining, but unfortunately I can't remember whether brass monkey was true or myth. I suppose a little Wikipaeding is required here. Then at least we'll know what the last person to update the wiki thought was correct.
Posted by sabian (Member # 6) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: In a similar vain, I can't abide the American usage of "I could care less" in place of "I couldn't care less" (i.e. I care so little about that, that it's impossible for me to care about it any less than I already do ). Sadly this seems to have made its way across the Atlantic.
Some have said this is meant sarcastically, but by my reckoning that would be spoken with the intonation on the word I, whereas those crazy yanks seem to emphasise the word care. It makes people sound stupid but, hell, they could probably care less.
In my nationality's defense, neither I nor anyone I know know has ever said "I could care less", instead opting for the Misc approved version...
quote:Originally posted by ben: Also: has anyone else noticed how "sorry" seems to have become the principal unit of exchange between an English person encountering any other English person?
Person treading on foot: "Sorry." Person having foot trodden on: "Sorry."
What's that about, eh?
An observation mentioned and somewhat explained in anthropological terms in Watching the English.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by Benny the Ball: I can't wait to move to america
Are you really planning a move to the states?
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by ralph:
quote:Originally posted by Benny the Ball: I can't wait to move to america
Are you really planning a move to the states?
That was irony, ralph.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
ha ha - it has been talked about in the Ball household - what with the wife being a Californian girl. We decided some time ago to try London and then LA and make a choice as to where we'd settle after that - plus I think we'd get more house for our money (even in LA!) - even if the houseing market there gets out of its slump and the reccesion that no one dares name lifts, when we think about buying. So, yes, it has been considered, talked about, not finalised though.
As for Brass Monkey's
this is what TLPWUW (the last person who updated wikipedia) says;
Cannonballs? One popular theory is that a brass monkey is a brass tray used in naval ships during the Napoleonic Wars, used for the storage of cannonballs, piled up in a pyramid on the tray, which would contract in cold weather, causing the balls to fall off. This theory is discredited by Snopes, Michael Quinion, and others for four main reasons: The Oxford English Dictionary does not record any such thing. (Indeed, the OED's AskOxford web site also discredits this theory, for the same reasons as given here.) Early references to "brass monkeys" in the 19th century have no references to balls at all, but instead variously say that it is cold enough to freeze the tail, nose, ears, and whiskers off a brass monkey; or hot enough to "scald the throat" or "singe the hair" of a brass monkey. All of these variations imply that an actual monkey, and not a metal tray, is the subject of the metaphor. The first recorded use of freezing a "brass monkey" dates from 1857, being on page 108 of Before the Mast by C.A. Abbey in his book, where it says "It would freeze the tail off a brass monkey". (Ref: Lighter, J.E.) "hot enough to melt the nose off a brass monkey" dates from 1847 (Living Age, New York 14(167):151 — Ref:Phrase Finder). It similarly occurs in the context of heat in Herman Melville's Omoo (1850): "It was so excessively hot in this still, brooding valley, shut out from the Trades, and only open toward the leeward side of the island, that labor in the sun was out of the question. To use a hyperbolical phrase of Shorty's, 'It was 'ot enough to melt the nose h'off a brass monkey.'" The Story of Waitstill Baxter, by Kate Douglas Wiggin (1913) has "The little feller, now, is smart's a whip, an' could talk the tail off a brass monkey". The Ivory Trail, by Talbot Mundy (1919) has "He has the gall of a brass monkey". The purported method of storage of cannonballs ("round shot") is simply false. Shot was not stored on deck continuously on the off-chance that the ship might go into battle. Indeed, decks were kept as clear as possible. Furthermore, such a method of storage would result in shot rolling loose and rolling around on deck, causing a hazard in high seas. Shot was stored on the gun or spar decks, in shot racks — longitudinal wooden planks with holes bored into them, known as shot garlands in the Royal Navy, into which round shot were inserted for ready use by the gun crew. Shot was not left exposed to the elements, where it could rust. Such rust could lead to the ball not flying true. Indeed, gunners would attempt to remove as many imperfections as possible from the surfaces of balls. Therefore, this appears to be an example of folk etymology.
sorry about the big post, I couldn't create the link? Posted by London (Member # 29) on :
I really hate it when people write 'pour over' when they mean 'pore over' - as in to closely study something. But why is it 'pore'?
*googles*
"*The etymology of pore is obscure, but there is a possibility that it is cognate with peer (v.)."
[ 02.03.2007, 07:49: Message edited by: London ]
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: That was irony, ralph.
No, it wasn't. Idiot.
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: So, I was wondering what phrases or concepts other people might have come across which they never knew the proper meaning of before. Everyone knows what Schadenfreude means, for example, but that sort of thing would count as well.
During the Christmas 2005 tsunami people kept calling the phenomenon a "tidal wave". Since when was a tsunami anything at all to do with tides?
Funny thing is, even the experts kept calling it that. The same experts who told us a tsunami was the result of an undersea earthquake.
Surely "tidal wave" can't mean anything other than a wave caused by a tide?
Input, please?
[ 02.03.2007, 08:05: Message edited by: Lickapaw#2 ]
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
I dunno. I took "tidal wave" to be a single wave that acts like it's an entire tide. This would be reinforced if a very very small tide was referred to as "waval tide", but I don't think they are so that could be a strong argument in your favour.
Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
Following a brief walk to the shops this morning, I encountered an old acquaintance of mine. After a few minutes of inane, banal drivel, she did something that made me want to plunge my fingers into her eye sockets. She - along with many other idiots over the years - incorrectly used the word 'apparently'. People usually bung this word into their sentences when they haven't a fucking clue as to the validity of what they're saying, for example:
"Is is true that he actually fucked his own Mother?"
"Well... erm, yeah, apparently. That's what I 'erd mate."
Also used incorrectly by mongs to attempt to give the impression that they know exciting secrets about celebrities/musicians/anybody gossip worthy enough/etc...
"Ha ha! Well check this mate! Apparently he hates that minging slut he had that sprog with, so apparently he's thinking about fucking her sister and having triplets! Ha!"
"Really? How do you know that?"
"Well, that's what my mate's boyfriend's Dad's secret-lover's ex said in a text she sent my mate on Tuesday -- so it must be true!"
Anyway.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
[QUOTE]Originally posted by sabian: [QB]In my nationality's defense, neither I nor anyone I know know has ever said "I could care less", instead opting for the Misc approved version...
Sorry, I didn't mean to tar all Americans with the same brush. I've just noticed that the "could" versions seems to have originated across the pond.
(Just in case I need some computer help in the future)
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
apparently became an indicator that someone was about to tell a lie for me about 12 years ago.
Posted by London (Member # 29) on :
The worst thing ever, of course, is when people type 'would of' instead of 'would have' or 'would've'.
[ 02.03.2007, 08:11: Message edited by: London ]
Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
quote:Originally posted by Benny the Ball: apparently became an indicator that someone was about to tell a lie for me about 12 years ago.
Me and an old school mate used to make a big deal of the misuse of 'apparently'. It became a cult thing amongst a few of us at school. He's now a newspaper editor, so I'm hoping that this choice of vocation hasn't tarnished his opinion, thirteen years on. Unfortunately I can't get hold of Cumbrian newspapers, therefore there is no way of confirming this.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
I was kept in from play time when I was eight because I couldn't think of every hononym variable of there (actually, the one that got me was their, I put something like 'it was there idea' and was kept in) that bitch of a teacher made me cry with frustration Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
Your teacher sounds like a twat of the highest order. Perhaps she fancied you and wanted to spend some 'quality time' with you?
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
quote:Originally posted by Zygote:
quote:Originally posted by Benny the Ball: apparently became an indicator that someone was about to tell a lie for me about 12 years ago.
Me and an old school mate used to make a big deal of the misuse of 'apparently'. It became a cult thing amongst a few of us at school. He's now a newspaper editor, so I'm hoping that this choice of vocation hasn't tarnished his opinion, thirteen years on. Unfortunately I can't get hold of Cumbrian newspapers, therefore there is no way of confirming this.
ha ha - same here - there was a third friend who took longer to catch on, and we'd tell fantastic lies, with just enough peppering of truth to lead the 3rd man on for as long as possible.
after a while though most conversations would go;
"Person X isn't coming along" "Apparently their hands have...." "You said apparently" "Oh. Never mind."
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
quote:Originally posted by Zygote: Your teacher sounds like a twat of the highest order. Perhaps she fancied you and wanted to spend some 'quality time' with you?
If only she'd said - there was something...smokey...about her beauty.
It was the same teacher that I got in trouble with for telling her that I was going to put on a play for the class, and then spent an hour with my friend playing war before she made the entire class file out into the hall with their chairs, and sit while my friend and I stood there blankly, thinking, can we get away with winging this, before he said 'we've been playing war, miss'.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Can anyone clarify the term "optimist"? Someone once told me that an optimist is someone who makes the most of what they've got, or sees the best in what life has dealt them.
A lot of people seem to think of an optimist more as someone who thinks things will get better or will go well in the future, as in "I'm feeling optimistic about our chances of winning the cup".
Is there any conflict of meaning there, or is it the same thing really?
I think there's an, admittedly fairly subtle, difference and that you can be confident about the future, or have a good feeling about it, but that you can't "make the most of" something that may never happen.
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
I've spoken to people who consider an optimist to be somebody who ignores realistic negatives in their life. Somebody who sees like through a rose tinted monocle, if you will.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Optimist: A junkie who buys in bulk
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
Optimist: somebody who buys a season ticket on the way to a job interview.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lickapaw#2: Optimist: somebody who buys a season ticket on the way to a job interview.
That's a perfect example of what I don't think "optimist" is supposed to mean. That would be someone with extreme self-belief.
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lickapaw#2: I've spoken to people who consider an optimist to be somebody who ignores realistic negatives in their life. Somebody who sees like through a rose tinted monocle, if you will.
thats kindof what I would say. though I would say it was someone who focuses on the positives rather than the negatives in a situation.
So not dismissing the negatives as such; more focusing on the best rather than the worst elements.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kira: I would say it was someone who focuses on the positives rather than the negatives in a situation.
So not dismissing the negatives as such; more focusing on the best rather than the worst elements.
Yes, that's the one I think. But does that conflict with a saying like, "I'm optimistic about getting laid tonight", for example. I think it does.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
I'm having trouble getting my head round that. Surely someone who makes the most of the positive aspects of a situation can acknowledge that they're doing so without suddenly disappearing in a puff of logic, as DNA would say. Or did I miss something?
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
If someone says, "I'm an optimist!" what they're really saying is "Gosh life is tough, yet look at me, putting a brave face on it and struggling through." ***** like that are just whining mealy-mouthed weasels grubbing around for sympathy and a pat on their oily backs. Optimism can only, fairly, be objectively assessed.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65:
quote:Originally posted by Kira: I would say it was someone who focuses on the positives rather than the negatives in a situation.
So not dismissing the negatives as such; more focusing on the best rather than the worst elements.
Yes, that's the one I think. But does that conflict with a saying like, "I'm optimistic about getting laid tonight", for example. I think it does.
I'm not sure how you mean it conflicts; using your example "I'm optimistic about getting laid tonight" you're assuming that there's a possibility that you either will or wont get laid and are focusing on the positive view that you will.
Merriam Webster online dictionary brings up the same definitions for both optimism and optimistic.
Main Entry: op·ti·mism Pronunciation: 'äp-t&-"mi-z&m Function: noun Etymology: French optimisme, from Latin optimum, noun, best, from neuter of optimus best; akin to Latin ops power -- more at OPULENT 1 : a doctrine that this world is the best possible world 2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Yes.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Yes.
You don't sound too sure.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Yes.
You don't sound too sure.
I am.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Yes.
You don't sound too sure.
I am.
I don't believe you.
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche: Really?
Sadly, I actually thought Black Mask's post was cleverer than it actually was (currently in the process of reviewing other posts of his, to establish whether this is a general trend). I thought his point was that by saying "I'm being optimistic about this - I think it'll be OK", you are in fact acknowledging that it probably won't be OK, and to take the view that it will involves assuming a stance of naively blanking out the negatives. You're not really being optimistic because in you feel that to believe in a positive outcome requires a skewing of your worldview. A true optimist would just think everything would be fine; they wouldn't see it as being optimistic.
So with that in mind, I think yes - you could say the same about a pessimist. If they were sort of posturing with it: "Oh, but I'm a pessimist, I still think it won't work out," you're acknowledging that you'd have to be predisposed to believing things would go wrong, in order to believe they'd go wrong. In other words, objectively speaking you think things will probably go OK but a pessismistic viewpoint involves disregarding your gut feeling in order to believe they won't. A true pessimist would just genuinely believe things were going to go wrong. They wouldn't see that belief as a factor of their pessimism.
But - anyway. That's not what BM meant - it was just a woolly piece of stereotyping.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Well, I kind of see what you're saying, but I still think it's possible to be naturally optimistic and still to be aware that not everyone is like that. In fact, you'd probably think, isn't it great that the world is full of such interestingly different people to me, I love it.
You could also be aware that you are a pessimist and think, fucking optimist twats, I wish they'd all piss off instead of making my world even more miserable than it already is.
Kira, I hadn't seen that additional bit to the definition:
quote:2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome
That seems to answer the question. I just thought it was "making the most of what you're given".
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Yes.
You don't sound too sure.
I am.
I don't believe you.
Why?
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nathan Bleak:
But - anyway. That's not what BM meant - it was just a woolly piece of stereotyping.
Balls. I'm right and it burns you up just to know it.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
I don't think anyone here has yet mentioned a current bugbear of mine: "I CAN'T BE ASKED" for "I can't be arsed."
It's startling because it seems almost like a false correction ~ people assuming that "arsed" didn't make sense, and changing to "asked" because "I can't be asked" sounds vaguely grammatical in a totally different context ~ and also, it could be a deliberate euphemism except that I strongly suspect the people using it genuinely think this is the correct phrase.
See also: "If you think X, you've got another 'thing'" coming ~ another erroneous attempt to correct an idiomatic phrase into one that seems to have a superficial acquaintance with grammatical sense, but actually means nothing in context.
One of the most touching mispellings I have seen in recent years, because of the logic process it suggests, is "Cork Asian". You have to imagine that the girl who believed it was spelled this way had some idea about... white people blacking up with burnt corks... or something.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask:
quote:Originally posted by Louche:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Anyone who thinks they're an optimist, by definition, isn't.
Does that work conversely as well? So if someone says 'I'm not an optimist' they actually are an optimist but haven't realised it yet?
No.
Really?
Yes.
You don't sound too sure.
I am.
I don't believe you.
Why?
Mainly because I never believe anything you say.
And I'm going to stop doing this now.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: bugbear
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Balls. I'm right and it burns you up just to know it.
I dunno. I reckon I'm an optimistic person, and my life is incredibly easy. My life is so easy, I laugh at other people for not having as easy a time of it as I do. The harder their lives are, the harder I laugh.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: See also: "If you think X, you've got another 'thing'" coming ~ another erroneous attempt to correct an idiomatic phrase into one that seems to have a superficial acquaintance with grammatical sense, but actually means nothing in context.
Yeah, that one gets me too. I suppose people hear "another think coming" and get Jade off of Big Brother's voice in their head saying somefink and "correct" it because of that. In fact, people look at you a bit weird if you say, "you've got another think coming", the other way is so standard now.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: See also: "If you think X, you've got another 'thing'" coming
Shouldn't it be "you've got another thought coming" ?
ETA: No I suppose not. I've just had another think and it all makes perfect sense now.
[ 02.03.2007, 11:07: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
If that is what you think, then your misconception will be corrected at an indeterminate point in the future by new events or information which proves what you currently believe is true, to be false.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
The expression is, "if you think that, you've got another think coming." You have to understand it as a kind of... Mae West, Groucho Marx kind of wisecrack. Imagine Edward G Robinson snarling it. It's that kind of expression, and I believe it dates to that kind of milieu.
Having "another thing coming" is a total misapprehension that seems to understand the saying as meaning "if you think you're getting beans for dinner, you're actually getting peas [another thing]", rather than "if you think you're getting beans for dinner, you better have another think about it/have another thought lined up, cause that one's wrong."
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles:
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: See also: "If you think X, you've got another 'thing'" coming
Shouldn't it be "you've got another thought coming" ?
ETA: No I suppose not. I've just had another think and it all makes perfect sense now.
I've never even heard anyone say "you've got another think coming" that makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Surely this is just another example of specific/pacific?
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: Utter confusion on the thing/think subject * here.
quote:So, what you guys are saying is that this expression I've used my entire life, which is used throughout the Western U.S. and by everyone I know, as well as by Judas Priest, is wrong?
LOL. "Another thing coming" is used by Americans, and by Judas Priest. QED. Not.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
"I could care less" almost reminds me of the way, in colloquial French, you would lazily drop the negative "ne" ~ "je sais pas" for "je ne sais pas". Or, as an extreme, "je pas".
The laziness of dropping "n't" from "I couldn't care less" almost seems in keeping with the shrugging indifference of the phrase.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kira: Surely this is just another example of specific/pacific?
Um... in what way? You mean the way some people think "specific" is pronounced "pacific"?
Yes, in that some people have got think and thing mixed up, and believe the expression is "another thing coming".
But you seem to be suggesting you think "thing coming" is correct. Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
But Judas Priest used another thing coming
quote: If you think Ill sit around as the world goes by Youre thinkin like a fool cause its a case of do or die Out there is a fortune waitin to be had You think Ill let it go youre mad You've got another thing comin'
Surely a metal band would know which is correct?
[ 02.03.2007, 11:23: Message edited by: ralph ]
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Hold on. Am I smelling Barbelith?
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: "I could care less" almost reminds me of the way, in colloquial French, you would lazily drop the negative "ne" ~ "je sais pas" for "je ne sais pas". Or, as an extreme, "je pas".
The laziness of dropping "n't" from "I couldn't care less" almost seems in keeping with the shrugging indifference of the phrase.
I think the French example is different as pas translates as not. Yes, it's lazy to leave out the ne, but a negative element to the sentence is still preserved, whereas "I could care less" removes the negative entirely.
[ 02.03.2007, 11:29: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Care to unpack what you mean by "smelling", there, Black Mask? There may be people here who identify as "smelly" from your cultural position, and you've probably just made this a pretty uncomfortable, oppressive environment for those folks. I'm putting in a request to move your last post to Policy and initiating airlock procedures.
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr:
quote:Originally posted by Kira: Surely this is just another example of specific/pacific?
Um... in what way? You mean the way some people think "specific" is pronounced "pacific"?
Yes, in that some people have got think and thing mixed up, and believe the expression is "another thing coming".
But you seem to be suggesting you think "thing coming" is correct.
yes I am suggesting that "another thing coming" is correct. Thats always how I've heard it. However I would never say pacific instead of specific. Only retards do that.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Does anyone use "think on" by the way? I rather like that phrase, although I originally took it to mean "keep thinking" when I now believe it's supposed to mean "think about it", as in "take some time to have some thoughts on the matter".
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: Care to unpack what you mean by "smelling", there, Black Mask? There may be people here who identify as "smelly" from your cultural position, and you've probably just made this a pretty uncomfortable, oppressive environment for those folks. I'm putting in a request to move your last post to Policy and initiating airlock procedures.
LOL
And welcome.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Does anyone use "think on" by the way? I rather like that phrase, although I originally took it to mean "keep thinking" when I now believe it's supposed to mean "think about it", as in "take some time to have some thoughts on the matter".
It's 'Think on't', isn't it?
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: It's 'Think on't', isn't it?
Ben?
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Does anyone use "think on" by the way? I rather like that phrase, although I originally took it to mean "keep thinking" when I now believe it's supposed to mean "think about it", as in "take some time to have some thoughts on the matter".
Yes my mum used to say that. usually associated with a telling off Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kira: yes I am suggesting that "another thing coming" is correct. Thats always how I've heard it. However I would never say pacific instead of specific. Only retards do that.
As I said earlier, I believe that's where the "thing" version has come about, in the UK at least. Because people think they're correcting the Essex pronounciation of "thing" as "fink", when in fact it's supposed to be "think". Think makes sense. Thing doesn't. Other than that "thing" is just an abstract, all encompassing word.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
It's certainly the sort of thing I can imagine ben saying. Like 'sithee' and ''appen', or 'reet'.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65:
quote:Originally posted by Kira: yes I am suggesting that "another thing coming" is correct. Thats always how I've heard it. However I would never say pacific instead of specific. Only retards do that.
As I said earlier, I believe that's where the "thing" version has come about, in the UK at least. Because people think they're correcting the Essex pronounciation of "thing" as "fink", when in fact it's supposed to be "think". Think makes sense. Thing doesn't. Other than that "thing" is just an abstract, all encompassing word.
Could it be... 'You've got an Otherthink coming.'?
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
I used to work with someone who, infuriatingly, would say that she "brought a mars bar from the corner shop"
While I've no doubt she did, she left me in the dark as to whether she'd paid for it...
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kira: yes I am suggesting that "another thing coming" is correct. Thats always how I've heard it. However I would never say pacific instead of specific. Only retards do that.
To be fair, Kira, they sound the same, as the website linked to above seemed to demonstrate (something about "thing/k" as one word joins the 'k' sound at the start of "coming").
What's interesting is that you must have thought the phrase meant something slightly different. In what I believe is the correct form, it means "you have another thought coming" ~ but the grammar has been comically warped. (Again, it's from America in the 1930s apparently. Think of the poem "spring has sprung / the grass is rizz / I wonder where the boidies is! / the boids is on the wing, they say. But that's absoid / I always heard them say / the wings is on the boid.")
I'm not sure really what sense "another thing" makes, except in the way I suggested above ("If you think you're getting any money off me, you've got another thing [no money] coming").
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
No, it's another THING coming. Anyone who thinks it's 'think' is a complete and utter fucking retard: FACT Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
This could go for days.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
I always thought it was 'thing'. It makes about as much sense as 'think', in this context.
I can only apologise for the brass monkeys misunderstanding. Perhaps they were used for ceremonial ball-holding, rather than on the high seas.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
I remember speaking to a rather simple individual about the availablity of pirated software on the Internet. In those days, and perhaps still today in some circles, it was known as the Warez scene (a contraction of software, with a z added, presumably because z is such a cool letter). Simpleton had obviously only ever seen the word in written form and had no idea about its origin, hence insisted on pronouncing it wah-rez. I tried to explain, but...
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Right, here's the explanation for those who were dropped on their heads as babies. Hint: the clue is is the italicised words.
"If you believe this thing, then you have another thing coming!"
Do you see? Because you believe one thing but in actual fact, what is to come is actually a completely different thing.
If you still don't understand, then there is no hope for you. You are, frankly, dead to me.
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr:
quote:Originally posted by Kira: yes I am suggesting that "another thing coming" is correct. Thats always how I've heard it. However I would never say pacific instead of specific. Only retards do that.
To be fair, Kira, they sound the same, as the website linked to above seemed to demonstrate (something about "thing/k" as one word joins the 'k' sound at the start of "coming").
What's interesting is that you must have thought the phrase meant something slightly different. In what I believe is the correct form, it means "you have another thought coming" ~ but the grammar has been comically warped. (Again, it's from America in the 1930s apparently. Think of the poem "spring has sprung / the grass is rizz / I wonder where the boidies is! / the boids is on the wing, they say. But that's absoid / I always heard them say / the wings is on the boid.")
I'm not sure really what sense "another thing" makes, except in the way I suggested above ("If you think you're getting any money off me, you've got another thing [no money] coming").
Your last example is a good explanation of what I've always taken it to mean.
Although judging from what you've said and the other forum this is wrong.
I suppose if you hear something often enough you'll just assume that its right until someone corrects you or you hear it or see it in its correct form and then you'll be prompted question what you know. The misuse of pacific seems to be fairly widespread so I guess this is a good example of this.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Regardless that I believe I'm correct to the point where I'd actually say I know I'm correct, I don't understand how "thing" makes sense in that context.
"If you think I'm going to lend you that money, you've got another thing coming." What thing? An absence of money? What?
By contrast, "another think" as comical version of "another thought" makes sense. It means "if you think I'm going to lend you that money, you'd better think again." (You've got another "think" coming to you.)
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Kira no, you're right, it's ok.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Do Americans (and Ringo) learn most of their English from Judas Priest lyrics then? It would explain quite a lot.
Reminds me of that old joke about the explorer who comes across a lost tribe and is greated by the village chief with the words, "Welcome *ckckckck* Please come and *weeeeee ckkckck* take tea with us *wooooooob ckckckck*"
And the explorer says, "Er, may I ask where you learned to speak English so, er, interestingly?"
And the chief shows him a short wave radio and says "BBC World *weeeeeb shhhhhshhhhh* Service".
Hmm, probably a 1920s joke that one.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Ringo, it's 'think'.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
It's not! It's totally not! And if you think it is, then by God, you've got another thing coming!
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
Ringo's right.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
See!
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Braingin' the law, braingin' the law! Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: "If you believe this thing, then you have another thing coming!"
Do you see? Because you believe one thing but in actual fact, what is to come is actually a completely different thing.
Or...
"If you think this, then you have another think coming!"
Do you see? Because you think [something], but to understand the truth of the matter, you will have to think again.
[ 02.03.2007, 12:01: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: "If you believe this thing, then you have another thing coming!"
Do you see? Because you believe one thing but in actual fact, what is to come is actually a completely different thing.
That's so boringly literal as to not be an idiom at all, though. You don't provide any examples, which seems a weakness, but I suppose I can try to imagine how it might work. "If you believe you're getting chips, you're getting mashed potatoes coming." "If you think you're going to the pub tonight, you've got a night in with a bottle of wine coming".
It's just pedestrian.
The thing about idiomatic expressions is that they're colourful and memorable. The way you're presenting this one, it would be the most boring idiomatic expression in the history of ever... if you were right.
However, we don't have to rely on what we firmly believe to be true, when it comes to language. I'm sure there are places we can look it up.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: It's not! It's totally not! And if you think it is, then by God, you've got another thing coming!
This just demonstrates why your misinterpretation of the idiom is wrong. What you've written doesn't really make sense, and at very best, it's just pointlessly plodding.
"If you think it is, you've got another thing coming." What's the other "thing" here?
-- The, the thing is, you retard spastic, the thing is YOU BEING WRONG!
- That's not a "thing". If anything, it's an event.
-- You being wrong IS A THING! It's a THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. And if you keep arguing with me, you're a fucking joey! Three people here agree with me, IDT INDT!!!
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: I'm sure there are places we can look it up.
Thousands of them. It seems to be a 50/50 split between thing and think.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Who said it was an idiomatic expression? I'm simply telling it like it is. If it's not wordy enough for you then it doesn't make it wrong. You can't just make stuff up to suit you.
And if you expect me to sit here arguing the toss with you all evening, you've got another thing coming. Because I am going home.
Goodbye.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by ralph:
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: I'm sure there are places we can look it up.
Thousands of them. It seems to be a 50/50 split between thing and think.
Perhaps that's because the internet is dominated by American sites, which seem (oddly, if the idiom originated in the US) to have got the wrong idea about this one.
Posted by missgolightly (Member # 34) on :
I've always thought it was think.
I just asked Pink though, and he said thing, and got quite annoyed when I suggested otherwise.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
quote:Originally posted by missgolightly: I've always thought it was think.
I just asked Pink though, and he said thing, and got quite annoyed when I suggested otherwise.
And you let him up your arse?
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: Who said it was an idiomatic expression?
Well, that's another question I suppose. I would say it's an idiom. But I'm glad you have decided graciously that this argument isn't worth silly fighting about ~ I certainly agree. I almost wish I'd never brought it up, now.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I bid you a jew.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Here's another interesting one, to change the subject.
I heard a girl on the train last week referring to "WWW.H Smiths".
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles:
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: It's 'Think on't', isn't it?
Ben?
'Think on' was what I used to be told, usually having just been 'clattered'. Think on's potency could be intensified by adding 'You can just fucking...' or somesuch.
Posted by missgolightly (Member # 34) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: And you let him up your arse?
lol I'm really going to regret saying that, aren't I?
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
I thing we should believe the information on *this page, as it was published just four years after the alleged birth of Christ:
quote:by Tina Blue November 24, 004
A popular expression that I keep seeing misused, even by those who write for a living, is the one that goes, "If you think this, that, or the other, then you've got another think coming."
The common misuse of this expression goes thus: "If you think this, that, or the other, then you've got another thing coming."
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
I feel a bit bad about trying to mock Ringo's position, now. I just got carried away with the argument, I'm afraid. I'm sure his passion for language is admirable.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
Ringo, Kira and Pink are WRONG.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
I think the probblem is how you can actually define either saying as categorically right or wrong. With no supporting evidence to prove or disprove either saying, and no clear majority holding either opinion, you'd have to say that in a sense they are both right, and both wrong.
Or, to put it another way, say what you want, it doesn't really matter, you boner.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
lol. I knew you'd try to get the last word in.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
well done
Although I must say my cycle home flew by with something to thing about.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
lol
Posted by Samuelnorton (Member # 48) on :
For those who work from home and often fancy a bit of light relief in the form of televisual Schadenfreude, the Jeremy Kyle Show is a must.
However, one thing that annoys me even more than the stream of toothless, witless chav morons is Jeremy's use of the term erudite to describe a guest who can manage to string more than half a sentence together.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Hello Samuelnorton! It's good to see a few people finally posting on a Sunday. I expected more activity. I would start a thread but all I can think of today is how much more it costs you to be healthy rather than eat crap. I think I spent Ł10 on a fruit salad and caesar salad today. I could have had a Quarter Pounder meal with fries and shake, and either 6 cans of stella or a decent bottle of wine, for that. And have a pound left over for chips.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Back on topic, have you noticed how people always tend to use "perogative" instead of "prerogative"? I'm sure Britney even says it "perogative". [In the song, I mean. Of that name]
Oh and here's another one: remuneration, which people seem tempted to say "renumeration", presumably because they think it's do to with numbers, not money. I don't know for sure.
[ 04.03.2007, 17:08: Message edited by: wonderstarr ]
Posted by Samuelnorton (Member # 48) on :
Good evening wonderstar... Yes, 'perogative' is one that gets me as well, along with those people who don't appear to know that there is an 's' in specific.
Even funnier though are those people who use 'nonce' when they mean nous.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
"Nous" as in... canniness? (Not as in "we"). I must admit I don't hear a lot of people using the word nous at all, let alone using it incorrectly. Perhaps you mix with a higher class of illiterate.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
I think Samnorton's just in denial about the fact that the local kids really do think he's a nonce, and like to vocalise this every time he's within earshot.
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
Another two:
At what point, exactly, did 'addictive' turn into 'addicting'? As in www.addictinggames.com
I went to a couple of lectures at the Brighton Science Festival the other weekend and, for some reason that now escapes me, attended a lecture on transistors. The lecturer told us that a lot of students, when writing about transistors, will say that 'geranium' is used to make it work. This would be a fantastic example of flower power if it were true, but the truth actually is that 'Germanium' is used.
Which is something else entirely.
Which was invented in Germany.
Hence the name.
Posted by mart (Member # 32) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: how much more it costs you to be healthy rather than eat crap
Only if eating out, though. When it comes to shopping, normal food is always cheaper than processed stuff.
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
False of habit, I keep hearing that and it bugs me.
Effect when you mean affect and affect when you mean effect.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lickapaw#2: Another two:
At what point, exactly, did 'addictive' turn into 'addicting'? As in www.addictinggames.com
This bugs me too. Also when people say they have an addictive personality which would suggest it would be possible to become addicted to that person's personality, like an addictive drug or similar. This is compounded by them saying addicting personality which is when I really want to stab them.
Especially the inferrence of "Oh, it's not my fault I became addicted to heroin, or that I go out and get absolutely slaughtered every night. You see I have this personality defect whereby I can easily become addicted to anything!"
NO! You fucking moron. You're just a twat who does things to excess. If you have a personality defect it's that you fail to properly consider the consequences of your actions, but to try to deny responsibility for systematically fucking yourself up is fucking retarded. Stop making excuses for yourself, grow up, or fuck off!
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
anenome, instead of anemone.
febuary, instead of february
secketary, instead of secretary.
Xmas, rather than Christmas. You lazy fucker.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by mart:
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: how much more it costs you to be healthy rather than eat crap
Only if eating out, though. When it comes to shopping, normal food is always cheaper than processed stuff.
Not if you buy packaged pre-sliced and pre-washed fruit, and a packaged caesar salad with packaged pre-grill chicken pieces, like I did because I am pathetic. I did however mix the chicken with the salad, in a form of "cooking".
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Skellington
Ballbarian
Tryannosaurus Rex
Put them together and you've got an awe-inspiring scene!
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
People who say 'itch' when they mean 'scratch'.
"Oooh, I need to itch my back"
NO! Your back is itchy so you need to scratch it. Itching your back will only make the situation worse!
Posted by Kira (Member # 826) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: Skellington
Ooh you just made me think of another one...
chimley Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
That'll learn them
Haitch.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by H1ppychick: Xmas, rather than Christmas. You lazy fucker.
My mum's name is Christine. I've seen my dad refer to her in writing as "Xine". (on behalf of H1X.)
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
When people describe their vacuum cleaner as a 'hoover' when it's made by any company other than Hoover. That really grinds my gears
Posted by Darryn.R (Member # 1) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kira:
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: Skellington
Ooh you just made me think of another one...
chimley
chimbley
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65:
quote:Originally posted by H1ppychick: Xmas, rather than Christmas. You lazy fucker.
My mum's name is Christine. I've seen my dad refer to her in writing as "Xine". (on behalf of H1X.)
If anyone ever called me 'X' because they're too lazy to write 'Chris' I would literally kill them.
[ 05.03.2007, 05:13: Message edited by: Ringo ]
Posted by saltrock (Member # 622) on :
Crips instead of crisps. Small children and thicks say this a lot.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: If anyone ever called me 'X' because they're too lazy to write 'Chris' I would literally kill them.
I suppose they could only technically do it if your name was "Christ" though. Anyway, shouldn't it be +mas? It was St Andrew that got strung up on an X wasn't it?
Here's one that gets me, reminded to me by NWoD's birthday... Micheal, instead of Michael. I even had to correct someone once whose name was Michael and had written it Micheal. "Are you sure?" he said.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Cimomile, instead of cinema.
Ambleance, instead of ambulance.
Both of those are much better than the "correct" pronounciation though.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Idiots who say "pronounciate" rather than "Pronunciate"
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Is there anyone that is able to say "theatre" in the way that actors can? It's sort of "thee-etter", but it never sounds right when I try it.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Apparently "cashpoint" is also a copyright term, like Hoover.
Has anyone mentioned "Can I lend your pen?" when they mean "borrow"?
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: Idiots who say "pronounciate" rather than "Pronunciate"
Nunce.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
Adults using baby speak really does my head in - stuff like Interweb is all cutsy and ha ha look at me, I'm an adult sounding cute - but when people say poo instead of shit that just annoys me completely. A friend's ex used to say 'Oh, you've made a smell' instead of farted - and would say things like, 'and then he said the 'f'...' - fine, if you're in a primary school lesson at the time, not fine when you are a) in a room full of adults and b) in a room with adults that have heard you moaning like a whore in the next room of a night....
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Ambleance, instead of ambulance.
Have we mentioned hoss-pickle, (or horse-pickle) instead of hospital?
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
The euphamistic acronyms on sites to do with pregnancy and babies, all avoiding mentioning nasty dirty things like sex, periods, etc.
For example: BD = baby dance - ie shagging AF = aunt flo - ie 'the curse' DH = dear husband BBs = boobies - ie tits BM = bowel movement, usually followed by 'sorry, TMI'
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
Baby dance... Jesus Christ. That's as clear a symptom of the complete loss of perspective that parents and aspiring parents are in danger of undergoing when their whole life becomes focussed on BABY. All the joy and love and zest and excitement of banging your partner is distilled off in favour of the sole aim of fertilising an egg. Grim.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by herbs: For example: BD = baby dance - ie shagging AF = aunt flo - ie 'the curse' DH = dear husband BBs = boobies - ie tits BM = bowel movement, usually followed by 'sorry, TMI'
Anyone who uses 'baby dance' as above doesn't actually deserve to have sex.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
Then there's the threads dedicated to the stretchiness of your CM.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
Ew. Or, indeed, EW.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by Louche: Then there's the threads dedicated to the stretchiness of your CM.
Cervical Mucus? Cervical Muscles? Cunt Milk?
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
LOL - Baby Elephant Walk is the lovers tune of choice.
[ 05.03.2007, 07:07: Message edited by: New Way Of Decay ]
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
"You're more clever than what I am."
Oh, no, of course not! It's not like that at all! Firstly, dunce, it's 'cleverer', and secondly you can drop the 'what'.
Now, repeat after me,
"You're cleverer than I am."
Good. Very good.
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lickapaw#2: "You're more clever than what I am."
Surely this is a simple jest - the grammatical mangling being a self-spoofing demonstration of the speaker's lack of cleverness. It's exactly the kind of humour you see on here, all the time.
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
Yes, but I doubt these people are of elevated enough intelligence to figure that one out.
I'd really like to believe that's true, though.
[ 05.03.2007, 09:23: Message edited by: Lickapaw#2 ]
Posted by saltrock (Member # 622) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Is there anyone that is able to say "theatre" in the way that actors can? It's sort of "thee-etter", but it never sounds right when I try it.
Yes!!!! My boss says theee-eatter in a particularly special way. He has something to do with a theatre near where he lives, so he tends to say it quite often and it always makes me smile and then I make him say it again. A bit like when we were small and I used to make my mum say "sweeties" in her special lovely Scottish voice. It always sounded so warm .
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by saltrock: lovely Scottish voice
I love/hate miw-yuns - the Scottish pronunciation of millions. As stupid as it sounds, I can't help smiling each time I hear it.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: When people describe their vacuum cleaner as a 'hoover' when it's made by any company other than Hoover. That really grinds my gears
Similarly, when people ask for a Coke when in reality, they'd settle for just about any cola-type drink (Pepsi, Panda Cola etc), regardless of the fact that Coke is a specific product and registered trademark of the Coca~Cola Company, rather than just some generic fizzy drink with a slightly musty flavour, it really fucks me off!
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
On a pronunciation aside:
mirror = mih-ruh, not mir terrorist = teh-ruh-rist, not trrrist clique = cleek, not click Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Lol imagine asking for a vodka and cola, in a pub.
Actually, I think you'll find that "Coke", or "Coca-cola" is a registered brand name. A generic cola drink will suit me just fine, thanking you barman!
Watch out for me carpet, I've just dysoned it. Posted by Vogon Poetess (Member # 164) on :
I thought Hoover was one of the few names to have reached generic brand-crossover point in that way. Several companies try to force it- I remember ads encouraging you to "Switch it" and "Persil it", but I guess it has to evolve naturally. I mean, it surely spawned the phrasal verb "to hoover up" as in the fat fucker hoovered up the remaining crumbs of their Maccy D with a sickening gulp of flabby greed.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
Currurleewurrurlee
I love that in a Scottish accent Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Can anyone think of any other brand names which have become verbs? I can't. So I'm going to go and Google for some.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: On a pronunciation aside:
mirror = mih-ruh, not mir terrorist = teh-ruh-rist, not trrrist clique = cleek, not click
I hate the click one too.
Posted by Louche (Member # 450) on :
Dang!
I can't think of any verbal tic that annoys me. I am obviously having a remarkably serene moment.
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Can anyone think of any other brand names which have become verbs? I can't. So I'm going to go and Google for some.
Chuckle.
A few people I know now say, I'm going to Sky plus it, when they mean record it using the hard disc recorder electronic programme guide named Sky +. Idiots.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
I do this. Sorry if it annoys.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Tivo
Google
Bittorrent
are all verbs
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
I find it amusing and ironic when someone says "I don't like it when people verb a noun"...lol
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Maybe not... people say "I'm going to torrent it", perhaps that isn't the same thing. Perhaps they don't even say that and I'm imagining it.
Oh... an advertising campaign wanted us to say "I oyster up to Earl's Court", but I suspect that would catch in most people's throats if they weren't wankers.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
quote:Originally posted by H1ppychick: I find it amusing and ironic when someone says "I don't like it when people verb a noun"...lol
sounds like you should get out more, h1ppy.
[ 05.03.2007, 10:22: Message edited by: Jimmy Big Nuts ]
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: Bittorrent
I use torrent as a verb which is probably wrong, but it flows much better than bittorrent.
Example:
Did you how many adverts there were in 24 last week? No, I torrented it. Posted by saltrock (Member # 622) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles:
quote:Originally posted by saltrock: lovely Scottish voice
I love/hate miw-yuns - the Scottish pronunciation of millions. As stupid as it sounds, I can't help smiling each time I hear it.
I used to get laughed at at school for saying mill-yuns instead of mill i ons and sangwich instead of sandwich. Oh, and my dad does the best one - fillums for films.
Posted by Samuelnorton (Member # 48) on :
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: I love/hate miw-yuns - the Scottish pronunciation of millions. As stupid as it sounds, I can't help smiling each time I hear it.
Alex - or should I say Awex - Ferguson is a classic example. We paid five miw-yun for this pway-er. We pwayed well. Etc.
In a moment of utter boredom while travelling through Poland this subject cropped up, and we concluded that the Polish 'Ł' - pronounced as a 'W' as in Łódź - should be introduced into the Scottish alphabet. So 'million' in Scotch would be miłion, for example.
As for the use of brand names to describe a generic item, I believe hoover has more or less been accepted as a general term for a vacuum cleaner, in much the same way as sellotape is used to describe any clear tape.
Useless factoid #675: in France clear tape is called scotch.
[ 05.03.2007, 11:50: Message edited by: Samuelnorton ]
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
quote:Originally posted by Samuelnorton: As for the use of brand names to describe a generic item, I believe hoover has more or less been accepted as a general term for a vacuum cleaner, in much the same way as sellotape is used to describe any clear tape.
Except on Blue Peter. Which prompted a lasting confusion during my childhood. I thought I'd figured out, after years of wondering what this special product was, that sticky-back plastic was the acetate stuff you use to laminate books or signs with. In fact, it was only last week that I realised sticky-back plastic was simply their non-copyright term for Sellotape.
That really is a lasting confusion, isn't it.
[ 05.03.2007, 12:02: Message edited by: wonderstarr ]
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Sellotape's a good example of brand name as verb. Another stationery one would be Tippex I suppose. Although quite a few people say Snopake instead of Tippex, but "to tippex" is definitely a verb and "to snopake" I don't think is.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
I don't think Snopake is a noun.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
It sounds like Moontroll cumming over Snork Maiden's face or something.
Posted by missgolightly (Member # 34) on :
Wonderstarr - you're really reminding me of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, running around the forum trying to make the burglars think people are still home, lol.
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
I'm used to forums that don't shut at 6pm and on Sundays! Sorry I felt I was kind of keeping a pilot light going.
Posted by ben (Member # 13) on :
quote:Originally posted by wonderstarr: Except on Blue Peter. Which prompted a lasting confusion during my childhood. I thought I'd figured out, after years of wondering what this special product was, that sticky-back plastic was the acetate stuff you use to laminate books or signs with. In fact, it was only last week that I realised sticky-back plastic was simply their non-copyright term for Sellotape.
That really is a lasting confusion, isn't it.
Me too! This precluded me from ever trying to make anything that they made on Blue Peter since 'sticky-back plastic' just wasn't the sort of thing we had lying around the house. Why they couldn't have called it 'sticky tape' like any fucking sane person would I have no idea.
I still feel bitter about that.
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
NO NO. Sticky tape was the Blue Peter-ism for sellotape, but sticky backed plastic was something else entirely. A kind of sheet covering for exercise books or Sindy dressing tables made out of matchboxes. It may have had the brand name of Fablon, or something.
[ 06.03.2007, 04:31: Message edited by: herbs ]
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by herbs: ETA: God bless Google. It was indeed Fablon.
quote: Fablon is THE sticky back plastic
They're really proud of their position at the top of their field, aren't they?
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
I had no idea that's what they meant. What idiots. I too thought is was some special middle class art supply - I hated Blue Peter anyway.
Posted by Samuelnorton (Member # 48) on :
I had always thought they used 'double sided sticky tape' on Blue Peter...
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
quote:Originally posted by Samuelnorton: I had always thought they used 'double sided sticky tape' on Blue Peter...
You mean 'tit tape', don't you?
Sadly, that isn't a brand name.
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
quote: You mean 'tit tape', don't you?
True fact: I once used the double sided tape you get to stick pikey double glazing to window frames to secure a dress to myself, and came up in comedy blisters over the course of the night. Lol!
How is everyone? I have just got back from holiday, did I miss anything?
Posted by Lickapaw#2 (Member # 1049) on :
Post's coming down. Shh!
How was your holiday, Abby?
[ 06.03.2007, 09:01: Message edited by: Lickapaw#2 ]
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
quote:Originally posted by ben: People ask for a Coke when in reality, they'd settle for just about any cola-type drink (Pepsi, Panda Cola etc), regardless of the fact that Coke is a specific product and registered trademark of the Coca~Cola Company, rather than just some generic fizzy drink with a slightly musty flavour, it really fucks me off!
I'm not sure that's true. I know I (and I'm certain at least one of my friends) would specifically want Coke/Coca-Cola if I asked for it, not any other generic crap pop some cheapskate was attempting to peddle in it's stead.
Like my friends who had Soda Streams when we were kids.
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
It was alright thanks. I went skiing, which I love, but I think I have become to old and cantankerous to spend a week sharing accomodation with too many people (14 in total).
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
ooh, where'd you go? I'm off to Val d'Isere a week on Saturday and can't wait.
Posted by Abby (Member # 582) on :
Les Menuires just down from Val Thorens. I have never been so late in the year before and the difference in temperature was quite noticable, I dont think I actually got properly cold at any point the whole week.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
lol
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by H1ppychick: ooh, where'd you go? I'm off to Val d'Isere a week on Saturday and can't wait.
Heh - this is where Octavia worked when she took a year off life a few years ago. She was ski-ing down one of the mountains and took a tumble, dislocating her arm and getting it trapped behind her shoulder blade. She was conscious the whole time - kneeling in the freezing snow screaming at the top of her voice, waiting for someone to come and help, arm pinned as though it were growing out the centre of her spine, tendons wrenched round, trying to pull everything back into place, but with the bone jammed behind the shoulder. Worse pain than childbirth, she was told.
Anyway - have a good trip.
[ 06.03.2007, 09:51: Message edited by: Nathan Bleak ]
Posted by missgolightly (Member # 34) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nathan Bleak: She was ski-ing down one of the mountains and took a tumble, dislocating her arm and getting it trapped behind her shoulder blade. She was conscious the whole time - kneeling in the freezing snow screaming at the top of her voice, waiting for someone to come and help, arm pinned as though it were growing out the centre of her spine, tendons wrenched round, trying to pull everything back into place, but with the bone jammed behind the shoulder. Worse pain than childbirth, she was told.
This is exactly why I've never been tempted to go skiing. Probable pain, cold and bloody hard work do not sound like my kind of holiday at all.
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
I can't imagine Nathan being sympathetic when Octavia told him that story. More.......excited.
Posted by Jimmy Big Nuts (Member # 895) on :
hey nwod, you might be tickled to hear that we're having to delay the whole mortgage process until I get a new bankcard.
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
... I ... Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
quote:Originally posted by missgolightly: This is exactly why I've never been tempted to go skiing. Probable pain, cold and bloody hard work do not sound like my kind of holiday at all.
Nah.
Skiing's brilliant!
Whatever horror stories you hear I don't think the pain most experience is ever more than a bit of a sore arse. My experience has always been that you burn calories, get fit(ter) quick and lose weight like fuck skiing during the day, then drink your body weight in lovely boozes at night. Then beautiful chilly fresh air to soothe your hangover in the morning as you sweat it out on the slopes.
I want to go skiiing.
[ 06.03.2007, 10:35: Message edited by: Boy Racer ]
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
quote:Originally posted by missgolightly: Probable pain, cold and bloody hard...
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: Whatever horror stories you hear I don't think the pain most experience is ever more than a bit of a sore arse.
Must resist...
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boy Racer: I want to go skiiing.
Is this the right time to mention that we have a spare bed in our accommodation, that I fully plan to use to spread my gear all over?
Posted by Boy Racer (Member # 498) on :
Fear not, your gear space is safe, I've no leave left. Thanks though.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
Came across another saying in the paper today. "Devil's advocate". Obviously I know what I've always taken it to "mean" - someone who sort of deliberately argues the "wrong" side of a debate, trying to show the other side of the coin even if they quite likely don't really support that side of the argument themselves. But I didn't know the origin.
It was in an article about Mother Theresa which mentioned the process of beatification on the path to sainthood. The author Christopher Hitchen (sp?) apparently wrote a book about her which painted her as someone who spent far more time ruthlessly raising money for her projects (from wicked people like Robert Maxwell) than actually working with the poor.
At the Vatican beatification hearings (or whatever they're called) he actually took the official role of "Devil's advocate", making the case against her being sainted.
Well, I never knew that.
Posted by H1ppychick (Member # 529) on :
came across one in dang's seaside post just now:
discrete: distinct, separate discreet: unobtrusive
sorry dang, but grrrr.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
quote:Originally posted by H1ppychick: came across one in dang's seaside post just now:
discrete: distinct, separate discreet: unobtrusive
sorry dang, but grrrr.
quote:The boards would be discrete, at knee level sort of thing, with a nice big copy of the picture and a little bit of blurb.
What's wrong with that?
quote:The boards would be distinct, separate, at knee level sort of thing, with a nice big copy of the picture and a little bit of blurb.
Sounds alright to me.
I'll make a note though, just to be absolutely certain that I don't actually get them mixed up on some occasion in the future. Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
Just thought of another one. I've only noticed it on television programmes, usually news/documentaries - using the noun 'impact' as a verb. For example, 'This nuclear weapon could severely impact the US.' It's just sheer laziness. The worst channel for it is CNBC, however Bloomberg isn't lagging too far behind.
Posted by dang65 (Member # 102) on :
It does have a slightly sloppy feel about it, but impact is a genuine verb, even when used in the way you describe. I hope that information doesn't impact too much upon your sanity.
Edit. No one saw that did they?
[ 07.03.2007, 11:28: Message edited by: dang65 ]
Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
quote:Originally posted by dang65: Edit. No one saw that did they?
I saw it. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
'Impact' as a verb. Hmm. I've been scouring various sources for some clarification and there are some interesting arguments for us to ponder.
quote:One (very large) group of people thinks that using “impact” as a verb is just nifty: “The announcement of yet another bug in the software will strongly impact the price of the company’s stock.” Another (very passionate) group of people thinks that “impact” should be used only as a noun and considers the first group to be barbarians. Although the first group may well be winning the usage struggle, you risk offending more people by using “impact” as a verb than you will by substituting more traditional words like “affect” or “influence.”
quote:Impact: To make or have an impact on something. You may not use this noun as a verb. It sounds horribly clumsy and many people find its use as a verb aesthetically offensive. You have been warned.
The Using English.com site is currently holding a poll, the question being, 'Is it okay to use "impact" as a verb?'
Of the 184 votes to date (including the one I've just submitted), 45.11% believe 'yes', 54.89% believe 'no'.
Obviously using 'impact' as a verb is acceptable nowadays, however it will still make my blood boil when I hear it used in this manner. Nothing will ever change that. The fact that it is the 'American' Heritage Dictionary of the English Language that proudly condones this sickening misuse, along with the 'American' website that you used in your example - says it all really. It's just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
[ 07.03.2007, 12:41: Message edited by: Zygote ]
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Invite. Have we done that, yet?
What's wrong with 'invitation'?
"Your invitation's in the post."
Paxo and Jon Snow have both used 'invite' recently.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
But you can use impacted as in: "the interior of Ralph's skull was impacted with a mulchy, wood-smelling substance where one would normally expect to find a brain"
Posted by herbs (Member # 101) on :
With you all the way re Zygote. Double for 'impactful.
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
To interface.
Honestly, just die.
Posted by Black Mask (Member # 185) on :
Can we have an example of a sentence where 'interface' is used correctly?
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: But you can use impacted as in: "the interior of Ralph's skull was impacted with a mulchy, wood-smelling substance where one would normally expect to find a brain"
Still living with your parents, Ringo?
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: But you can use impacted as in: "the interior of Ralph's skull was impacted with a mulchy, wood-smelling substance where one would normally expect to find a brain"
Or as a slightly different useage: "My knuckles impacted violently with Ralph's jaw, sending a jet of crimson saliva and sparkling white shards of tooth fragments spattering up the wall"
Posted by Nathan Bleak (Member # 1040) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Can we have an example of a sentence where 'interface' is used correctly?
"When ralph's wife steps out of line, he kicks her interface."
Posted by Zygote (Member # 883) on :
Lol.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
quote:Originally posted by Black Mask: Can we have an example of a sentence where 'interface' is used correctly?
"Ralph was unable to comprehend the interface of his new laptop, as it was not made from coal and trees"
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
I'll take that to mean yes.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nathan Bleak: "When ralph's wife steps out of line, he kicks her interface."
lol. But not true.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ringo: Or as a slightly different useage: "My knuckles impacted violently with Ralph's jaw, sending a jet of crimson saliva and sparkling white shards of tooth fragments spattering up the wall"
lol. I think you over estimate the ability of your knuckles.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Pfft, you overestimate the strength of your glass yankee jaw. The beard isn't fooling anyone.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Ringo, Ringo, Ringo. Shouldn't you be going home now? Is that your mother I hear calling you? Riiiiingo! Riiiiiiiiiiingo!!! Time for dinner! You can play with your little friends tomorrow.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Well I am leaving work now, but I'll probably go to the shopping centre (mall) and purchase some electrical goods with all the money I've saved by sponging off my parents.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Seems like a good reason to stay with them forever.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
I can't hear you Ralph, I'm listening to my iPod!
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Don't play it too loud though. I'd hate for you to get grounded.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
You do know what an ipod is, don't you Ralph?
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Sure I do Ringo. It's one of them new-fangled music-listening devices. I saw one of them there things in the big city.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
They make some pretty cool looking speakers for them too!
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
Which is why I suggested you keep the volume down.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
So you wouldn't disturb your parents...I mean landlords.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
You're awfully quiet Ringo. I hope you didn't lose computer privileges because you played your ipod too loud. Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
You're awfully needy for someone who claims to hate the company of other people Ralph. I'm just off out for the evening. I'm sure someone with no social life will be along soon to keep you company. Bravestarr or whatever his name is, probably.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
I am needy. I still have almost two hours of work left and nothing to do. Nothing! Don't go out, Ringo. Stay here at tmo and play with me.
eta: Where did I ever claim to hate the company of other people?
[ 07.03.2007, 13:54: Message edited by: ralph ]
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
lol "bravestarr" lol
Honestly TMO is really comedy at the moment. Sometimes I read a thread and laugh solidly for a minute or so. Often I don't even know why it's all that funny.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
I pictured you shouting freedommmmmmm at the top of your lungs. And wearing a kilt.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Then suddenly, as if by magic..
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
That last page made me laugh, too. I think this is just about the funniest website I've ever read, actually.
Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
No hard feelings, Ringo? That punching ralph in the face bit started it you know.
Posted by Ringo (Member # 47) on :
Started what? I thought we were doing a banter Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
Smell you guys later! I have to watch an episode of American Quality Drama Heroes Posted by ralph (Member # 773) on :
I wasn't doing banter.
Have a good one, wonderstarr!
Posted by Benny the Ball (Member # 694) on :
Braveheart;
Bravestarr;
Get it right, ralph, jeez!
Posted by wonderstarr (Member # 1158) on :
You guys are missing out if you don't watch Heroes! My loyalty to the show over half a dozen lacklustre episodes has really just started to pay off with #16-18.
When I get my new avatar, ralph, you can imagine me like this ~
~ would that be nice?
Posted by New Way Of Decay (Member # 106) on :
Actioned Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
I hate the very concept of the word deliverable as a noun. What's next?
"I'm going to the shops to buy an edible"
[ 08.03.2007, 06:44: Message edited by: MiscellaneousFiles ]
Posted by MiscellaneousFiles (Member # 60) on :
Dairylea fucking Lunchables can fuck 'emselves right off as well, the cunts.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Presumably a squelch of "sharp as a new pin" and "on the button"?? Who knows.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I almost wish I'd never brought it up, now.
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
I have to watch an episode of American Quality Drama Heroes 
