Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe (Read 856929 times)

nicknack · « **Reply #1450 on:** 15 June, 2011, 09:06:43 am »

Wasn't the Four Tops was it?

Greenbank · « **Reply #1451 on:** 15 June, 2011, 09:41:37 am »

Quote from: drossall on 15 June, 2011, 12:12:57 am

We had a supplier try to "reach out" to us twice in the same email today. We are thinking of calling the police.

Especially if they wanted to touch your base.

Bledlow · « **Reply #1452 on:** 23 June, 2011, 01:55:47 pm »

None of this modern technology for those from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1453 on:** 23 June, 2011, 02:35:09 pm »

Interviewer: Well, Brian, how do you fancy your chances against $HIGHLY_RATED_SPORTSMAN/TEAM?
Brian: It's a big ask, 'arry!
Mr Larrington: "Ask" is a verb, dolt!

Grrrr!

citoyen · « **Reply #1454 on:** 23 June, 2011, 02:57:23 pm »

Good shout, Mr L.

d.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #1455 on:** 23 June, 2011, 03:03:35 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 23 June, 2011, 02:57:23 pm

Good shout, Mr L.

d.

But is "shout" also not a verb?

clarion · « **Reply #1456 on:** 23 June, 2011, 03:04:46 pm »

In fact, it was probably 'a big arx'

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1457 on:** 23 June, 2011, 03:06:34 pm »

Big enough for two of each animalk.

clarion · « **Reply #1458 on:** 23 June, 2011, 03:09:45 pm »

innit

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1459 on:** 23 June, 2011, 03:16:19 pm »

I think the innix got left off the ark - I haven't seen any around.

citoyen · « **Reply #1460 on:** 23 June, 2011, 03:55:17 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 23 June, 2011, 03:03:35 pm

Quote from: citoyen on 23 June, 2011, 02:57:23 pm
Good shout, Mr L.

d.

But is "shout" also not a verb?

No flies on you.

d.

Nuncio · « **Reply #1461 on:** 01 July, 2011, 08:39:24 am »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 23 June, 2011, 02:35:09 pm

Mr Larrington: "Ask" is a verb, dolt!

Grrrr!

OED

Quote

Draft additions February 2005
colloq. (orig. Austral.) (chiefly Sport). With modifying word or phrase, as a big (also huge, etc.) ask : something which is a lot to ask of someone; something difficult to achieve or surmount.

It includes the intriguing citation:

Quote

1994 J. BIRMINGHAM He died with Felafel in his Hand (1997) viii. 177 I'd‥get him to wear the underpants consistently for six weeks on the road. (This was not a big ask given Milo's unwashed jeans-wearing record at King Street.)

mattc · « **Reply #1462 on:** 01 July, 2011, 08:50:48 am »

Surely we can't add stuff to the OED just because sportspersons (Austral.) are using it? It's the end of Western Civilisation as we know it !!!

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1463 on:** 01 July, 2011, 03:29:59 pm »

In the chemist yesterday: Prescrption's.

I hope the pharmacist can read better than the shop gribley can write, otherwise I'll be killed to DETH by the wrong pills in the morning.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1464 on:** 01 July, 2011, 08:42:23 pm »

I think, but I'm not sure, that ask has been used as a noun with more or less that meaning among equestrians for several decades.

Gandalf · « **Reply #1465 on:** 02 July, 2011, 05:24:02 pm »

An agenda item for last week's team meeting was 'video's'.

Still, when you have a CEO who cannot differentiate between 'less' and 'fewer' what hope is there?

Don't get me started on 'grow the business'

citoyen · « **Reply #1466 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:00:19 pm »

Not really grammar but...

Heard someone on telly the other day describe an archaeological find as "unique and unusual".

What, both?

d.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #1467 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:05:13 pm »

You can have both I guess. For example something that is always unique but normally within certain bounds. So its unique but not unusual. The you get one that's outside the normal bounds so it's unique and unusual. For example something handmade that's found quite a lot but always in blue or green. They are all unique but a red one would be unique and unusual.

clarion · « **Reply #1468 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:06:15 pm »

This morning, I heard 'Korta', 'Vunrable', and another annoying one (I can't remember which it was, but I ranted at the time, so maybe Butterfly will recall

) on the Today programme.

Can't these people speak English?

citoyen · « **Reply #1469 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:13:35 pm »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 04 July, 2011, 12:05:13 pm

For example something handmade that's found quite a lot but always in blue or green. They are all unique but a red one would be unique and unusual.

I'm not convinced that having one unique trait is enough to describe the whole object as unique.

d.

Mrs Pingu · « **Reply #1470 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:19:49 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 23 June, 2011, 03:04:46 pm

In fact, it was probably 'a big arx'

Oooooo that one makes my blood boil!
As does asterix instead of asterisk.

Nuncio · « **Reply #1471 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:32:33 pm »

It's just metathesis in action. No need to go nucular.

Pingu · « **Reply #1472 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:35:26 pm »

Quote from: Mrs Pingu on 04 July, 2011, 12:19:49 pm

Quote from: clarion on 23 June, 2011, 03:04:46 pm
In fact, it was probably 'a big arx'

Oooooo that one makes my blood boil!
As does asterix instead of asterisk.

It'd be cool if asterisks were replaced by Asterix. A bit difficult for handwriting, though.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1473 on:** 04 July, 2011, 12:38:53 pm »

And what, pray, is a "newmonic"?

And what, moreover, is this new comedy thing on that ITV, that they have now, on which unknown comedians are to be "jugded" by not-unknown comedians, and Alan Davies?

clarion · « **Reply #1474 on:** 04 July, 2011, 01:00:28 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 04 July, 2011, 12:38:53 pm

And what, pray, is a "newmonic"?

Yes! YES!!! That one. Definitely. Stop it. Stop it NOW!