Grammar that makes you cringe

[Cudzoziemiec]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike
or to put it another way
I robbed my old bike of the bottle cages.
Just like "I robbed this Brompton off/from Kim" or "I robbed Kim of this Brompton" or "I stole this Brompton from Kim" or "I robbed Kim and stole this Brompton". And I'm giving it back now because I don't want it and I can't sell it.

[Ian H]

"Robbing" is certainly in common usage for "stealing" on Merseyside.  They've probably got two hundred words for theft, though

Mostly stolen from other languages or dialects.

[T42]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike

Steal is what they think it means, etc, etc. That doesn't mean that it does.  Who was it said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth? Same with grammar.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Definitely true with grammar! In a way... Does that mean grammar is lies? 

[pcolbeck]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike

Steal is what they think it means, etc, etc. That doesn't mean that it does.  Who was it said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth? Same with grammar.

Rob and steal are almost synonyms. They are slightly different in that steal normally places focus on the object that was taken and rob more on the act itself.
Robbed is grammatically correct in the case in question its just not common usage in the south of the UK. That doesn't make it incorrect.

[Tim Hall]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike

Steal is what they think it means, etc, etc. That doesn't mean that it does.  Who was it said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth? Same with grammar.

Rob and steal are almost synonyms. They are slightly different in that steal normally places focus on the object that was taken and rob more on the act itself.
Robbed is grammatically correct in the case in question its just not common usage in the south of the UK. That doesn't make it incorrect.

Robbery involves the threat or use of violins violence.

[Cudzoziemiec]

That would be my normal definition of robbery too.

[Ian H]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike

Steal is what they think it means, etc, etc. That doesn't mean that it does.  Who was it said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth? Same with grammar.

Rob and steal are almost synonyms. They are slightly different in that steal normally places focus on the object that was taken and rob more on the act itself.
Robbed is grammatically correct in the case in question its just not common usage in the south of the UK. That doesn't make it incorrect.

Robbery involves the threat or use of violins violence.

In its literal use.  But we use language in all kinds of ways other than baldly literal.

[Guy]

Those Clever people at Cardington are fitting engines to gases now...

Hybrid Air Vehicles said the Airlander was the first of a new generation of airships to be built there and was filled with helium with diesel engines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-36031101

[Legs]

Judy is away from 22 April for she and Graham's annual trip to Jazz Fest in New Orleans

[T42]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike

Steal is what they think it means, etc, etc. That doesn't mean that it does.  Who was it said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth? Same with grammar.

Rob and steal are almost synonyms. They are slightly different in that steal normally places focus on the object that was taken and rob more on the act itself.
Robbed is grammatically correct in the case in question its just not common usage in the south of the UK. That doesn't make it incorrect.

Robbery involves the threat or use of violins violence.

Chambers* gives it as "the act or process, or an instance, of robbing, especially theft with threats, force or violence."  I read that as meaning that violence or threat is implied but not necessary for an act to be robbery.

[Tim Hall]

Those Clever people at Cardington are fitting engines to gases now...

Hybrid Air Vehicles said the Airlander was the first of a new generation of airships to be built there and was filled with helium with diesel engines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-36031101

My work might take me there. #excited.

[Jasmine]

In a BBC news article about ParkRun:

"Surely a £ or 2 is little price to pay for such a fantastic opportunity?"

I suppose it isn't strictly grammar, but it's stylistically awful, especially given that it is quoting what someone said. 

[T42]

And while this is just a typo, it's a good'un:

"The cameras also have a global shutter so there won’t be any rolling shitter going on with this device."**

Thought they were talking about an action cam for cyclists at first.

They'll probably correct it ASAP.

** http://bokeh.digitalrev.com/article/facebook-launches-3d-virtual-reality-360-camera

[jsabine]

I robbed the bottle cages off my old bike = I stole the bottle cages from my old bike

Steal is what they think it means, etc, etc. That doesn't mean that it does.  Who was it said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth? Same with grammar.

Rob and steal are almost synonyms. They are slightly different in that steal normally places focus on the object that was taken and rob more on the act itself.
Robbed is grammatically correct in the case in question its just not common usage in the south of the UK. That doesn't make it incorrect.

Robbery involves the threat or use of violins violence.

Chambers* gives it as "the act or process, or an instance, of robbing, especially theft with threats, force or violence."  I read that as meaning that violence or threat is implied but not necessary for an act to be robbery.

IIRC, the violence (or threat thereof) is necessary for it *legally* to be robbery (Theft Acts passim, I think).

[T42]

So someone who breaks into a bank when nobody is there and empties the safe is not guilty of robbery. And isn't it only burglary after dark?

[jsabine]

Aye, they'd be a bank burglar, but it doesn't have to be after nightfall.

[T42]

Funny that. Things have probably changed.  I remember hearing on something like the Round Britain Quiz that before dark it'd be breaking and entering, but after it'd be burglary.  Possibly B&E doesn't imply with theft aforethought whereas with burglary that's assumed.  Quite possibly, too, the law has changed since the 60s.

[pcolbeck]

"My daddy was a bankrobber bank burgler but he never hurt nobody"

I better give The Clash a ring. They slipped in a double negative there as well.
Typical rock stars with their loud music and sloppy grammar. 

[jsabine]

The Clash are alright: as long as daddy was using threats of violence he can still be a robber while hurting no-one.

[citoyen]

So someone who breaks into a bank when nobody is there and empties the safe is not guilty of robbery. And isn't it only burglary after dark?

Funnily enough, this came up on the radio the other day - can't remember exactly where, probably on Radcliffe & Maconie's 6music show. Anyway, what they said was that the bank has to be open for it to be robbery. Otherwise it's burglary. They didn't specify if it has to be dark.

I guess it has to be open for the threat of violence to be possible.

[Cudzoziemiec]

So someone who breaks into a bank when nobody is there and empties the safe is not guilty of robbery. And isn't it only burglary after dark?

Funnily enough, this came up on the radio the other day - can't remember exactly where, probably on Radcliffe & Maconie's 6music show. Anyway, what they said was that the bank has to be open for it to be robbery. Otherwise it's burglary. They didn't specify if it has to be dark.

I guess it has to be open for the threat of violence to be possible.

No, there could be staff working after it's closed.
#pedantry101

[Cudzoziemiec]

And what if they threaten to blow up the empty building? Does that count as violence?
#pedantry102

[citoyen]

No, there could be staff working after it's closed.
#pedantry101

True. I imagine that was the reasoning for whoever came up with the definition though.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Damage to a building is not the same as violence to a person.