Author Topic: Grammar that makes you cringe  (Read 834865 times)

Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6725 on: 06 March, 2024, 03:39:55 pm »
Hmm, conflagration is a new word for me. Which is odd, because I do know deflagration.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6726 on: 06 March, 2024, 03:40:50 pm »
Deflagration is a new word for me. Win-win!
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

rr

Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6727 on: 06 March, 2024, 03:41:06 pm »
Quote
let me get back to you momentarily

Seems in the USA momentarily means 'at any moment'.

Reading it is like chewing on a pumice stone.
As it has for many years in Somerset.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6728 on: 06 March, 2024, 04:05:54 pm »
I thought it meant "in a moment" in USA.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6729 on: 18 March, 2024, 03:46:29 pm »
Fed up reading and hearing people say "passed" when they mean "died".  I want "croaked" in my death notice if in English and "crevé" if in French.  The latter also applies to a flat tyre, so it'll be appropriate.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6730 on: 18 March, 2024, 09:16:35 pm »
Oooohh…. JPFROG in polite terms!
(click to show/hide)

Edited because I ‘lost’ my J...

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6731 on: 19 March, 2024, 11:12:44 am »
Not if you're on metformin.

PFROG is nice, though - looks like a qualification.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

barakta

  • Bastard lovechild of Yomiko Readman and Johnny 5
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6732 on: 20 March, 2024, 02:26:19 pm »
I hate "passed" and "passed away" too but I've had people (young) specifically ask me to replace "died" with passed away when I did some sharing of news about a disabled mutual dying suddenly a few years back. They felt "died" was too harsh and didn't like to read it.

Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6733 on: 20 March, 2024, 02:56:20 pm »
Quote
Chinese boats fire water at a Philippine vessel

Is that really the best verb?  I'd accept 'shoot', and recognise that 'squirt' doesn't really convey the pressure involved (firefighting equipment being used as an offensive weapon).
Fire as a verb is not necessarily connected with conflagration. It was used in archery contexts before the arrival of gunpowder in Europe. Nevertheless, "shoot" would seem more appropriate in this context.

Really?

Consensus among archery community is that 'loose' was the term used.

'fire' really doesn't make any sense in this context.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6734 on: 20 March, 2024, 04:21:55 pm »
I hate "passed" and "passed away" too but I've had people (young) specifically ask me to replace "died" with passed away when I did some sharing of news about a disabled mutual dying suddenly a few years back. They felt "died" was too harsh and didn't like to read it.

When the hospital called to tell us MrsT's mum had died the bloke was so flustered with trying to break it gently that he told me we could come when we liked to see her and collect her bougies (candles or spark-plugs) instead of bijoux (jewellery).
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

barakta

  • Bastard lovechild of Yomiko Readman and Johnny 5
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6735 on: 20 March, 2024, 04:30:40 pm »
I don't envy anyone who has to break death news regularly, cos you probably do have to use shitty euphemisms otherwise you'd upset already distressed people.

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
    • Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6736 on: 22 March, 2024, 04:44:56 pm »
Just ordered some Perfectly Good Gentleman's Mountain Bicycling shoes from (whisper it) Halfrauds*.  On their order tracking page:

Quote
On it's way

Garrotting is too good for them.

* if they turn out to be a Rubbish TV's Nice C Boardman is in a world of hurt, or at least libel
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Paul

  • L'enfer, c'est les autos.
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6737 on: 22 March, 2024, 05:06:44 pm »
Just ordered some Perfectly Good Gentleman's Mountain Bicycling shoes from (whisper it) Halfrauds*.  On their order tracking page:

Quote
On it's way

Garrotting is too good for them.

* if they turn out to be a Rubbish TV's Nice C Boardman is in a world of hurt, or at least libel

These ones? Please let me know how you get on with them. I bought these ones (review here), but I think I prefer the look of the Boardman ones.
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
    • Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary
Re: Grammar that makes you cringe
« Reply #6738 on: 22 March, 2024, 06:10:00 pm »
Yes, the very orange ones.  Interzen sotp would approve.  They’re not going to see strenuous use, though.

Edit: they’re less thoroughly Trumpian in colour than I expected.  And each shoe weighs about 20g more than the pair they’re replacing.  Which probably explains a lot.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime