@TaraC73 No, from what I see it isn't rooted in racism. The word "Spick" is a racial slur (don't know the meaning in that context, but I know it has definite racist connotations), but the phrase is derived from a different meaning of that word.
One of those things where it might be best to let it die, regardless of its innocence. Kind of like "niggardly". Perfectly legitimate and non-racist word with no relation (other than phonetics), but you would be an asshole to die on that hill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22
One of those things where it might be best to let it die, regardless of its innocence. Kind of like "niggardly". Perfectly legitimate and non-racist word with no relation (other than phonetics), but you would be an asshole to die on that hill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22
I would say the same of chink in the armor. I almost literally twitch whenever I see or hear that phrase.
Only in the same way that couldn't care less and could care less are technically correct - they are both so common that we allow it, even though real people (aka prescriptivists) know better. It's just like that bad writer Fitzgerald who apparently used crescendo instead of forte and now everyone says that the level of interest or noise rose to a crescendo, when crescendo refers to the rise itself.
I know language changes, and climax used to mean rising action, and whatever. But it's annoying that so many of these changes come from carelessness. I suppose it's probably always been that way. Grumble, grumble. I should stay off the internet...
I think my new idiom pet peeve is becoming homing signal vs 'hone in' on. I heard someone use hone correctly as sharpen and my jaw literally fell to the floor. (I cut it off and hurled it)
Or rein vs reign. Damn it. Too many to choose from. Where's the grammar thread?
Ten years ago I found out that the car commercials were offering x amount due at signing. I always thought it was a discount incentive they were offering: DO IT! signing
there's a button under the armrest of the aisle side of the aisle seat on an airplane that will let you raise it up. Makes it way easier for the entire row to get in & out.
I just learned it is CHAMPING at the bit, not chomping at the bit.
Fuck that! No way. Don’t believe you
I'm champing at the bit to tell you it's 'champing,' Give into it. It feels so good to hear everyone say it wrong after you learn the truth. One of us! One of us!
One of those things where it might be best to let it die, regardless of its innocence. Kind of like "niggardly". Perfectly legitimate and non-racist word with no relation (other than phonetics), but you would be an asshole to die on that hill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22
I would say the same of chink in the armor. I almost literally twitch whenever I see or hear that phrase.
Yeah, I stay away from all of that stuff. Legit different meaning or not I just don't want to go there even for the off chance that something could be heard wrong or misconstrued, or in case there is something in the roots that I'm unaware of. I just don't want any of it. The English language leaves us so many other ways to say things. No real difficulty in choosing a different route.
There is a very short but very funny after credit scene at the end of
Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I have been watching this movie for
thirty years and never knew that until today.
I just learned it is CHAMPING at the bit, not chomping at the bit.
Fuck that! No way. Don’t believe you
I'm champing at the bit to tell you it's 'champing,' Give into it. It feels so good to hear everyone say it wrong after you learn the truth. One of us! One of us!
It was only a few years ago that I realized how the dog breed dachshund was pronounced. I would see it written and think "DASH-und". This is despite the fact that I have many times in my life heard the correct "DOX-hund" pronunciation said out loud and even had a friend who had a doxie. I just never made the connection. I'm 33.
I thought the snowman in the Xmas song Winter Wonderland was named Carson Brown, not Parson Brown. I think it was just last year that I realized my mistake. And the song makes a bit more narrative sense now.
...In the meadow we can build a snow man, then pretend that he is Parson Brown, " He'll say, Are you married, We'll say No Man...
The name for the band "Pearl Jam" is really just an immature euphemism for ..you know.. that 'other' white jelly. I just learned/came to this realization a year ago, I now always get a kick when I hear my dad say the words "pearl jam" or I hear a serious commentator or announcer say it with a straight face. What's in a name, right?
Also it was waaaay deep into adulthood until I finally learned that the little triangle next to the fuel gauge on a car is actually an arrow telling you which side of the car the gas tank is on. Yep. It's amazing I've made it this far guys.
I was definitely in my mid 20s before I learned about the gas arrow. And when I told my wife, blew her mind as well.
Comments
I know language changes, and climax used to mean rising action, and whatever. But it's annoying that so many of these changes come from carelessness. I suppose it's probably always been that way. Grumble, grumble. I should stay off the internet...
I think my new idiom pet peeve is becoming homing signal vs 'hone in' on. I heard someone use hone correctly as sharpen and my jaw literally fell to the floor. (I cut it off and hurled it)
Or rein vs reign. Damn it. Too many to choose from. Where's the grammar thread?
For all intensive purposes = For all intents and purposes
(Don’t know when I actually (or if I ever really) didn’t know these but I think they are funny enough to mention, so there, mentioned)
you didn’t realise but
you read the first part of this comment wrong
...In the meadow we can build a snow man,
then pretend that he is Parson Brown, "
He'll say, Are you married,
We'll say No Man...