― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 22:37 (twenty years ago) link
― caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:21 (twenty years ago) link
― Chriddof (Chriddof), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:26 (twenty years ago) link
― El Santo Claus (Kingfish), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:36 (twenty years ago) link
― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:38 (twenty years ago) link
― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:45 (twenty years ago) link
Four Words: Use Other Words Please"Use other words please."Commonly used phrases that inexplicably bug youMost irritating cliche/phrase/expression"Taking Things to a Whole `Nother Level!" words that annoyWords that should earn the author a slapPROVERBIAL and other tip offs to poor writing
― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:48 (twenty years ago) link
― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:52 (twenty years ago) link
― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:54 (twenty years ago) link
― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:55 (twenty years ago) link
― TEH ONE AN ONLEY DEANN GULBAREY (deangulberry), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 23:57 (twenty years ago) link
― andy, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:00 (twenty years ago) link
-- caitlin (wpsal...) (webmail), December 23rd, 2003. (caitlin)
Oh yes, yes yes. I second that one. And the people who say it, say it over and over.
― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:02 (twenty years ago) link
― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:03 (twenty years ago) link
I also have a horror of people who write prolifically in all caps.
― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:07 (twenty years ago) link
This is true.
But, this is a topic that should be dealt with routinely and harshly... the only way we can correct the language and suppress it's organic growth is by exposing and banning every new usage as it occurs... Isn't that what the French do?
― andy, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:14 (twenty years ago) link
Also: 'fridge,' girls who refer to each other as 'girl,' proactive...i'll be back when i think of more....
― roger adultery, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:47 (twenty years ago) link
― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 00:54 (twenty years ago) link
― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 01:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Roderick the Visigoth. (Jake Proudlock), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 24 December 2003 03:30 (twenty years ago) link
― BrianB (BrianB), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 05:26 (twenty years ago) link
― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 20:47 (twenty years ago) link
― Melly E (Melly E), Wednesday, 24 December 2003 21:10 (twenty years ago) link
― barbara wintergreen, Monday, 29 December 2003 18:24 (twenty years ago) link
― Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Monday, 29 December 2003 20:18 (twenty years ago) link
― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 29 December 2003 20:34 (twenty years ago) link
'poetic justice'. Used by the lazy to describe all 'justice' the speaker approves of, instead of a particular type. The adjective is rendered meaningless.
Agree re 'bird' for woman/girl, and lament its threatened return. Stinks of 'I'm being un-PC, where's my medal?'. Also the C-person uses it, which kinda ends the argument.
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 29 December 2003 23:59 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:10 (twenty years ago) link
― barbara wintergreen, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:19 (twenty years ago) link
― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 30 December 2003 00:46 (twenty years ago) link
― ermes marana, Tuesday, 30 December 2003 01:47 (twenty years ago) link
― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:29 (eighteen years ago) link
― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:32 (eighteen years ago) link
― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:33 (eighteen years ago) link
― gear (gear), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:34 (eighteen years ago) link
Wait, huh? Fridge is the thing you put food in, whats wrong with it?
― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 18 August 2005 08:01 (eighteen years ago) link
― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 09:10 (eighteen years ago) link
I'm picturing him saying things such as "Would you like me to remove another beverage from the refrigerator for you, whilst we watch some association football?"
― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:29 (eighteen years ago) link
― naus (Robert T), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:38 (eighteen years ago) link
― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:39 (eighteen years ago) link
― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:42 (eighteen years ago) link
― Win A Lie-Down, Mrs. Davies (kate), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:44 (eighteen years ago) link
― jimmy glass (electricsound), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:46 (eighteen years ago) link
― naus (Robert T), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:53 (eighteen years ago) link
As used to describe a footballer running into a streak of good form
― Diddyismus (Dada), Thursday, 18 August 2005 10:57 (eighteen years ago) link
― stelf)xxx, Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:01 (eighteen years ago) link
Obviously this was the point at which I had a feminist book out and was going to sit on panels discussing feminism and culture, the directors of this part time job knew that, and were still flabbergasted that anyone working for them might have reasons to object to their language. Bunch of zero fucks given boarding-school trash.
― steely flan (suzy), Saturday, 16 March 2024 10:13 (one week ago) link
I can't with the nut it out. Omg
― Benson and the Jets (ENBB), Saturday, 16 March 2024 10:51 (one week ago) link
Someone said they would just rub it out the other day obv talking about wearing something and I still giggled.
― Benson and the Jets (ENBB), Saturday, 16 March 2024 10:52 (one week ago) link
To myself.
The interim CEO where I work uses the phrase “many ways to skin a cat” and it did not go over well. He already kinda sucks.
― brimstead, Saturday, 16 March 2024 13:00 (one week ago) link
used not uses
I got fired from an ad agency admin job once because I had strong objections to one of the directors saying ‘okay, it’s cocks-on-blocks time’ whenever a big decision loomed.
lol, someone working in advertising once told me about a senior figure at their work who would constantly say things like 'I like it, but does it get me HARD?' Ad men still out here living their lives like a one-note Fast Show sketch.
― lazy rascals, spending their substance, and more, in riotous living (Merdeyeux), Saturday, 16 March 2024 13:03 (one week ago) link
holy shit
what a thread for ilxor comebacks
― close encounters of the third knid (darraghmac), Saturday, 16 March 2024 13:09 (one week ago) link
altho tbf
fast show concept was actually one note sketch characters
― close encounters of the third knid (darraghmac), Saturday, 16 March 2024 13:10 (one week ago) link
CEOs, execs, well paid ppl churning out that bollocks = laugh away
Lower paid people doing it = show some awareness.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 16 March 2024 14:43 (one week ago) link
I dare say that all of us have had lower paying jobs in our lives, if not now.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 16 March 2024 17:08 (one week ago) link
Speak for yourself I make eight figures
― CEO Greedwagon (Neanderthal), Saturday, 16 March 2024 17:34 (one week ago) link
The first three are zero but what are details
xp - dammit man! you plant a straight line and then hog it for yourself! I was all set to post: how many of those are zeroes placed at the beginning?
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Saturday, 16 March 2024 17:37 (one week ago) link
Lol
― CEO Greedwagon (Neanderthal), Saturday, 16 March 2024 17:45 (one week ago) link
ha I almost searched for this thread earlier so I could add "cool beans" but then I didn't.― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Friday, August 31, 2012 5:49 AM (eleven years ago)
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Friday, August 31, 2012 5:49 AM (eleven years ago)
"A girl I had a huge crush on used to say "Cool beans!" I momentarily fell out of love with her each time.― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, September 13, 2005 5:33 PM (6 years ago)"HA!― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Friday, August 31, 2012 5:50 AM (eleven years ago)
HA!
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Friday, August 31, 2012 5:50 AM (eleven years ago)
― bae (sic), Saturday, 16 March 2024 18:13 (one week ago) link
I don't like the way "skinny" means "with skimmed milk" now. Makes my skin crawl to hear it.
― This is Dance Anthems, have some respect (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 14:08 (three days ago) link
This may just be me turning into an "old man yells at cloud" prescriptivist, but quirk used as a verb synonymous with smirk really irritates me, because I think half of the fantasy books I've been reading over the past few years seem to be running that usage into the ground.
― Astarion Is Born (Leee), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 14:54 (three days ago) link
Can you post an example? I’m having a hard time imagining that
― rob, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 15:27 (three days ago) link
I worked at a Starbucks briefly after college and during that time corporate told employees to say 'skinny' instead of 'skim'. Hated it.
― Sam Weller, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 15:51 (three days ago) link
Viv squinted hard at him and thought he’d outlast her, but then his mouth quirked at the corner.
― Astarion Is Born (Leee), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:09 (three days ago) link
Nothing tastes as good as skimmy feels
I dunno but I don’t feel I often read the word “sadly,” deployed in good faith. I feel like “sadly,” is usually written with a vindictive tone. You’re not sad.
― Premises, Premises (flamboyant goon tie included), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:22 (three days ago) link
That use of 'quirk' is the author saying "gee, I'm such a cutie, aren't I?" Your annoyance is understandable, because it's not really cute enough to outlast the third date.
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:26 (three days ago) link
Sadly, Donald Trump is still alive today.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:30 (three days ago) link
I can't recall ever encountering "quirk" used like that before, but Merriam-Webster includes it as a standard definition and dates its back to the 19th century.
― rob, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:30 (three days ago) link
Lol I was just begging to be proven wrong etymologically! I’ve been seeing it a lot more in fantasy books published maybe after 2010 or so, I wonder if there’s an identifiable patient zero I can blame.
― Astarion Is Born (Leee), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:34 (three days ago) link
yeah it seems rare enough (afaict) that I wouldn't be surprised if there was a single popularizer!
― rob, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:37 (three days ago) link
It was one of the handful of phrases that notoriously recurred dozens of times in 50 shades
― cozen itt (wins), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:48 (three days ago) link
ah ha / oh no
― rob, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:51 (three days ago) link
That usage of quirk is so annoying. But etymologically it makes sense, "quirky" is the not-straight, the slightly off, the irregular.
― Ima Gardener (in orbit), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:51 (three days ago) link
Tell all the truth but tell it quirk
― Premises, Premises (flamboyant goon tie included), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 17:58 (three days ago) link
i'm pretending that this talk about quirk being a synonym for smirk never happened
― Humanitarian Pause (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 18:09 (three days ago) link
genderquirk
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 18:23 (three days ago) link
"You just proved these signs work."
No I didn't, leave me alone.
― jmm, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 18:28 (three days ago) link
― Humanitarian Pause (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, March 26, 2024 2:09 PM (fifty-four minutes ago)
oh I should have said that that's not quite right. It's that "quirk" as a verb means "to curve or twist" (so you can quirk your mouth into a smirk)
― rob, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 19:12 (three days ago) link
It's really annoying when somebody uses "quirk" as a name.
https://i.postimg.cc/br04vMZC/quirk.jpg
― clemenza, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 19:15 (three days ago) link
Hilariously, one of the bibles of descriptive English grammar (A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language) is referred to by many as "the quirk book" because one of the authors is Randolph Quirk!
― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 19:25 (three days ago) link
Fine for eyebrows, pushing it for mouths, hesitate to even imagine for anything else
― ን (nabisco), Tuesday, 26 March 2024 20:22 (three days ago) link
Man, my dick sure is quirking today
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Wednesday, 27 March 2024 01:20 (two days ago) link
― H.P, Wednesday, 27 March 2024 09:48 (two days ago) link
His mouth twerked at the corner
― alpaca lips now (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 27 March 2024 20:39 (two days ago) link
Something that drives me berserk when I'm editing fiction manuscripts is what I call "disembodied parts action" like "His eyes rolled" or "Her fists clenched." Also, I don't know which YA writer pioneered the verb "huff", as in, "'I can't believe it!' she huffed," but that person should be set on fire.
― Tahuti Watches L&O:SVU Reruns Without His Ape (unperson), Wednesday, 27 March 2024 20:54 (two days ago) link
and huffed on
― assert (matttkkkk), Wednesday, 27 March 2024 21:04 (two days ago) link
that person should be set on fire
well you don't need to get so huffy about it
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Wednesday, 27 March 2024 21:35 (two days ago) link
Gettin huffy on my Huffy
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Wednesday, 27 March 2024 21:36 (two days ago) link