Words, usages, and phrases that annoy the shit out of you...

who's the spaceman

Cloistered

'a word in edgeways/edgewise'

The influence of Celtic languages on English is a fascinating topic! On top of reflexive pronouns, you have the use of the continuous present for simple present (describing present actions by saying "I'm working" vs "I work") likely comes from Celtic, as does our preference for tag questions and meaningless do (saying "do you have a pet?" instead of "have you a pet?").

No one except the very posh says "have you a pet?" though. For some reason brevity doesn't win and people prefer to say "have you got a pet?".

Sorry, I misread your point. You're right: I'm as likely to say "do you have a pet?" as "have you got a pet?" though with the former I'd probably be stressing the "you" or "have" depending on context.

does one pet

That is an elegant solution

"Do ye huv a pet, yersel, big yin?"

"Strongman" hey journos have you ever thought about NOT encouraging its use?

"Hunk" is an acceptable alternative

Yeah, prior to the Celtic influence it *was* normal (or rather, unmarked) in English to say "have you an X?" because the "do you have an X?" construction didn't exist in English. It's still intelligible to English speakers but is very strongly marked as either archaic or posh.

this is funny:

"I GOT on Horseback within ten Minutes after I received your Letter. When I GOT to Canterbury I GOT a Chaise for Town. But I GOT wet through before I GOT to Canterbury, and I HAVE GOT such a Cold as I shall not be able to GET rid of in a Hurry. I GOT to the Treasury about Noon, but first of all I GOT shaved and drest. I soon GOT into the Secret of GETTING a Memorial before the Board, but I could not GET an Answer then, however I GOT Intelligence from the Messenger that I should most likely GET one the next Morning. As soon as I GOT back to my Inn, I GOT my Supper, and GOT to Bed, it was not long before I GOT to Sleep. When I GOT up in the Morning, I GOT my Breakfast, and then GOT myself drest, that I might GET out in Time to GET an Answer to my Memorial. As soon as I GOT it, I GOT into the Chaise, and GOT to Canterbury by three: and about Tea Time, I GOT Home. I HAVE GOT No thing particular for you, and so Adieu." [Philip Withers, "Aristarchus, or the Principles of Composition," London, 1789, illustrating the widespread use of the verb in Modern English]

prior to the Celtic influence...

iow, chalk it up to imperialist blowback

Not sure I buy this 'Celtic influence' argument tbh. Sure, it's there in the West of Scotland but I'm not convinced it's even there in the East of Scotland, let alone the Anglosphere at large.

The linguistic argument is that no parallel construction exists in other Germanic languages (or even Romance) but is very much present in Celtic languages. So you have to consider what is more likely: it arose spontaneously in English but no other languages in the Germanic family, or it is a result of exposure to and transference from Celtic languages. The former is rare, the latter is very common.

have you a drink

will you have a drink

do you take a drink

are you having a drink

drink, pet?

this is good stuff f. hazel btw will you take yr own thread just now

I blame the Welsh, in that case.

would endorse xp

Likewise!

Is it that you have a pet? mainly Fr.

i blame the picts

does one pict

the rolling linguistic thread tends to sink and vanish so I go where the action is

its where you d'be

Have you the time

To listen to me whine

I think if "do" is "meaningless" then so are formulations like the French "est-ce que..." they are readying words that signal "hey I am about to ask you a question, listen up."

Is it the case that you have a pet?

ah stop stop or ill have to go and read some flann o brian

Ok everyone stop saying “timeline”
― omar little, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 7:31 AM (one year ago)

Don't read too much into that use of "meaningless", it is just a way of saying they are syntactically necessary but semantically empty.

please start a thread!

xxxp do you even lift

F Hazel isn’t the type for that, too humble 💕

"published thought leader"

how does anyone put that in their bio (or allow someone to put it in their bio) without wanting to die, honestly

(...this is the point in the post where I realise that not finishing a rhetorical question with a "?" is a usage that will annoy the shit out of many, but using one is perhaps now also in that category)

i think we are well on the way to eliminating the question mark?

then that "do" marker mentioned upthread will be even more useful!

(that was an interesting discussion, thank you and sorry that I barged in here for some random bristling at the "entrepreneur" "disruptor" "curious! I am very intelligent" crowd instead)

'Besties'

'janky'

Besties OTM, never heard of janky until imago used it to describe Black Midi the other day on ILM.

It's ubiquitous in the video game community. Every non-AAA game is described as 'janky'.

That explains why I've never heard it before tbh.

It may also be more prevalent in North America.

Cancelled is one that ppl profess to hate but I legit never came across it until the scornful usage became ubiquitous; I’ve heard it a billion times in the last year or so but if I never heard a sarcastic “I guess x is cancelled now” that would be more like zero. So, thanks for keeping that one alive guys I guess

janky been around since at least the 90s

late 80's, but left before the release of the stone roses iirc

I love on that leaked Tom Cruise Scientology video where’s he all “I’ve cancelled that in my area”

'Entrée' for 'main course'. It's audibly and visibly related to the English word 'entry', which should give you a tip as to which part of the meal it refers to.

yes but it's the entry to the pudding, the only good and actual course

'if i'm being honest'

'Entrée' for 'main course'. It's audibly and visibly related to the English word 'entry', which should give you a tip as to which part of the meal it refers to.

Consider that the term might derive from the manner in which that course is served and not only the point during the meal when it is served.