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Post by Kimby on Mar 24, 2015 21:37:34 GMT
And why does "inflammable" mean the same as "flammable"? (But I don't hate either word.)
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Post by questa on Mar 24, 2015 23:01:03 GMT
Kimby, that has puzzled me for years...but never enough to try to research it.
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Post by questa on Mar 24, 2015 23:15:06 GMT
Inflammable and flammable are two words that are frequently misinterpreted. Some people mistake the words as having opposite meanings. In reality, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing—capable of burning.
Inflammable is derived from the word inflame (sometimes spelled enflame), and precedes the invention of the word flammable. The first syllable, in, is often confused for the negative prefix in- which is like the latin prefix un- (see: inconspicuous, inescapable, indestructible, etc…). The in- prefix in the case of inflammable is derived from the Latin prefix en-, meaning “to cause (a person or thing) to be in” (like enslave, encourage, etc…).
With all this confusion behind the definition of the word inflammable, the National Fire Protection Association urged Americans in the 1920s to start using the word flammable to avoid confusion and prevent fires because they thought people may mistake inflammable as meaning not being able to burn.
The word flammable eventually became part of the common vernacular, but a lot of confusion still remains today. So always remember that inflammable means exactly the same thing as flammable—it could save your life.
(mentalfloss.com)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2015 6:28:15 GMT
I remember teachers always complaining about iterate and reiterate, but I never really cared, because I don't use those words. "Repeat" is good enough for me.
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Post by onlyMark on Mar 25, 2015 10:14:12 GMT
I have ranted elsewhere about the word 'curated' but I want to mention not a word but 'going forward'. I've recently read a couple of obviously recently written science fiction books containing that and it doesn't sit right with me in there. Or anywhere for that matter. I also have a great dislike for turning nouns into verbs.
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Post by breeze on Mar 25, 2015 22:44:43 GMT
Kimby, "positive anymore" goes back to the 1970s, as I learned when I worked for a linguist. I'd never heard "anymore" used that way, to mean "nowadays" ("He's drinking a lot anymore"). But once I learned about it, I started to hear it pretty often.
From the same guy I learned how most people say "goodbye" on the phone. I didn't believe him, but I kept track of my phone calls for a week or so, and sure enough, my boss was right.
What do you say to end a phone conversation?
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Post by Kimby on Mar 25, 2015 23:28:15 GMT
Since 9/11 most cell phone calls end with "Love you!"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2015 23:32:05 GMT
I say "Goodbye", "Bye" or "Bye Bye". Or "See you", if we're making plans to meet up.
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Post by questa on Mar 25, 2015 23:37:48 GMT
Since 9/11 most cell phone calls end with "Love you!" Kimby, your post gave me a "kick in the gut" feeling. How awful it is that it took 9/11 to show us to express our love to those we love.
How awful that we are anticipating we may not see them again.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 25, 2015 23:46:02 GMT
"Talk to you later!" is high on my list.
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Post by breeze on Mar 26, 2015 0:41:53 GMT
The answer I got way back then was "Buh-bye." I thought then that I'd never heard it, but when I started to pay attention I realized I must have but it just hadn't registered. I've never said it myself.
Kimby, you are so right. I used to say it to my mother.
I always like to overhear people saying "Love you!" to each other like that--even when I know they are a dysfunctional family and are always bickering! It's good that they at least express some fondness when they say goodbye.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 6:49:59 GMT
I don't take things like "love you" seriously because people have just been conditioned into saying it automatically, first by the media hype in the face of tragedy with all of that harping about "when was the last time you told your family members that you loved them?" And then once the seed was planted, everybody in the movies and TV series starting saying it automatically. People are just repeating what they hear. There is not necessarily any love involved at all. I prefer my expressions of love to be made at appropriate times, and that does not include sounding like a parrot.
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Post by bjd on Mar 26, 2015 7:37:43 GMT
I'm afraid living in France makes us sound cynical and grumpy , but I agree with Kerouac. Ending a phone call with "love ya" just sounds trite and meaningless.
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Post by questa on Mar 26, 2015 9:49:10 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 26, 2015 10:01:44 GMT
When you say goodbye to somebody and they say "see you later".
I always ask what time they are coming round.......
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Post by Kimby on Mar 26, 2015 12:40:09 GMT
I tend to agree with the curmudgeonly Kerouac on "love ya".
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Post by htmb on Mar 26, 2015 12:49:39 GMT
I find it most annoying, especially when there's an expectation of "love you" in return.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 14:23:21 GMT
I have to agree with the above.
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Post by questa on Mar 26, 2015 14:30:09 GMT
And which is worse..."Yes, Honey, and I love you too. Gotta go."
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Post by htmb on Mar 26, 2015 15:01:08 GMT
I've learned to accept "love you" and a hug from my hairdresser of many years. It's just her way of saying "goodbye" to her longtime clients. But my sister in-law, whom I've never really cared for, makes a big deal of it in the few times we talk on the phone and expects an "I love you, too" in return. Honestly, I'm sure probably hates my guts, but seems to feel a need to remain connected and to receive approval even though my brother has been dead for eight years. I suppose the "controlling" tone is what irritates me about it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 16:05:37 GMT
I also have a great dislike for turning nouns into verbs. I just read this on The Guardian, regarding the terrible Swiss aircrash: Action is now a verb, I guess.
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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 26, 2015 16:29:00 GMT
Like medaling at the Olympics.
Or is it medalling. Or meddling......
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 16:47:18 GMT
In Medellín.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 17:37:52 GMT
About half of the family conversations I overhear on public transport seem to send with "don't forget to stop at the boulangerie." That is at least proof of love of baguettes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 23:41:25 GMT
"Soft Opening". Ever so trendy. As opposed to what? I would much prefer it refer to a flower blooming or something erotic.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 30, 2015 3:28:54 GMT
Casi, I like your alternate definitions!
Soft opening, as opposed to Grand Openig . An unadvertised testing-of-the-waters for a new business or restaurant. Unadvertised, so only those lucky enough to stumble upon it get to shop/dine there before the official opening. Used a lot around here. I don't mind it.
But I still like your definitions better.
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Post by lagatta on Apr 1, 2015 2:47:23 GMT
Yes, a "soft opening" has a definite meaning. En douce. On little cat feet. Obviously not just those who stumble upon it, but the friends of the house, certain critics with the understanding that they are not supposed to churn out a full-fledged review with all the inevitable stumbling points of a new business or other endeavour.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 7, 2017 5:58:41 GMT
Okay, I have to ask about this expression which seems to have taken over from previous ones that meant the same thing:
to pass meaning "to die".
Didn't people used to say "pass away"?
There is something about "He passed" that just sounds wrong. "When my grandmother passed" sounds like something is missing. What did she pass -- the potatoes? her SATs? gas?
Personally, I prefer the term to die, meaning "to die", but maybe that's just me.
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Post by bjd on May 7, 2017 9:28:42 GMT
Yes, I have heard "to pass" too and it always makes me wait for "away".
If you want euphemisms for death, you could always get some ideas here:
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Post by whatagain on May 7, 2017 9:51:27 GMT
I use to pass away. Or to die. What I hate is words round 'decease' - in french : il est décédé. I HATE that. Don't know what. My son is not 'deceased - he passed away. My wife has no problem with it.
Anyway. AS I'm not englishspeaking there are a lot of words that should but don't bother me. But words I hate are 'mate' when engaged in a conversation with somebody I've never met before. I use 'Mate' on forums to give a feeling of condescending. Hope it works ;-)
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