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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010"Ish" redux
A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to meaning "somethingish". Here's a live example I just found. It's in Private Eye, No 1253 (8 Jan 2010): "Good news. Well, ish. The government has given ...." and it goes on to describe how a lot of money is being spent on a children's service, but not all of it is going to the right places.  SignatureOnline waterways route planner | http://canalplan.eu Plan trips, see photos, check facilities | http://canalplan.org.uk Nick skrev: > A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to > meaning "somethingish". I saw an English film on tv some time ago. There was a wonderful remark. The film was about some middleaged med who had gone on weekend together without wives. At some time two of them sat on a bench outside and talked about their marriages. One of them was recently divorced, and the other was very surpised that this had happened. - But you've always been faithful? - Ish. In Danish we have the same kind of expression ("-agtigt"), and this has gained status of a separate word in precisely the same way. SignatureBertel, Denmark > Nick skrev: > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > this has gained status of a separate word in precisely the same > way. "But I'm always true to to you, darlin', in my fashion Yes, I'm always true to you, darlin',in my way" That takes so many more letters than 'ish'! SignatureCheryl > > Nick skrev: > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > That takes so many more letters than 'ish'! Horrors are dancing before my mind's eye. http://poetry.elcore.net/CatholicPoets/Dowson/Dowson16.html -- Jerry Friedman >>> Nick skrev: >>>> A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > -- > Jerry Friedman This is such an educational group! I missed the original, although clearly Cole Porter didn't. SignatureCheryl >>>> Nick skrev: >>>>> A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> >> -- Jerry Friedman Thanks, Jerry > This is such an educational group! I missed the original, although > clearly Cole Porter didn't. I see that Decadent Dowson was the man who gave us phrases like "days of wine and roses" and "gone with the wind". SignatureJames ... > >>> "But I'm always true to to you, darlin', in my fashion Yes, I'm > >>> always true to you, darlin',in my way" [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Thanks, Jerry A pleasure. > > This is such an educational group! I missed the original, although > > clearly Cole Porter didn't. I think the poem was extremely well known at the time. Fashions changed, in their fashion, but I still think it's gorgeous. > I see that Decadent Dowson was the man who gave us phrases like "days of > wine and roses" and "gone with the wind". And only one other that's famous at all (as far as I know): "Absinthe makes the tart grow fonder." "But I was desolate and sick of a hopeless wish, Yea, I was desolate, and bowed my head...." -- Jerry Friedman Jerry Friedman wrote, in <1e63bdc6-13a3-4828-9081-2ca9d1547e92@k22g2000vbp.googlegroups.com> on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:01:46 -0800 (PST): > > > Nick skrev: > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > http://poetry.elcore.net/CatholicPoets/Dowson/Dowson16.html For a while last year one of my grandsons had a girlfriend called Cynara, a Brazilian. I printed a copy of that for her, she hadn't previously heard of it. SignatureNick Spalding BrE/IrE > Jerry Friedman wrote, in > <1e63bdc6-13a3-4828-9081-2ca9d1547...@k22g2000vbp.googlegroups.com> > on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:01:46 -0800 (PST): ... > >http://poetry.elcore.net/CatholicPoets/Dowson/Dowson16.html > > For a while last year one of my grandsons had a girlfriend called > Cynara, a Brazilian. I printed a copy of that for her, she hadn't > previously heard of it. And what do artichokes have to do with this anyway? -- Jerry Friedman > A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to > meaning "somethingish". [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > to describe how a lot of money is being spent on a children's service, > but not all of it is going to the right places. It came up in the first episode of the new series of Heroes. Claire told her father that she planned to tell the truth from now on. "Well", she added, "ish". SignatureDavid >> A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to >> meaning "somethingish". [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > told her father that she planned to tell the truth from now on. "Well", > she added, "ish". Indeed. And it was also in an early episode of Nurse Jackie. It's also been an album: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ish_(album) And a Doctor Who audio drama: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E2%80%A6ish_(audio_drama) SignatureJohn Dean Oxford > A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to > meaning "somethingish". [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > to describe how a lot of money is being spent on a children's service, > but not all of it is going to the right places. Among the people I know in person and on the Internet, this seems to be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They don't mean quite the same thing, though. Is this "not so much" as an understatement for "not in the slightest" a quotation from somewhere, or reminiscent of some speech community, or is it just some random fad? -- Jerry Friedman > > A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to > > meaning "somethingish". [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They don't mean > quite the same thing, though. That might be related to the rise of "ish" as a euphemism for "sh.t". "Well, ish", as a standalone sentence, is somewhat open to misinterpretation. Jerry Friedman filted: >> A couple of months ago we talked about "ish" as a word in itself to >> meaning "somethingish". [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >a quotation from somewhere, or reminiscent of some speech community, >or is it just some random fad? I associate it with the sitcom "Friends", but it's probably older than that....r SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? > Among the people I know in person and on the Internet, this seems to > be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They don't [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > a quotation from somewhere, or reminiscent of some speech community, > or is it just some random fad? Jon Stewart uses it a lot on _The Daily Show_, but I'm pretty sure it's not original with him. SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |It's like grasping the difference 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |between what one usually considers Palo Alto, CA 94304 |a 'difficult' problem, and what |*is* a difficult problem. The day kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com |one understands *why* counting all (650)857-7572 |the molecules in the Universe isn't |difficult...there's the leap. http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ | Tina Marie Holmboe > > Among the people I know in person and on the Internet, this seems to > > be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They don't [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Jon Stewart uses it a lot on _The Daily Show_, but I'm pretty sure > it's not original with him. Thanks, that's interesting, since I've heard it and seen it (not as often as I implied) from people who I could imagine watching that show. -- Jerry Friedman >> Among the people I know in person and on the Internet, this seems to >> be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They don't [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Jon Stewart uses it a lot on _The Daily Show_, but I'm pretty sure >it's not original with him. Do you frequently watch his show? I can't stand the man. I like the material, but his mannerisms and delivery annoy the hell out of me. He's far too old to make that many silly faces and do that much silly posturing. If someone else presented the same material, I'd watch. On the other hand, I tape all of Stephen Colbert's show and watch them. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>> Among the people I know in person and on the Internet, this seems to >>> be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They don't [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >He's far too old to make that many silly faces and do that much silly >posturing. If someone else presented the same material, I'd watch. I always watch his show but, as you say, a different host would be an improvement. >On the other hand, I tape all of Stephen Colbert's show and watch >them. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>> Among the people I know in person and on the Internet, this seems >>> to be going out and "Not so much" seems to have come in. They [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > On the other hand, I tape all of Stephen Colbert's show and watch > them. I watch and enjoy both every day. SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |Usenet is like Tetris for people 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |who still remember how to read. Palo Alto, CA 94304 kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com (650)857-7572 http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ |
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