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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010Unbearable words
Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand hearing? Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, luscious, viscious. >Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >hearing? I have heard that many women do not like »moist«. (I have asked the same question in a group for the German language recently, but I only got one or two replies - too few for a statistic.) Funnily I don't like the word moist either, for some reason I keep on thinking it's an onomatopoeia even though it's not?!?! >>Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >>hearing? > > I have heard that many women do not like »moist«. I asked my wife, and she has no objection to "moist". On the other hand she can't stand "stakeholder". Come to think of it, nor can I -- my dictionaries define it as meaning a disinterested party, and most people who use it seem to mean the opposite.  SignatureSteve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand > hearing? > > Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, > luscious, viscious. Vicious? oops my bad, vicious > oops my bad, vicious I've got two. 'My bad.' >> oops my bad, vicious > >I've got two. 'My bad.' I'm good with that. SignatureSteve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand > hearing? > > Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, > luscious, viscious. Not exactly unbearable, but "pontiff" always sounds weird to me and makes me think of "mastiff". SignatureLong-time resident of Adelaide, South Australia, which may or may not influence my opinions. >> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Not exactly unbearable, but "pontiff" always sounds weird to me and > makes me think of "mastiff". How do you feel about bailiff? --Jeff SignatureIs man one of God's blunders or is God one of man's? --Friedrich Nietzsche >>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >>> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > --Jeff I don't mind that at all. SignatureLong-time resident of Adelaide, South Australia, which may or may not influence my opinions. >>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >>> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >How do you feel about bailiff? Thank you for four nauseating ones, when in a row: "How do you feel...", which seems to have replaced the less touchy-feely, "What do you think...". SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE > On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:21:43 -0500, Jeffrey Turner > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > you think...". > -- But but but, "how do you feel..." is more inclusive rather than merely touchy-feely, because straight away it invites input from those who might at that point not have got as far as the Thinking bit. > Thank you for four nauseating ones, when in a row: "How do you > feel...", which seems to have replaced the less touchy-feely, "What > do you think...". The lexicon of pussyfooting is familiar. On its title page should appear the motto: 'Never say, "I think," which is obsolete; always say "I feel," as in, "I feel that the Treasurer is dipping into the till"; then if you are wrong, you haven't said anything.' Though the shuffling vocabulary is all hypocrisy, it is a routine hypocrisy concealing a desperate wish to placate.... -- Jacques Barzun, _The House of Intellect_ (1959) As for me, I maintain a list of "revolver words", so called because seeing or hearing them makes me reach for my revolver (sure enough, "feel" is there): abuse agenda contradiction define denial disorder dysfunctional excellence existential featured feel foundation genocide identity impact issue legacy legendary multicultural narcissism personality potential price tag quality reinvent relatively showcase signature who Of course, I do not mean the words in themselves, but only their fashionable usages, which I suppose need not be specified. Signature--- Joe Fineman joe_f@verizon.net ||: A terrorist is a wicked person who can afford a bomb but not :|| ||: an airplane. :|| > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes > that you can't stand hearing? (1) "Steve Hayes" (2) "Bertel" (3) "Cordially" (4) The worst: "the first openly gay...." Signature~~~ Reinhold {Rey} Aman ~~~ Steve Hayes, you mean Stephen Hayes the columnist? What's Bertel? Cordially reminds me of a drink called Cordial. > Steve Hayes, you mean Stephen Hayes the columnist? > > What's Bertel? > > Cordially reminds me of a drink called Cordial. Don't you know how to reply/quote? 1) Show whom you are replying to. 2) Show the quoted text you are replying to. Thank you. Signature~~~ Reinhold {Rey} Aman ~~~ > > Steve Hayes, you mean Stephen Hayes the columnist? > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > -- > ~~~ Reinhold {Rey} Aman ~~~ Steve Hayes, you mean Stephen Hayes the columnist? What's Bertel? Cordially reminds me of a drink called Cordial. >Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >hearing? > >Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >luscious, viscious. Eclectic and quintessential. >> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Eclectic and quintessential. You'll never get a job writing for the arts pages. SignatureJames >>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >>> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >You'll never get a job writing for the arts pages. I'm not likely to apply ;-) > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand > hearing? > > Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, > luscious, viscious. My spellchecker doesn't like "viscious" either. SignatureJames >> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > My spellchecker doesn't like "viscious" either. The first time I encountered 'viscus' I thought it must be a mis-spelling, possibly for 'vicious', even though that didn't make much sense in context. The spell-checker was no help whatsoever. I had to google the word. SignatureCheryl >>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't >>> stand hearing? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > mis-spelling, possibly for 'vicious', even though that didn't make > much sense in context. That's the first time I've encountered "viscus". I thought it must be a misspelling for "viscous". I've never needed to use a singular form of "viscera". SignatureJames >>>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't >>>> stand hearing? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > misspelling for "viscous". I've never needed to use a singular form of > "viscera". So you missed the Haggis on Burns' Night? On 27 Jan 2010, Irwell wrote >>>>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you >>>>> can't stand hearing? [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > So you missed the Haggis on Burns' Night? I didn't miss it at all. SignatureCheers, Harvey CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed >>>>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't >>>>> stand hearing? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > So you missed the Haggis on Burns' Night? One viscus doth not a haggis make. SignatureJames > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand > hearing? > Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, > luscious, viscious. What is it that makes you feel so malicious toward such words? SignatureAndy Clews University of Sussex *** Remove DENTURES if replying by email *** >> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > What is it that makes you feel so malicious toward such words? They're all very ish-ish. SignatureJames >>> Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >>> luscious, viscious. >> >> What is it that makes you feel so malicious toward such words? > They're all very ish-ish. One word I don't like *saying* is "statistics". I usually end up saying something like "stistics". SignatureAndy Clews University of Sussex *** Remove DENTURES if replying by email *** >>>> Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >>>> luscious, viscious. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >One word I don't like *saying* is "statistics". I usually end up saying >something like "stistics". NPR had a Nova program called "Building Pharaoh's Ship". I call it the "Hatshepsut's Ship" show. SignatureJohn >>>>> Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >>>>> luscious, viscious. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > NPR had a Nova program called "Building Pharaoh's Ship". I call it the > "Hatshepsut's Ship" show. Easy enough if you've got your own teeth. SignatureJames >>>> Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >>>> luscious, viscious. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >One word I don't like *saying* is "statistics". I usually end up saying >something like "stistics". I have a similar trouble with "anaesthetist", which is a pity because my daughter is one. Katy On Jan 27, 12:30 pm, k...@cam.ac.uk wrote: > In article <hjpjs3$30...@south.jnrs.ja.net>, > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > I have a similar trouble with "anaesthetist" But how does that make you feel? sjdevnull@yahoo.com filted: >On Jan 27, 12:30=A0pm, k...@cam.ac.uk wrote: >> In article <hjpjs3$30...@south.jnrs.ja.net>, [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >But how does that make you feel? Numb....r SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? >>>>> Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >>>>> luscious, viscious. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >I have a similar trouble with "anaesthetist", which is a pity because my >daughter is one. To get it right, which I don't always do, I have to say it very slowly. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE > Thus spake James Hogg (Jas.Hogg@goutmail.com) unto the assembled > multitudes: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > One word I don't like *saying* is "statistics". I usually end up saying > something like "stistics". Wasps >>> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >>> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > They're all very ish-ish. As you yourself well know. SignaturePeter Moylan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. http://www.pmoylan.org For an e-mail address, see my web page. On Jan 28, 12:55 am, A.Cl...@DENTURESsussex.ac.uk wrote: > > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand > > hearing? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > University of Sussex > *** Remove DENTURES if replying by email *** Hilarious post! (malicious) Just the sound, it somehow makes me feel uncomfortable. Oh yeah, and "Scrumptious". I have the feeling that our individual neurological wiring makes us more sensitive to specific phonemes/morphemes. >On Jan 28, 12:55 am, A.Cl...@DENTURESsussex.ac.uk wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >Just the sound, it somehow makes me feel uncomfortable. Oh yeah, and >"Scrumptious". Yes, perhaps the most horrible of all words, and I don't even know why I react to it that way. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE A.Clews@DENTURESsussex.ac.uk filted: >> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >What is it that makes you feel so malicious toward such words? He's just being officious....r SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? >Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >hearing? > >Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, >luscious, viscious. Pish posh. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE > Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand > hearing? > > Mines are words that words that end in -cious, like delicious, > luscious, viscious.-ope: Dope Nope Rope Phalarope isn't so bad; I can cope. Aaarghh. SignatureFrank ess Frank ess filted: >> Just curious if any of you have words/morphemes that you can't stand >> hearing? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Aaarghh. How do you feel about[1] "calliope" and "penelope"?...r [1] For those bothered by the preceding phrase, replace it with "What's your take on".... SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? >Frank ess filted: >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >[1] For those bothered by the preceding phrase, replace it with "What's your >take on".... Worse. What in the world is wrong with "How do you like...?", as if having an opinion is a bad thing. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE Chuck Riggs filted: >>How do you feel about[1] "calliope" and "penelope"?...r >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >What in the world is wrong with "How do you like...?", as if having an >opinion is a bad thing. "How do you like" attempts to force a positive response...it's a milder form of "tell me how much you enjoyed my latest book!"... An admirer: "How do you like children?" WC Fields: "Parboiled." ....r SignatureA pessimist sees the glass as half empty. An optometrist asks whether you see the glass more full like this?...or like this? >Chuck Riggs filted: >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >"How do you like" attempts to force a positive response...it's a milder form of >"tell me how much you enjoyed my latest book!"... Good point. "What do you think about..." is more neutral and does not get into the touchy-feely territory some of the earlier ways do, IMO. > An admirer: "How do you like children?" > WC Fields: "Parboiled." <grin> SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE > Chuck Riggs filted: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > "How do you like" attempts to force a positive response...it's a milder form of > "tell me how much you enjoyed my latest book!"... It depends. I'm not sure what kind of response the following was supposed to force, though it got a positive one. Little Mattie Groves, he lay down And took a little sleep When he awoke Lord Arlen, Was standing at his feet Saying how do you like my feather bed And how do you like my sheets And how do you like my lady, Who lies in your arms asleep. http://www.contemplator.com/child/mattie.html -- Jerry Friedman >How do you feel about[1] "calliope" and "penelope"?...r I have no problem with that particular pairing, but it gets interesting in the context of "antelope". The story goes that Her Majesty's Navy had at one time two ships named HMS Penelope and HMS Antelope. When they encountered each other in the mid-Atlantic somewhere a signal was exchanged: Ann-Telly-Pee sends greetings to Penny-Lope. Jitze >> How do you feel about[1] "calliope" and "penelope"?...r > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Jitze One of the ladies in our office was Penelope; her friends referred to her fondly as "The Lope". It never occurred to me until this minute to call that elusive animal of the Western USA the "Jack-Ell-Oh-Pee". SignatureFrank ess |
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