Banal expressions
- Thread starter JLM
- Start date
I hate the word 'signage', as in "We need more signage to get our word out."
What's wrong with "signs"?
What's wrong with "signs"?
Probably nothing- that one has been around for about 20 years that I know of, I guess sometimes variations of words do spice up the language a bit. The one I really hate is the word "utilize"- just an ostentatious way to say "use" and adds absolutely nothing to the meaning.
I ran across this the other day and found it interesting.
"9 Words That Don't Mean What You Think"
1. Irregardless
2. Peruse
3. Ironic
4. Pristine
5. Nonplussed
6. Bemused
7. Enormity
8. Plethora
9. Deceptively
Here for the why's and how's, though beware of the swear words and obvious eye candy (if you're really that prudish) : 9 Words That Don't Mean What You Think | Cracked.com
And yes, it is the internet incarnation of that juvenille rag, 'Cracked Magazine' (though not with the modern connotation of 'Cracked'.) :lol:
"9 Words That Don't Mean What You Think"
1. Irregardless
2. Peruse
3. Ironic
4. Pristine
5. Nonplussed
6. Bemused
7. Enormity
8. Plethora
9. Deceptively
Here for the why's and how's, though beware of the swear words and obvious eye candy (if you're really that prudish) : 9 Words That Don't Mean What You Think | Cracked.com
And yes, it is the internet incarnation of that juvenille rag, 'Cracked Magazine' (though not with the modern connotation of 'Cracked'.) :lol:
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Here's one for you- there's at least one word in the English language with two meanings, one being the opposite of the other. What is the word?
Did you notice that 'peruse' is on both lists? I guess that the jury's still out on that one.
This one was my personal favourite, "Fat chance; slim chance: (Both mean "not too likely") 'Chance' is my dog's name and, well, we live in Likely. And yes he is fat.
This one was my personal favourite, "Fat chance; slim chance: (Both mean "not too likely") 'Chance' is my dog's name and, well, we live in Likely. And yes he is fat.
Yes but "speed was a factor" can also be something like "alcohol was a factor" or road conditons were a factor and on and on. A three car pile up on snowy roads may be a SNAFU but it's also a situation where road conditons were a factor and maybe even speed and/or alcohol! :lol:;-) Can't really see a cop reporting like "Whew what a SNAFU that was!!!" lol
lol Or "Man, after that crash every vehicle was missing speed as a factor and they were all fubar."
Hey JLM, Horsefly! *rapid expectorant*
I'm sure that you see the humour in that. (I've met 'HorseflyGuy', you wouldn't like'm.) And sorry VanIsle & AnnaG for buttin' in. I hope that you're both well. :smile:
JLM, in conversation today a friend of mine and I came up with a possible, 'Homoantagonym'.
I.E.: A word that only sounds the same, but means the opposite and, is spelt different.
Acronym aside:
1st case; "That girl is Fat!" (Archaic)
Meaning: "That girl is burdened by today's preconceptions!"
2nd case; "That girl is P.H.A.T.!" (Modern)
Meaning: "That girl (has) Perfect Hips, A$$, & etcetera..."
Or a 'homocontranym' maybe?
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Someone once told me: "You had half a brain in your head you'd be lonely."
Which still makes no sense to me.
Which still makes no sense to me.
I think that maybe they said, "If you had half a brain cell in your head, it would be lonely." (I've heard that one before.)
Which makes perfect (non)sense, 'cause if you had just half a brain cell... of course it would be lonely.
Which makes perfect (non)sense, 'cause if you had just half a brain cell... of course it would be lonely.
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Quite an extensive list. However, I don’t think it is exhaustive, I think he missed a couple. One I can think of is the word ‘bomb’. Bomb can mean that something was a success (it went off like a bomb) or that something was a failure (it bombed).
Or the word 'wise'. 'wise man' and 'wise guy' have exactly opposite meaning.
The word ‘mad’ is particularly interesting in that it denotes the extremes at both ends. It can mean ecstatically happy or seething, boiling with anger. I still remember my English teacher giving us the following example as to the nuances of English language.
I went mad over the flat.
This sentence has totally different meaning in North America and Britain, since in Brittan a flat means an apartment.
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Indeed, I can think of several more pairs of words (words which are opposites but mean pretty much the same thing in a particular context).
Consider the words ‘on’ and ‘off’. You would think they are almost exact opposites. But consider the following sentences.
I live on Steeles Avenue. Or,
I live off Steeles Avenue.
The two mean pretty much the same thing. Or the words will and won’t. Now, these are exact opposites (‘will’ and ‘will not’). But consider the following sentences.
“Close the door when you leave, will you?” or
“Close the door when you leave, won’t you?”
The two mean pretty much the same thing.
I'm not sure if all the words listed are TRUE antangonyms. Cleave is, as both definitions are equally valid. Some mentioned have one "official" definition and one slang or sarcastic definition. An example of which would be "lovely". You can say it's a lovely house- real definition or you can say when your lovely house burns down- "that is just bloody lovely". Sarcasm.