All About Books discussion
General Archive
>
A Thread of Words
E. wrote: "Plating is a restaurant term, or any food industry where food is actually put on a plate. I've heard it my whole life."Yes, I first came across "plating", in the food presentation sense, over 40 years ago!
Mod
I've been reminded by my sister that languages evolves. Yes, language does evolve but do we sometimes 'let' it evolve against the rulers of good grammar?
B the BookAddict wrote: "I've been reminded by my sister that languages evolves. Yes, language does evolve but do we sometimes 'let' it evolve against the rulers of good grammar?"Yes, the noun as a verb thing bothers me. I've heard a few doozies on workout DVDs, such as "giraffe your legs", and "starfish your hands". Odd, but they do convey the meaning very efficiently!
Mod
Thank you E - that makes a lot of sense.Greg - not sure where you were talking about this, but I've just looked up the phrase "chewing the scenery" which I'd never heard before. We use "ham it up" and also "playing to the gallery," but they all seem to be slightly different idioms.
Jean, it was where Greg and I were talking about how Greg feared Jim Carey's over-acting might not be to his taste in "Disney's A Christmas Carol", because he thought Carey's maniacal performance ruined Dr. Seuss's "The Grinch".
Mod
Seuss was often silly and sometimes a bit frenetic, but both the book and the original animated cartoon had a sweetness and lack of cynicism that I adore.
All of Carrey's ad lib antics destroyed that tone for me. The adaption just wasn't for me. Others (including my partner's sister) love it.
I watched the start of A Christmas Carol last year Greg and had to stop as it was too 'Carrey' for me and the animation was a style I really dislike - similar to The Polar Express. They tread between caricature and reality in a way that I just find creepy (I think the the visuals are reasonably realistic but in expression the characters all seem somehow wooden and zombie-like).
Mod
I'm curious about the varied viewpoints - even though I often find Carrey a bit too much, I might give it a try if I find a copy for rent so that at least I'll understand what everyone is talking about. :)
At the risk of being negative I will start with something that I hate. Has anyone else noticed how many titles in revent years contain an action verb followed by a direct object, usually a proper noun? Example: Driving Miss Daisy, Raising Arizona, Saving Private Ryan, Killing Lincoln, Educating Rita, the list goes on. And it seems to be getting more common particularly in films and television. I roll my eyes every time I see this kind of title. I will say my husband and I laugh about it and keep a mental list when ever we see this formula. It is an immediate turn off for me but I try not to judge by a title. I have many words that I love but have to think about that one for awhile.
Greg wrote: "I haven't seen the Polar Express yet either Paul. Thanks for the info though! I'm curious about the varied viewpoints - even though I often find Carrey a bit too much, I might give it a try if I ..."
I know a lot of people who really like the Polar Express so I'm probably in the minority Greg.
Beth wrote: "At the risk of being negative I will start with something that I hate. Has anyone else noticed how many titles in revent years contain an action verb followed by a direct object, usually a proper ..."
There are certainly a LOT of titles like that; though I don't really see the problem with the format.
Beth - hmm. I think it is merely intended to increase the immediacy, isn't it? What would you substitute otherwise? The infinitive, ie "To Drive Miss Daisy", "To Raise Arizona" (whatever that would mean) etc.? No, this one doesn't bother me unduly, personally. Alice - yes, thank you. And thank you too Greg for the clear elucidation.
Aw - I have been looking forward to watching the film of The Polar Express, as we recorded it on the hard drive a day or two ago. I'm hoping Father Christmas might have brought me the book too - neither are familiar to me, but I'd heard they were good. I'd better just keep my fingers crossed that I like them ;)
Jean wrote: "Beth - hmm. I think it is merely intended to increase the immediacy, isn't it? What would you substitute otherwise? The infinitive, ie "To Drive Miss Daisy", "To Raise Arizona" (whatever that would..."I don't think it is inappropriate to use type of title if it is really a good place for it. Driving Miss Daisy makes perfect sense to me. What I don't like is the feeling that in recent decades, the this Gerund + Proper Noun = Title Cliche seems to be a go-to formula that feels gimmicky to me. Apparently I am not the only one that has been bothered by this. Maybe this is more of a problem in film than in books. Hopefully the virus won't spread into written literature. I just found this. http://literalminded.wordpress.com/20...
resistentialism.
the malice of machines,
the inanimate.
the malice of machines,
the inanimate.
I liked this post. Ten examples of Paraprosdokians or "figures of speech where the latter part of the phrase is humorously surprising or unexpected and causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part."
:-) Very clever. Thanks for posting it, Jean.
Oh, Jean, you started something now.....I was looking to see if others on your list were "famous quotes"..no luck, but did find these to add:“A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.”
“You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.”
“There’s a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can’t get away.”
“I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.”
“You’re never too old to learn something stupid.”
“To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.”
"I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one.”
Mod
I like that one Jean :)
Mod
“A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.”
“..."
Some funny additions Monica :)
Oh wonderful, Monica! :D I'm sure I've heard that "indecisive" one before!
Mod
I like that one Jean :)"
Me too. The one I prefere
Jean wrote: "I liked this post. Ten examples of Paraprosdokians or "figures of speech where the latter part of the phrase is humorously surprising or unexpected and causes the reader or listener to reframe or r..."LOL!! Thanks Jean!
I thought this was pretty funny, thou saucy milk-livered maggot-pie!
Jean and Leslie, I just found this thread today, and your posts made me LOL. Thanks for cheering up my day!
Thou puking rump-fed puttock ... yes I saw that post too, Leslie. Chris commented that it sounded like a good way to lose friends! :D
Thou mewling idle-headed moldwarps!
It's definitely better alliteratively :D
You know, it's surprising how frequently I come across these insults (people tell me every day, lol) no, seriously, because I read Anglo Hist Fict, Hist Fact and Bios, I see them more frequently than I suppose other readers do.
I just ran across a word in Twenty Years After which I had encountered as a child in a Flanders & Swann song but had thought they had made up --anthropaphagi
The word means cannibals (eaters of human flesh). I love The Reluctant Cannibal song (my brother and I can still quote most of it from memory)!
Jean wrote: "So did I Leslie! Yikes! :/"I should have guessed that you would know Flanders and Swann! It is hard to find others who know them here on this side of the Pond...
What a coincidence Leslie! I just came on here to post something and have just seen your comment. Half an hour ago Chris told me about a Flanders and Swann CD he was ordering! (Long story though.) I'd assumed they were known worldwide, whereas another similar comedic singer from that time, Richard Stilgoe, seems to have disappeared without trace even here. Do you know Donald Swann's songs from Tolkien, too? They always seemed the definitive ones to me (until the films ...)
I can't resist posting this:
Well at least they tried!
LOL!!Regarding Swann's music for Tolkien's songs, I have heard it but don't own it (I do have a box set of Flanders and Swann CDs though, as well as the LPs my parents had!).
I learned a new word yesterday while reading our Spring Author, Elizabeth Gaskell -- ling. This might be familiar to Brits but I had to look it up. It is a name for heather.
Jean wrote: "I can't resist posting this:Well at least they tried!"
So… are they wrong then? ;-)
Ah! Confirmation that it did in fact post! I've just redone it as it kept saying image error here ...They are quite inventive, aren't they? A consolation point for trying, I reckon!
Jean wrote: "Ah! Confirmation that it did in fact post! I've just redone it as it kept saying image error here ...They are quite inventive, aren't they? A consolation point for trying, I reckon!"
When I get that "image error" message, it is generally due to slow connection on my end rather than an actual error with the image. My wifi can get extremely slow at times (to the point of not being able to show even text occasionally!).
Thanks for that info Leslie! Our connection is certainly grinding to a halt here :(
Jean wrote: "I can't resist posting this:Well at least they tried!"
Lol! That's hilarious!
Jean, that was fun. Thanks for sharing it.
Oh my, I really have missed GR, it has been a delight re-reading this thread, & it has cheered me up greatly! As always, it sparks the old cogs off & the following words popped into my head:Gerrymandering (is this just a UK thing?)
Hoi polloi (which I incorrectly thought meant posh folks for years!)
Idiopathic
Perspicacity
Apoplectic
Anachronistic
Paroxysm
Brass neck
I was also wondering what words we've got wrong in some way - either misunderstood the meaning, or words that just sound like something else to you?
I think my most mortifying example of this was learning & repeating a 'new' word I learned (learnt??) at secondary school that is very similar to 'twit' (I'm sure you don't need me to elaborate ... Or should that be elucidate? ;) ...), so an eleven year old me chatted away happily to my dear Dad (whose strongest expletives were 'Christmas' and 'knickers'!) using my shiny new word several times over - until he asked if I knew what the word meant. Fortunately although my parents were very (VERY) strict, especially about swearing & manners, Dad was merely amused when I (genuinely) told him "it's the same as twit, just pronounced differently isn't it?" - he gently informed me it was a bad word & not to use it again - he wouldn't tell me what it did mean - boy can you imagine my horror when I did find out?! More innocent times!!!
Believe it or not, I mixed that one up too Jacks! Since I was telling my parents about a rude little boy who'd called me that, I was a bit surprised at the vehemence of their reaction! One word I still always think means its opposite, until I remember and tell myself, is "exacerbate".
Haha Jean, I feel so much better now!! It still makes me laugh nearly 30 years later! I've just about got over the embarrassment now, hahaha! Although I'd still rather die than remind my Dad about it!!! He's gone all rebellious in his old age & has starting saying 'crap' in the last decade - Mum still tuts & complains every time he says it, it cracks me up laughing. I swear like a sailor when not in their company (in context!) & I still have to be careful to try to remember not to swear around them - I think I'd still get a clip 'round the ears!! ;) Those Dickens words were great btw, 'fluffiness' sounds like a collective noun to me - a fluffiness of kittens maybe? I didn't know it came from him! What would adolescence have been without playing 'fluffy bunnies'?! Oh dear, I am feeling very silly today!
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right (other topics)Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right (other topics)
1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (other topics)
Twenty Years After (other topics)
The Polar Express (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Enid Blyton (other topics)Enid Blyton (other topics)
Bertrand Russell (other topics)
Bertrand Russell (other topics)
Bertrand Russell (other topics)
More...
Impossible to have a planning meeting without hearing impact used a..."
Not to mention "granular", "in this space", "optics" (to describe how something appears to others) and "drivers".
As for euphemisms for lay-offs, I'm used to "streamlining" and more recently, "achieving efficiencies". Also, in my last workplace, "efficiency dividend" was a euphemism for budget cut.