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Conference thebay::joyoflex

Title:The Joy of Lex
Notice:A Notes File even your grammar could love
Moderator:THEBAY::SYSTEM
Created:Fri Feb 28 1986
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1192
Total number of notes:42769

628.0. "I *like* it..." by INBLUE::HALDANE (Words is my Business) Thu Feb 23 1989 17:40

	
	While I usually resist change to the English language (knowing that
	if it's useful it will evolve that way anyway!) and Americanisms
	that I regard as sloppy, verbose, vague or whatever, there are new
	phrases and words, often but not exclusively American, that I
	really latch onto.

        There's at least one topic for things that drive us nuts (I wonder
        where that expression came from), so how about one for things we
        like or find amusing? 

	For example, I enjoy the description of someone being "out to
	lunch" and found its meaning fairly obvious in the context in which
	I first heard it.

	Another one I heard very recently (wish I could remember where) is
	"he's gone non-linear".

	Let's record more of our favourites here.

	Delia
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
628.1....ere's one!IOSG::ROBERTSAbsolutely! .... and why not?Thu Feb 23 1989 17:526
    A favorite of mine from the north of England.....
    
    When someone dies you can say - "She's popped her clogs!"
    
    Not sure why. I've always used it and it still tickles a chuckle
    out of me....
628.2Let's polyglot itINBLUE::HALDANEWords is my BusinessThu Feb 23 1989 18:188
	Let's make this subject even more interesting by inviting those who
	speak languages other than English to include some of their
	favourite neologisms, with a literal translation into English so
	that we're not all left guessing.

	Delia
628.3flipflopEAGLE1::EGGERSTom, VAX & MIPS architectureThu Feb 23 1989 23:218
    Re: .2
    
    "Polyglot" as a verb?  Oh, well, any noun can be verbed.
    
    How 'bout "flipflop"?  I was told a few years ago by a Digital tech
    writer that he worked on a military project in the UK and was not
    allowed to use flipflop.  The official substitute? "Bistable
    Eckles-Jordon circuit."  I wonder how many trees that cost.
628.4I used to be monostable, but now...INBLUE::HALDANEWords is my BusinessThu Feb 23 1989 23:5314
Re:    <<< Note 628.3 by EAGLE1::EGGERS "Tom, VAX & MIPS architecture" >>>


>   Re: .2
    
>   "Polyglot" as a verb?  Oh, well, any noun can be verbed.
    
	I wondered how long I'd get away with that.  I knew I should have
        smileyed it.

	;-)

	Delia
628.5Bill's motherMARVIN::MACHINFri Feb 24 1989 11:126
    The North of England is particularly rich in vivid phrases.
    
    I never figured out why "It's a bit black over Bill's mother" (meaning
    it looks like it's going to rain) is so effective.
    
    Richard.
628.6Shop 'til you drop?REGENT::BROOMHEADDon&#039;t panic -- yet.Fri Feb 24 1989 17:594
    My mother's Austrian friends were thoroughly charmed by her suggestion
    to go shopping in Providence:  "Let's go 'round downtown."
    
    							Ann B.
628.7fight or flight?LAMHRA::WHORLOWPrussiking up the rope of life!Sun Feb 26 1989 23:139
    G'day,
    
    ...and , though by todays standards I suppose it will be classed
    as sexist, if one leaves home after an argument, one is said to
    'got out of a smoky kitchen'.
    
    
    
       derek
628.9Does this count?VINO::MCGLINCHEYSancho! My Armor! My TECO Macros!Mon Feb 27 1989 18:216
    
    Recently heard in conversation:
    
    	"...our Kerosene heater went ballistic and deposited a 
                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^   
    	layer of soot all over everything."