Drago's English language rant #72

[Drago]

I'm literally gobsmacked. I was literally watching the news when some woman opined "Teresa May is literally taking food out of children's mouths."

Whhoooaa there a moment. Mrs May is shoving her hand into the mouths of children and physically withdrawing the food? Why has this not been in the news before?

The word 'literally' has become so common in use that it now, quite literally, seems to mean the opposite of that which it should. I'm literally stunned.

Its becoming literally as bad as hearing the word negotiate mis-pronounced all the time...

 

[Dayvo]

If they said Theresa DisMay is 'litter tray', they literally might be right.

 

[Venod]

And why when the answer yes would suffice, do people insist on saying absolutely.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Because they feel that Yes doesn't suffice.

Absolutely

 

[Buck]

It's a trend of nonsense. Very similar to those who like to start a reply with "So,..."

 

[TheDoctor]

So true. Absolutely.

 

[Biff600]

@Drago ......you may want to edit the first line where it says, 'children's MONTHS' !!

Bloody grammar police !! lol

 

[Profpointy]

It's a trend of nonsense. Very similar to those who like to start a reply with "So,..."

"So. The Spear Danes in days gone by,
And the kings who led them had courage and greatness"

What a crap line eh!

 

[Moodyman]

Indeed.

 

[Venod]

It's a trend of nonsense. Very similar to those who like to start a reply with "So,..."

Or "Look.."

They probably also use "at this moment in time" and "going forward" and not forgetting "road map" when they mean plan.

 

[Drago]

Cheers Biff. No feeling in two fingers so my typing ability lags behind my grammatical rage.

When giving a speech, why do politicians (and Chief Constables) ask themselves a question out loud before going in to answer it themselves?

 

[classic33]

And why when the answer yes would suffice, do people insist on saying absolutely.

Absolutely is a non commital answer, you're simply agreeing.

 

[classic33]

Cheers Biff. No feeling in two fingers so my typing ability lags behind my grammatical rage.

When giving a speech, why do politicians (and Chief Constables) ask themselves a question out loud before going in to answer it themselves?

They've done an "Houdini".

 

[Drago]

They've literally done an Houdini.

 

[LonesomeWanderer]

That's literally* the best rant I've ever read.



* I might be using the word 'literally' in the way that William Shakespeare commonly did, which is to say 'metaphorically'. These modern playrights have never used the English language proper-like though....