The Pink Elephant on the Wall

Helix

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I still get quite irritated when people use diffuse instead of defuse in the sense of 'defusing the situation'. I can see why they might get it wrong. But they should all be sent on a bomb disposal course to understand why it is better to defuse a bomb than diffuse it.
 

Earthling

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So, I never really thought about this before, but I guess people are saying that that care quite a bit?

Yes - it's "I couldn't care less" but some people (particularly in the US) say the opposite.

Person 1: "Blabbing on about what the Kardashians have been up to."
Person 2: "I could care less."
Person 1: "Aww, you care! Okay, I'll tell you the rest! Now, Kim..."

Person 1: "Blabbing on about what the Kardashians have been up to."
Person 2: "I couldn't care less."
Person 1: "Oh. Sorry, I didn't realise you weren't interested. Let's talk about how your latest book is going!"
Person 2: "Erm. So, tell me more about Kim?"
 

Layla Nahar

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'unctuous' is a bit elusive to define, but I recall Peter Ustinov being very good at portraying such characters in movies about ancient times. Wealthy merchants in particular have gotten the 'unctuous' adjective, ime.
 

Chase

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I read here at AW: "It's a working progress . . ."

It defines me, but I'd rather be a loafing progress.
:e2zzz:
 

M. R. Kessell

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I still get quite irritated when people use diffuse instead of defuse in the sense of 'defusing the situation'. I can see why they might get it wrong. But they should all be sent on a bomb disposal course to understand why it is better to defuse a bomb than diffuse it.

Yeah, Helix, that would make me blow up on someone too!
 

Larry M

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Larry, that’s pretty compelling stuff, I need to know what happened next!

Nothing too dramatic, :)

It was an Upstate New York sportswriter commenting on a minor league baseball game: "Vermont all of the sudden has runners on second and third with no outs. Can tie the game with a hit."
 

M. R. Kessell

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'unctuous' is a bit elusive to define, but I recall Peter Ustinov being very good at portraying such characters in movies about ancient times. Wealthy merchants in particular have gotten the 'unctuous' adjective, ime.

Good ol’ Unctuous Ustinov! I looked him up on IMDB and I’m not sure that I’ve seen him in anything. I’ll have to keep an eye out for him.
 

M. R. Kessell

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I read here at AW: "It's a working progress . . ."

It defines me, but I'd rather be a loafing progress.
:e2zzz:

I’m hoping to be an unemployed progress, then maybe I’ll finally have time to get some real work done.
 

regdog

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Not phrases but words.

A former coworker

sangwich

Valentime's Day
 
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Twick

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A couple I heard of (not directly) that have that sort of "it's wrong, but it makes *sense*!" vibe - someone after a traumatic event being in the "feeble position". And a noisy crowd creating a "cacoughony" of sound.
 

Chase

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In "The Kembleford Boggart" episode of Father Brown last night, subtitles had the good priest state they awaited a new novel "with baited breath."

Wonder if they used worms or minnows? :greenie
 
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M. R. Kessell

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A couple I heard of (not directly) that have that sort of "it's wrong, but it makes *sense*!" vibe - someone after a traumatic event being in the "feeble position". And a noisy crowd creating a "cacoughony" of sound.


In "The Kembleford Boggart" episode of Father Brown last night, subtitles had the good priest state they awaited a new novel "with baited breath."

Wonder if they used worms or minnows? :greenie

Sometimes my cat has such baited breath that it leaves me in a feeble position.
 

Snitchcat

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Or, you know, it might be somethink to thing abou'.

- - - Updated - - -

You got another thing coming.
 

Snitchcat

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Thing-gee.

-----------

The one that really annoys me right now:

"i.e." instead of "e.g." when the writer means "e.g."
 

regdog

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Thing-gee.

-----------

The one that really annoys me right now:

"i.e." instead of "e.g." when the writer means "e.g."


Also said by former coworker.
 

M. R. Kessell

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I’ve got another one for y’all. Tell me what you think.

“Chafing at the bit.”

Is it wrong?