"Plug socket"

[James Wilkinson]

Why do some people call the thing on the wall a "plug socket"? Isn't that a bit like saying a "c*ck vagina"?

[Scott]

Is it not closer to saying 'railway station' to distinguish from a bus station, police station or electricity substation? 'Socket' has more than one meaning.

[James Wilkinson]

But "meet me at the railway station" is required so you don't wait for me at the bus station. However "plug the hoover into the socket" suffices. Most people would not attempt to insert the plug into their eye socket. Also you wouldn't say "the train is stopping at the railway station", just "the station". You only need the extra word when there's ambiguity.

[Lobster]

On 20 Sep 2016, "James Wilkinson" grunted:

But who does say "plug the hoover into the plug socket"?

I might say "I'm just going to order some plug sockets from Screwfix" though...

[Scott]

Actually, they often say 'station stop' which always seems to me unnecessary.

[James Wilkinson]

I'd say "electrical sockets". A plug is the opposite of a socket. So you call those socket plugs?

[James Wilkinson]

I've never heard that. I do find it amusing when a train "terminates" though.

[Bob Eager]

They're being precise. The train may stop before that, but not at a station. And you are only meant to board/alight at a station.

[James Wilkinson]

The hint is when the doors don't open.

[DerbyBorn]

Train Station surely. We don't call a bus station a roadway station!

[DerbyBorn]

Hoover is a trade name - and they did not challenge its mis-use. It is ridiculous to use terms like Henry Hoover - or Dyson Hoover.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Thats because other things than buses run on roads

[Tim Streater]

Only if you're a Septic.

[damduck-egg]

What state is Newry in ?

G.Harman

[damduck-egg]

What you said is above , ONLY if you're a Septic

As far as I understand septic is a slang word for someone from the United States, You said only they use it. I just showed you evidence that it is officially used in a public place designed for trains to call at a place in the United Kingdom, not the United States.

No matter if this "We" is you and your Pet Goldfish or the whole town you live in your statement was wrong.

Delete that last S and you are describing yourself.

G.Harman

[Dave W]

Train stations used to be called just "stations", before the advent of US TV series that everyone copied. There are not enough bus stations in the UK to cause confusion. Similar effect on common parlance as Australian TV series that made every sentence sound like a question.

[Tim Streater]

Yes, "train station" is redundant, really. They'll be saying "foot pedal" next.

[polygonum]

Don't know about the actual numbers, but one place I lived had one bus station, two railway stations and a coach station. Enough to cause confusion.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Depends. Station is now used for other than a railway station. Work station, for example.

[whisky-dave]

My local is called walthamstow central, underground trains stop there and london overground and buses stop there, we also have walthamstow garage which is where buses stop too, some call it a bus terminus.