Oh goody! Are we in the right room for an argument?
I'm not sure you can you "reciprocate" in that context anyway.
Pretentious? Moi?
Jun 20, 2011
58 Replies
We are talking America where the presidents invent words (nucular, misunderestimated) - well, OK, one particular president.
Introduce them to the Monty Python British Well Basically Club
Obviously not. Given the definition of reciprocate when used as a verb. In English, at least.
Collins GEM English Dictionary reciprocate v. give or feel in return (of a machine part) move backwards and forwards.
snip
Pet peeve is 'Looking to' as in 'I'm looking to get a new car'
No no no no no
I would like to get, I want to get, I wish. Whatever you like, but not 'Looking to'
Paul Mc Cann
and there's another one, people being served at a bar. Can I get a packet of crisps?
Since we have an interesting little rant in progress, may I add a couple of ubiquitous idioms which have insinuated their way into telephone speak?
"bear with me" rather than "please hold the line".
"no problem" in response to thanks, rather than "you are welcome".
I dislike these - particularly when I catch myself using them!
Alan
You know what......
The language changes. Live with it.
"clean tea-spoon" was a difficult request for a waiter to cope with ... in London.
Owain
Language implies communication. If it fails to do that, it's just noise
Where our traffic office is concerned, it is.....
(Sorry, I'm got a bad attack of the cynicals at the mokment.)
No-one's complained they don't understand, just that they just don't like the usage.
Or "irregardless" - another non-existent word.
Or, you go into a shop to buy a single item, and the assistant says: "That will be one pound fifty altogether". Altogether with *what*, for God's sake?
Have you noticed the growing habit, when people are interviewed on the radio, of starting each answer with "So . . " - as if this was a logical extension to an argument, rather than just an answer to a question?
At one time, all words were non-existent. Until someone makes them up. Where else do you think they come from, the word fairy?
It's just sync bits ...
And toys R us. Is he American, and is he called Ned Flanders or Reverend Lovejoy?
You mean they don't?
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