The Official Henry Higgins Thread

[Chonsil]

More:

I really can't stand the excessive "verbing" of nouns (and yes, I know that verb is not a verb). Examples include internet, office, church, and so very many more. These are nouns, not verbs!

Okay, I agree with you, but do have to laugh at a recently heard usage that changed "pervert" to a verb form.
As in "He was perving down my chest." I just find that one so descriptive!

[DottyG]

First of all, I love you people!  I'm agreeing with everyone's submissions above!  And, I agree that, if I hear that Hussein was "hung" one more time........(grrrrrr!)

I thought of another one.  Please don't tell me that you're "nauseous."  You really don't want to admit that to people, as you should have a higher regard for yourself than that.  What you mean to tell me is that you're NAUSEATED.  (And, come to think of it, I still don't want you near me if you're that!)

[Slartibartfast]

More:

I really can't stand the excessive "verbing" of nouns (and yes, I know that verb is not a verb). Examples include internet, office, church, and so very many more. These are nouns, not verbs!

In the words of Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes), "Verbing wierds language."

My personal pet peeve would be the sentence "Axe Miss Slartibart to borrow you a liberry book."  I get it a lot, and it just makes me cry.

[Brentwood]

More:

I really can't stand the excessive "verbing" of nouns (and yes, I know that verb is not a verb). Examples include internet, office, church, and so very many more. These are nouns, not verbs!

In the words of Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes), "Verbing wierds language."

My personal pet peeve would be the sentence "Axe Miss Slartibart to borrow you a liberry book."  I get it a lot, and it just makes me cry.

Along those lines, mixing up "lend" with "loan."

[Bijou]

"For instance, it's "music soothes the savage BREAST" (not beast).  Infuriates me to hear it said the incorrect way."

Really?  I've never heard this at all!  I wonder how it all got started...

Charlotte

So, is it beast or breast?  I read online that it is from a play or something and is breast, but on line also refers to savage beast.  I'm more confused that ever. 

[Brentwood]

"For instance, it's "music soothes the savage BREAST" (not beast).  Infuriates me to hear it said the incorrect way."

Really?  I've never heard this at all!  I wonder how it all got started...

Charlotte

So, is it beast or breast?  I read online that it is from a play or something and is breast, but on line also refers to savage beast.  I'm more confused that ever. 

It's breast.

[DottyG]

"For instance, it's "music soothes the savage BREAST" (not beast).  Infuriates me to hear it said the incorrect way."

Really?  I've never heard this at all!  I wonder how it all got started...

Charlotte

So, is it beast or breast?  I read online that it is from a play or something and is breast, but on line also refers to savage beast.  I'm more confused that ever. 

It's "breast."  And, another fine example of why you shouldn't automatically believe what you see on the internet just because "it was on the internet" without doing some checking first (except for this post, of course! )

[Brentwood]

It's "breast."  And, another fine example of why you shouldn't automatically believe what you see on the internet just because "it was on the internet" without doing some checking first (except for this post, of course! )

I feel just that way about lyrics websites! Many sites just copy from others, so if one site has incorrect lyrics, dozens of them will, thus propagating the mistake.

[Gileswench]

My pet peeve phrases:

One of the only

No, you mean one of the few

I itched myself

I believe you mean you scratched your itch

It's difficult to restrain myself from correcting people on the use of 'I' and 'me'.

Oh, and there is no 's' on the end of the word 'anyway'. That one has been driving me up a tree lately.

[Brentwood]

Oh, and there is no 's' on the end of the word 'anyway'. That one has been driving me up a tree lately.

Ah, yes, the ubiquitous "anyways"!

You've reminded me of another one, though. It is not far and few between, which is nonsensical. The phrase is few and far between.

I'll also mention confusing much/many and number/amount.

[housewife2k]

My pet peeve phrases:

One of the only

No, you mean one of the few

I itched myself

I believe you mean you scratched your itch

It's difficult to restrain myself from correcting people on the use of 'I' and 'me'.

Oh, and there is no 's' on the end of the word 'anyway'. That one has been driving me up a tree lately.

I admit it! I will add an 's' to anyway, but I am trying not to. For some reason, ever since I was little, I will add an 's' to many words, even though I know it doesn't belong, I just cannot seem to control it.

Another one that bothers me is, in writning, the difference between always, and all ways. The extra letter and space can greatly change the meaning. Example-I will love you always, I will love you all ways.

[IndianInlaw]

"When Lulubelle answers the phone and the caller asks for Lulubelle, Lulubelle should respond, "This is she," not "This is her."

I say "This is Marilyn" that eliminates any confusion.   I learned this from a long ago coworker.

(Thank God my name isn't Lulubelle)

[Pixie]

I grew up in a family that believed words are power and very important.  My mother knew the correct quotes, but would often change them, for example she was fond of saying, "Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to CONCEIVE."

My daughter has picked up my Mother's love of words and often makes up her own words which we call, "Kimi-isms"   For example one day she was doing homework and I could see she was getting flustered and frustrated, she said "Mom, I am so flustrated!"   It wasn't correct, but I knew exactly what she meant!

We do try to keep these words and phrases within the family, but sometimes they escape.... and we have some explaining to do. I usually just say its an old family joke, and most people laugh and move on.

[Venus193]

Here's something sort of sad, sort of funny - my mom's friend was showing a house (she's in real estate) and the person commented on the faux marble. But pronounced faux as if the A was silent and the X was spoken. You know what that sounds like......?  Since it was a client my mom's friend did not comment but I can speak for her and tell you that she'd like to post that answer if she was online

I've also heard that described as fox paws.  Oy.

[DottyG]

"Mom, I am so flustrated!"

I have a friend who uses that word.