Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[teamsaint]

That's the ticket!

Tore them off a strip, I suppose.

[cloughie]

Tore them off a strip, I suppose.

Any more you want to tout?

[teamsaint]

Any more you want to tout?

It sounds like it was a fare cop.

[french frank]

'Literally' is often used now in contexts which beg the question 'Did you think we thought you meant metaphorically?'

I particularly liked this OED example from 1906: "Mr. Chamberlain literally bubbled over with gratitude."

The OED remarks:"Now one of the most common uses, although often considered irregular in standard English since it reverses the original sense of literally (‘not figuratively or metaphorically’)."

[Joseph K]

I particularly liked this OED example from 1906: "Mr. Chamberlain literally bubbled over with gratitude."

The OED remarks:"Now one of the most common uses, although often considered irregular in standard English since it reverses the original sense of literally (‘not figuratively or metaphorically’)."

[Pabmusic]

I particularly liked this OED example from 1906: "Mr. Chamberlain literally bubbled over with gratitude."

The OED remarks:"Now one of the most common uses, although often considered irregular in standard English since it reverses the original sense of literally (‘not figuratively or metaphorically’)."

It's one of those odd things - the way some words reverse their meanings ('nice' for instance), or go halfway there so that we end up with two nearly opposite meanings - 'egregious' is one such.

[LMcD]

It's one of those odd things - the way some words reverse their meanings ('nice' for instance), or go halfway there so that we end up with two nearly opposite meanings - 'egregious' is one such.

'Sanction' - a kind of punishment but also a kind of approval.

[oddoneout]

It's one of those odd things - the way some words reverse their meanings ('nice' for instance), or go halfway there so that we end up with two nearly opposite meanings - 'egregious' is one such.

When I was a child my father used to get very irritated by the use of 'sophisticated' in the opposite sense from the original, but even then it was a lot cause, and I see that now no mention is made of its original meaning in online definitions.

[kernelbogey]

When I was a child my father used to get very irritated by the use of 'sophisticated' in the opposite sense from the original, but even then it was a lot cause, and I see that now no mention is made of its original meaning in online definitions.

'Executive' was fashionable for a long time - e.g. 'Development of Executive Homes' - but seems to have waned. I'm pretty sure I owned an Executive Briefcase for many years, though, as far as I know, it was never employed to fell purpose

[LMcD]

The German verb 'einstellen' has umpteen meanings, two of which, used in an engineering context, are 'set up' and 'abandon'.

[Stanfordian]

When I was a child my father used to get very irritated by the use of 'sophisticated' in the opposite sense from the original, but even then it was a lot cause, and I see that now no mention is made of its original meaning in online definitions.

Ah, back in the day.

[Bryn]

When I was a child my father used to get very irritated by the use of 'sophisticated' in the opposite sense from the original, but even then it was a lot cause, and I see that now no mention is made of its original meaning in online definitions.

I recall an episode of The Archers, some decades ago, in which one of the older characters took a younger one to task for not respecting the old, adulterated, meaning of "sophisticated".

[Serial_Apologist]

'Executive' was fashionable for a long time - e.g. 'Development of Executive Homes' - but seems to have waned. I'm pretty sure I owned an Executive Briefcase for many years, though, as far as I know, it was never employed to fell purpose

Probably abolished by means of an Executive Decision.

[Pulcinella]

Probably abolished by means of an Executive Decision.

But the Executive Order to carry it out will undoubtedly have been signed by the Chief Executive.
Or would that be the Lord High Executioner?

[Serial_Apologist]

But the Executive Order to carry it out will undoubtedly have been signed by the Chief Executive.
Or would that be the Lord High Executioner?