Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[LHC]

I don't know if it's a generational thing or another trans Atlantic difference of usage, but I simply cannot accept the use of 'pimp' as a positive term. I first became aware of this alternative usage it when I saw TV listings for something called, I think, 'Pimp my wheels', and it now seems to be used quite happily in the sense of titivating or blinging-up something.
Given that it is still in use in what I consider its correct meaning, in connection with prostitution, and still appears as such in crime reports that seems a bit odd to me.

I think the two meanings are connected in that cars that had been, as you say, ‘blinged-up’ were associated with the type of cars that would be driven by pimps in the US. It’s similar in this way to a pimp suit.



Thus a car that looked like a pimp’s car, had been ‘pimped’, and the meaning has now widened to include anything which is modified in an excessively vulgar way.

[LMcD]

I don't know if it's a generational thing or another trans Atlantic difference of usage, but I simply cannot accept the use of 'pimp' as a positive term. I first became aware of this alternative usage it when I saw TV listings for something called, I think, 'Pimp my wheels', and it now seems to be used quite happily in the sense of titivating or blinging-up something.
Given that it is still in use in what I consider its correct meaning, in connection with prostitution, and still appears as such in crime reports that seems a bit odd to me.

Perhaps somebody can't spell 'pump' - and the two vowels in question nestle side-by-side on my keyboard, as they do, I suspect, on most others.

[Pulcinella]

I don't know if it's a generational thing or another trans Atlantic difference of usage, but I simply cannot accept the use of 'pimp' as a positive term. I first became aware of this alternative usage it when I saw TV listings for something called, I think, 'Pimp my wheels', and it now seems to be used quite happily in the sense of titivating or blinging-up something.
Given that it is still in use in what I consider its correct meaning, in connection with prostitution, and still appears as such in crime reports that seems a bit odd to me.

Cassell's Dictionary of slang has a few entries against pimp, including:
adjective [1940s+] (US Black) stylish, expensive
verb [1980s+] (US campus) to dress up

I guess that the 'Pimp my wheels' sense/use has spread from there.

[Pulcinella]

Perhaps somebody can't spell 'pump' - and the two vowels in question nestle side-by-side on my keyboard, as they do, I suspect, on most others.

My first thought was a variation of 'plump' (as in, plump up the pillows/cushions).

[LMcD]

Georgia Mann informs us that all of this year's live Proms will be 'visualized'. Imagine that!

[kernelbogey]

Confirm - as in 'Can you confirm your date of birth' in 'security vetting' (eg when phoning one's bank).

It may, of course, be a confirmation as far as the person asking is concerned, who may have my computer record in front of her/him, but if I haven't claimed a date of birth then I am not confirming it....

[ahinton]

Confirm - as in 'Can you confirm your date of birth' in 'security vetting' (eg when phoning one's bank).

It may, of course, be a confirmation as far as the person asking is concerned, who may have my computer record in front of her/him, but if I haven't claimed a date of birth then I am not confirming it....

This rather begs the additional question as to the usage of the word "can" as distinct from the word "will" or "would"; clearly almost everyone "can" confirm their date of birth but that;s not the same as agreeing to do so upon request.

[kernelbogey]

[teamsaint]

Georgia Mann informs us that all of this year's live Proms will be 'visualized'. Imagine that!

Can’t see it working.

[teamsaint]

Lockdown.

[kernelbogey]

Lockdown.

I've just realised that it's the word used for the response to a prison riot....

[Serial_Apologist]

Can’t see it working.

You got it in first, teamsaint!

[LMcD]

Referring to what, please?

[kernelbogey]

Referring to what, please?

To the immediately preceding post, AHinton's 5560.

[LMcD]

To the immediately preceding post, AHinton's 5560.

Thank you!