Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[french frank]

I think that's a good description, although it's as much legal jargon. But it is jargon, certainly - or was, at least. It dates from the 18th Century, I believe.

OED earliest example is 1707:

Re Originally: in the matter of, referring to; in re (see in prep.2 23d). Subsequently: about, concerning.
1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 17 May (O.H.S.) II. 14 Amused by Charlett's trick re Tacitus.

The aforementioned 23d has five examples of 'in re' of which all but the following refer to legal cases:

1896 E. Terry Let. 7 Dec. in Ellen Terry & Shaw (1931) 136 What do you mean by saying (in re The Philanderer) it is dull and bestial?


I think it is commercial jargon in the sense that it turns up in letters thus:

Dear Sir,

Re yours of the 10th inst ...

[scottycelt]

"Some more organised rain", as in weather forecasts; is this only ever trotted out by Roman Catholic meteorologists or is it just my warped imagination? (maybe scotty would know!).

Poor Scotty is really struggling to see any obvious connection between meteorology and the dreaded disease popularly known as Roman Catholicism, ahinton.

A possible link to secular astrology seems to him rather more plausible, though he is at pains to point out that he has never really given this particular matter any significant degree of thought.

As for your self-confessed 'warped imagination' he cannot possibly comment but certainly does admire your willingness to pose this very personal question to other members!

[Sir Velo]

Backstory.

Is this execrable neologism getting "favorized" because history is gender specific?

[Padraig]

Backstory.

Is this execrable neologism getting "favorized" because history is gender specific?

From the March events for UK City of Culture (Derry/Londonderry/:aka The Maiden City)

''The Maidens' City: A Herstory of the Walled City.''

[jean]

Backstory.

Is this execrable neologism getting "favorized" because history is gender specific?

No, it's because it means something different - specifically a history invented for a character in a film or work of fiction that hadn't been thought of when the film (or whatever) was first devised.

[Sir Velo]

Except it is now being used as a synonym for history. For example, the violinist James Ehnes spoke in an interview about the interesting backstory (sic) to Bartok's 1st violin concerto; AFAIAM the concerto is not "a history invented for a character in a film or work of fiction that hadn't been thought of when the film (or whatever) was first devised."

[Flosshilde]

Has this one been mentioned before? - 'myself' instead of 'me' or 'I'. & sometimes 'I myself'.

[Flosshilde]

I think it is commercial jargon in the sense that it turns up in letters thus:

Dear Sir,

Re yours of the 10th inst ...

What does 'inst' mean in this case?

[Anna]

What does 'inst' mean in this case?

It means, your last communication of this current month. Much used by old-school solicitors

[mangerton]

It means, your last communication of this current month. Much used by old-school solicitors

Similarly ult(imo mense) next month, and prox(imo mense) next month.

They just use it to put the wind up clients, as I'm sure Caliban will agree.

[mangerton]

Have we mentioned "going forward", yet? It's raising its ugly head more and more frequently everywhere and especially at work from people who should know better. Going forward, it seems to be a sort of verbal padding. Just shove it in when you can't think of anything to say, going forward.

(If we've done this before my apologies, but I've heard and read it so often this week....)

[Thropplenoggin]

I read today that Ed Balls wants to get the "economic growth growing". A new low, even by his subterranean standards.

[JFLL]

Have we mentioned "going forward", yet?

Or its even worse variant 'to progress' as a transitive verb, as in 'to progress an issue'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I read today that Ed Balls wants to get the "economic growth growing". A new low, even by his subterranean standards.

It's not as bad as when Michael Foot and Denis Healey told us to "think positive".

[Serial_Apologist]

It's not as bad as when Michael Foot and Denis Healey told us to "think positive".

There is something on the plus side to be said for it, though.