Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[teamsaint]

I think that this is somewhat unfair; it may not be "the" boat race - indeed, it cannot be such - but it has been going for 159 years and it between teams from two of the longest standing universities in the world, so it's surely not just any old boat race such as reasonably to warrant the mere descriptor "a boat race", is it?

yes.
If anybody is interested, C19 professional rowing history is actually fascinating.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/rowing/rowinghistory.shtml

for example.
These guys rowed all over the empire, for big money, and attracted huge crowds and massive personal followings.
At least one had a canadian town named after him. It was the Formula one of the day.
Those are/were proper boat races.In my opinion.

Oh, and don't ask how I know about this stuff!!

[ahinton]

yes.
If anybody is interested, C19 professional rowing history is actually fascinating.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/rowing/rowinghistory.shtml

for example.
These guys rowed all over the empire, for big money, and attracted huge crowds and massive personal followings.
At least one had a canadian town named after him. It was the Formula one of the day.
Those are/were proper boat races.In my opinion.

Oh, and don't ask how I know about this stuff!!

OK, but does that really mean that the annual Oxbridge event is of such insignificance that it should be regarded as merely "a" boat race?

[teamsaint]

yup. Open and shut.
It's a non event dressed up a s something important.

Boxing stories even more interesting, BTW, AH !!

[french frank]

yup. Open and shut.
It's a non event dressed up a s something important.

I don't see that that has anything to do with the choice of the definite article rather than the indefinite. The definite merely indicates 'a particular one', with the assumption that it will be generally understood in the context which particular one is meant. Similarly, one would say 'The Queen will open parliament today', not 'A queen will open parliament today', regardless of what one thinks of monarchy in general.

[teamsaint]

WEll I don't agree with the Queen comparison, since we only have one at present. (TBF we did have two, and we still used the definite, so I suppose you have a point).

I will now argue against myself, by pointing out that footy fans still refer to THE cup final, when there are clearly many, some of which are extremely significant.

In any case, the use of "The boat Race" sets my teeth on edge regardless, so that is good enough isn't it?!

[french frank]

In any case, the use of "The boat Race" sets my teeth on edge regardless, so that is good enough isn't it?!

Yes.

And there are a number of queens. But it's a matter of context. "The Boat Race" sets your teeth on edge perhaps because you are into boat races and know there are lots of them, but the phrase with the definite article tells most people that it's the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Is it the event itself that you have something against?

[teamsaint]

Yes.

And there are a number of queens. But it's a matter of context. "The Boat Race" sets your teeth on edge perhaps because you are into boat races and know there are lots of them, but the phrase with the definite article tells most people that it's the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Is it the event itself that you have something against?

Blimey ! Well since you ask, i think that it is the emphasis placed on the event that annoys. Actually, its not a bad spectacle compared to some sports events. It has minor historical significance. But sports events of a far higher quality(IMO) get far less coverage, kudos and so on.
Actually , I do know a little about rowing history, purely by chance, and that casts an interesting light on THE Boat Race, in terms of its real significance. Just as an example, how many people could name the last 3 winners of this 2 horse race correctly, other than by luck ?

[ahinton]

Blimey ! Well since you ask, i think that it is the emphasis placed on the event that annoys. Actually, its not a bad spectacle compared to some sports events. It has minor historical significance. But sports events of a far higher quality(IMO) get far less coverage, kudos and so on.
Actually , I do know a little about rowing history, purely by chance, and that casts an interesting light on THE Boat Race, in terms of its real significance. Just as an example, how many people could name the last 3 winners of this 2 horse race correctly, other than by luck ?

OK, so let's all agree to call it "The Annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race"; or should that be "The Annual Cambridge and Oxford Boat Race"? Either way, it involves rather more words/names, but perhaps you'd be OK with that in any case on the grounds of its greater definitional specificity.

[french frank]

Just as an example, how many people could name the last 3 winners of this 2 horse race correctly, other than by luck ?

I couldn't but http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...ford-cambridge

[teamsaint]

OK, so let's all agree to call it "The Annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race"; or should that be "The Annual Cambridge and Oxford Boat Race"? Either way, it involves rather more words/names, but perhaps you'd be OK with that in any case on the grounds of its greater definitional specificity.

Good plan.
Would you mind emailing them please, AH.
we could usefully abbreviate to TACO boat race.
Which suggests interesting possibilities !

[jean]

OK, so let's all agree to call it "The Annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race"...

That is its full title, isn't it?

But however many other boat races there may be, nobody much talks about them at all.

So there's no need to be more specific about this one.

[teamsaint]

I couldn't but http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...ford-cambridge

I reckon that at least half of the viewers only watch because they have one of the teams in their Saturday accumulator !!
Also 8% of the population have ITV on at all times anyway.

[Flosshilde]

An extract from Humphrey Lyttelton's memoirs, concerning a similar sporting event -

One weekend in 1936, I went up to Lord’s Cricket Ground to see the Eton and Harrow match. At Eton, we used to call the event just ‘Lord’s’, with the implication that anything else which went on at the ground during the summer was relatively unimportant. (We were the drybobs, of course – the wetbobs had ‘Henley’.)

[teamsaint]

That is its full title, isn't it?

But however many other boat races there may be, nobody much talks about them at all.

So there's no need to be more specific about this one.

Nobody talks about them because they don't get wall to wall TV coverage, perhaps.
Check my link to the race on the Tyne and elsewhere in the C19. People were interested in real competitive racing then, and might be again, given the right publicity.
(in case of doubt, I have no interest in rowing at all !!)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Boat Race as it stands if rather like the Premiership being an annual game between Manchester United and Chelsea. No other competitors allowed.

Or only Celtic vs. Rangers.

Actually, both of these these examples are beginning to sound a little out of date.