Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[teamsaint]

Brilliant stuff, teams

Still OT, the late great Joe Mercer, one-time manager of England and Man City was often good for English-of-the-moment, e.g., "Ohh that was a sap-strengthening blow" and "Playing at Wembley can be samina-stapping experience" being two personal faves

Yup, Joe was great value in every way.
I shall never forget his great endeavours, as a pundit, to pronounce the name of Johan Cruyff correctly.
Diffferent, and miles out, every time. I swear one time he pronounced it " Crufts" !!
A great manager though, one of a breed who seemed just to be an eternal part of the game.

[teamsaint]

" It turns out...." much beloved of American TV scientists.


"I've got a job I think you might enjoy".

Translated this means, " I am your boss, and I have some work that I hate doing, so you can do it instead."

[Serial_Apologist]

"Well, what we have been saying..." is what Labour front bench politicians use as a get-out clause whenever they are asked what their policies are.

[Sydney Grew]

Two egregious blunders:

1) Saying "wait on" some event when one means "wait for" it.

2) Saying "an alternate proposal" when one means "an alternative proposal."

[jean]

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalms 27:14)

(The KJV uses both wait on and wait for where the Vulgate has expectare. Modern translations I think always choose wait for. I'm not sure if there is a distinction in Hebrew.)

.

[french frank]

"Well, what we have been saying..." is what Labour front bench politicians use as a get-out clause whenever they are asked what their policies are.

Or all politicians:

"We have no plans to ..." = "This is under consideration but we currently have no plans to ...we meet next week to discuss a possible policy."

Yes, alternate for alternative is commonly heard. The OED, though, gives alternative as a synonym of alternate (not the same thing?). It also allows alternative as 'that expresses or offers one of two or more things'. A pedant would nevertheless avoid the alternative given here.

[Sir Velo]

Just had an American colleague describe her feeling at being selected for some honour as making her "prideful".

[gurnemanz]

Just had an American colleague describe her feeling at being selected for some honour as making her "proudful".

Is she related to George W Bush?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just had an American colleague describe her feeling at being selected for some honour as making her "prideful".

Perhaps she misheard: "Pride goes before a ful"?

[jean]

I do rather like prideful, though.

[vinteuil]

Both proudful and prideful are in the OED ; the illustrative quotations there are mainly Scottish.

[Flosshilde]

the illustrative quotations there are mainly Scottish.

Oh, well, that doesn't count

[mangerton]

Both proudful and prideful are in the OED ; the illustrative quotations there are mainly Scottish.

Might have known it would be the Scots' fault. I must say though, whether in the OED or not, I have not come across either word before.

However, bearing in mind the depressing rapidity with which Americanisms are nowadays adopted, no doubt both words will be in common usage within a fortnight.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

However, bearing in mind the depressing rapidity with which Americanisms are nowadays adopted, no doubt both words will be in common usage within a fortnight.

Yes; doesn't it make you sickful!

[scottycelt]

Both proudful and prideful are in the OED ; the illustrative quotations there are mainly Scottish.

Well, of course ... the Scots have so much more to be proudful and prideful about ...