Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[Ferretfancy]

A senior Downing Street source stated that the policy was a no brainer, and this from an iconic figure in Whitehall.

Ho about the constant clumsy use of "like" as in "We see it like never before " instead of "As never before"

[Sir Velo]

I'm sat next to

Another pet hate.

[johncorrigan]

A member objected to 'tad' which I'm sure I've occasionally used here, and I suspect there there may well have been a few other members suddenly blushing in front of their computer screens as well.

Hey don't worry about it, scotty - there are a lot more objectionable things around than TAD. I started to notice it a few years back from comedian Mark Thomas whose shows I oftened enjoyed, but he used it, often followed by sharp intake of breath through the teeth. I found it one of these things that stops you listening to what's being said because your brain goes awol. A couple of them and I was cringing; don't know why.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm considering making a list of all the expressions considered objectionable on this thread, in order to avoid making use of them from now on. My writing style will probably in consequence become more staid, verbally limited, repetitive and boring than even it is already, but, hey ho!

[Bax-of-Delights]

I'm considering making a list of all the expressions considered objectionable on this thread, in order to avoid making use of them from now on. My writing style will probably in consequence become more staid, verbally limited, repetitive and boring than even it is already, but, hey ho!

"Hey ho!" There's another fright.

[Nick Armstrong]

A member objected to 'tad' which I'm sure I've occasionally used here, and I suspect there there may well have been a few other members suddenly blushing in front of their computer screens as well.

I've always assumed (vaguely, with no real reason) that "tad" was Scottish in origin anyway (is it?), so perhaps you are entitled to a regional exemption...?

[scottycelt]

Hey don't worry about it, scotty - there are a lot more objectionable things around than TAD. I started to notice it a few years back from comedian Mark Thomas whose shows I oftened enjoyed, but he used it, often followed by sharp intake of breath through the teeth. I found it one of these things that stops you listening to what's being said because your brain goes awol. A couple of them and I was cringing; don't know why.

... know the feeling only too well, john ...

[scottycelt]

I've always assumed (vaguely, with no real reason) that "tad" was Scottish in origin anyway (is it?), so perhaps you are entitled to a regional exemption...?

Nah ( ) ... don't think it derives from north of the border, Cal ... maybe it originally came from something tiny like a 'tadpole' and then simply spread and finally entered the urban dictionary?

[Flosshilde]

I've always assumed (vaguely, with no real reason) that "tad" was Scottish in origin anyway (is it?), so perhaps you are entitled to a regional exemption...?

I thought that it was from our American cousins across the pond.


(who on earth would call their son 'Tagg'. Or 'Mitt', come to that. I'd assume that they were nicknames, except that one can't be sure with 'our American cousins across the pond')

[scottycelt]

"Equally as good/bad/indifferent as..."

"I'm loving the Bruckner" [on two counts ]

No, such verbal hysteria is normally associated with Mahlerians, and has little in common with the normally much more considered and profound Brucknerian.

The latter is much more likely to use vastly more lofty and inspiring words like 'transcendental' and 'monumental' than admitting to a raw, very personal, and often selfish human emotion such as 'love'.

[Roslynmuse]

No, such verbal hysteria is normally associated with Mahlerians, and has little in common with the normally much more considered and profound Brucknerian.

The latter is much more likely to use vastly more lofty and inspiring words like 'transcendental' and 'monumental' than admitting to a raw, very personal, and often selfish human emotion such as 'love'.

[Roslynmuse]

On the trains I travel on, they say all your personal belongings.

When I was a student, there were notices all over the place saying 'The University is not responsible for any personal belongings left unattended'. The two letters 'BE' were frequently obliterated...

[Pabmusic]

..."Ticks all the boxes" is another that has me mentally axeing ("e" no "e"?) the perpertrator...

No 'e'.

[Pabmusic]

Nah ( ) ... don't think it derives from north of the border, Cal ... maybe it originally came from something tiny like a 'tadpole' and then simply spread and finally entered the urban dictionary?

You're nearest, I think. Tad comes from tad, tade, tadde, or tadige (flat Dutch 'a' sound - think of Omsterdom), which is Anglo-Saxon for small or tiny. Presumably, people a thousand years ago thought that tadpoles looked like little heads swimming about (tad + poll). Somehow the word became linked with the parents of the tadpoles, and gave us the word 'toad'.

It was undoubtedly known in lowland Scotland, which was largely Anglo-Saxon (and has helped the Scots preserve many old AS pronunciations, such as the guttural 'ch' of loch, and the aspirate 'why' and 'which', better than their English counterparts.)

Apparently, the word gained a new lease of life in the 1870s, after Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, died in his teens.

[Pabmusic]

The BBC News website has this passage about Romney's conceding defeat:

"In Boston, where his campaign was headquartered, Mr Romney congratulated the president in an emotional concession speech.

He said he and Vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan had "left everything on the field" and had given their all in the campaign."

Headquartered?? Left everything on the field????