Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[jean]

...Maybe the blue highlights (themselves links?) in the Oxford link above have clouded the issue, and the terminology is either 'a determiner' or simply 'determiner', but I don't quite understand the bit in (outer) brackets here:

Although the expression ‘a number’ is strictly singular, the phrase ‘a number of’' is used with plural nouns (as what grammarians call a determiner (or determiner)).

There's a misprint - the last bit should read what grammarians call a determiner (or determiners), since the links lead to two different articles - one a definition of the word, the second giving examples.

[Pulcinella]

I think there's a misprint - the last bit should read what grammarians call a determiner (or determiners), since the links lead to two different articles - one a definition of the word, the second giving examples.

Yes, just realised that myself, when I clicked on the links (which I should have done before I posted my message, wondering if they were links!).

[jean]

How did the word “swivel-eyed” enter the British political lexicon, and when did we first get “swivel-eyed loons”?

(I'm sorry to have to tell you that the loons appear not to be youths of Scottish descent.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Idle thought - when & why did the English decide on the spelling "loon", in preference to "lune"?

[ahinton]

Idle thought - when & why did the English decide on the spelling "loon", in preference to "lune"?

Dunno; Claire de loon just doesn't look quite right, though, innit...

[P. G. Tipps]

(I'm sorry to have to tell you that the loons appear not to be youths of Scottish descent.)

Maybe in Lord Feldman's time (then) rather more a case of older men of Little English dissent ... ?

Of course, as I'm sure every member here knows, a Loon is also a very handsome bird whatever its age and ancestry.

[teamsaint]

THe Elizabeth Line.

She hasn't paid for it.
She won't go on it.
She probably doesnt even know where it goes to or from.

[alycidon]

I'm with you on that one, TS. I'm not comfortable with that either. But you could argue the same points for the Victoria Line - but that one seems to sit quite happily with its name.

[MrGongGong]

THe Elizabeth Line.

She hasn't paid for it.
She won't go on it.
She probably doesnt even know where it goes to or from.

hummm

[Nick Armstrong]

"our constantly evolving offer which is lovingly curated." ... Alan Davey.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm with you on that one, TS. I'm not comfortable with that either. But you could argue the same points for the Victoria Line - but that one seems to sit quite happily with its name.

Because it passes through Victoria Station?

[vinteuil]

.

... at least we never got a "Diana Line". I'm sure it cd've happened in the hysteria of the time...

[gurnemanz]

The Elizabeth Line.

I was going to suggest it had too many syllables to be snappy, but realised Metropolitan has five and seems to work OK. I still think it might get shortened - The Liz?

[vinteuil]

I was going to suggest it had too many syllables to be snappy, but realised Metropolitan has five and seems to work OK.

... o, in these parts we can even cope with six syllables

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammersmith_%26_City_line

[Serial_Apologist]

.

... at least we never got a "Diana Line". I'm sure it cd've happened in the hysteria of the time...

That's just a stroll around Hyde Park.