Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[Nick Armstrong]

... I haven't researched (resought?) this in detail - but I think that 'wreaked' is the normal past for 'wreak' [ = in the sense of : cause or effect (harm, damage, etc )]

'Wrought' is of course the past for 'work' (wrought iron).

My old OED for 'havoc' prefers 'make havoc' or 'play havoc', but 'work havoc' and 'wreak havoc' exist -

The following provides some background, tho' I'm not sure all the readings are to be taken as totally reliable -

https://english.stackexchange.com/qu...tanding/305623

Thank you!

I'm feeling less overwrought now.

[Ferretfancy]

One phrase that I seem to come across more frequently is "fall pregnant" Surely women become pregnant, or we are told that they are expecting a baby, but fall pregnant? This phrase suggests that an accident has occured.

[french frank]

This phrase suggests that an accident has occured.

Indeed, I think that's how I would understand it!

[kernelbogey]

Indeed, I think that's how I would understand it!

And I believe that to be the intended meaning.

[kernelbogey]

I overtook a water company vehicle on the motorway this week which displayed the following slogan:

Cooking fat clogs your drains

I puzzled over several interpretations for a minute or two. Oddly it was 'clogs' that first caught my attention, and I begain by thinking of footwear...!

[Stanfordian]

One phrase that I seem to come across more frequently is "fall pregnant" Surely women become pregnant, or we are told that they are expecting a baby, but fall pregnant? This phrase suggests that an accident has occured.

'Fall', that's what it was if pregnant out of wedlock, like a fall from grace, not too many decades ago! These days it doesn't seem to matter much at all.

Goodness, I nearly used that now fashionable term "Back in the day" which I dislike!

[alycidon]

One phrase that I seem to come across more frequently is "fall pregnant" Surely women become pregnant, or we are told that they are expecting a baby, but fall pregnant? This phrase suggests that an accident has occured.

Yes. That is the meaning which I would ascribe to the phrase also.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I agree that "fall pregnant" seems newly popular, and it doesn't sound "right" to me - but "accidents" aren't implied/suggested (to me) any more than in "fall asleep". (Or have I been misusing that all my life, and it should only be used when one nods off when one shouldn't.)

"Fall in love"? Hmmm.

[vinteuil]

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... or is there a quasi-medical connection - that childbearing is almost to be considered as a disease -

. he fell ill

. she fell pregnant




.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think Fell walking is a medical condition.

[vinteuil]

I think Fell walking is a medical condition.

.. ho hoo ha.

But did you know that 'fell' is one of the few things that can be monged?

... ironmonger, cheesemonger, fishmonger, costermonger, fellmonger.

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellmonger

.

[kernelbogey]

I agree that "fall pregnant" seems newly popular, and it doesn't sound "right" to me - but "accidents" aren't implied/suggested (to me) any more than in "fall asleep"[...]

It's been familiar to me as a phrase for some years and I had assumed it to be local to Hampshire/S England (though the 'accidental' implication hadn't struck me until recently).

[vinteuil]

One phrase that I seem to come across more frequently is "fall pregnant" Surely women become pregnant, or we are told that they are expecting a baby, but fall pregnant? This phrase suggests that an accident has occured.

... it seems to be increasing in frequency in British English - while still uncommon in American English

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/234316/is-it-offensive-to-say-that-someone-fell-pregnant

Of course French gels do on occasion have a tendency to tomber enceinte ...


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[Ferretfancy]

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... or is there a quasi-medical connection - that childbearing is almost to be considered as a disease -

. he fell ill

. she fell pregnant




.

Venteuil, that's better put than I could manage.

[jean]

... it seems to be increasing in frequency in British English - while still uncommon in American English

https://english.stackexchange.com/qu...-fell-pregnant

Yes - I liked the comment from the discussion you linked to:

'Definitely not considered impolite in British English and may even be a common euphemism so that us sexually-oppressed Brits don't have to consider the fact that one of our English Roses did anything as primitive as engage is messy sexual intercourse.'

You may be right about the medical connexion too, since medical intervention is often thought to be necessary.

Someone else in the discussion objects that if the pregnancy was desired, the wife did not fall pregnant, she just became/got pregnant. But I have never heard anyone use either became or got in that context.