Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge.

[Pabmusic]

Not sure if we have had these before, but my current pet hates are the use of 'trial' and 'gift' as verbs.

Apparently 'gift' (verb) has been here since the 17th century, according to the OED. It meant to give payment for a wife (a similar use in Dutch meant 'to poison'!). It was revived in the US in the 1920s.

'Trial' as a verb dates from the 1980s, but as a noun is not all that old anyway 1550s).

[Serial_Apologist]

AdverTISEment - on today's lunchtime BBC TV news, courtesy one of their reporters.

There is no further excuse for the Americanisation of our language: this is not the Marshall Aid era - the US cavalry is not coming to the rescue with loans or beneficial to us trading deals post-Brexit.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Apparently 'gift' (verb) has been here since the 17th century, according to the OED. It meant to give payment for a wife (a similar use in Dutch meant 'to poison'!).

In modern German Gift means 'poison' despite its roots in geben, to give. Seems it's the standard thing they give, or gave, people!

[oddoneout]

In modern German Gift means 'poison' despite its roots in geben, to give. Seems it's the standard thing they give, or gave, people!

GiftAid takes on a whole new meaning......

[gradus]

GiftAid takes on a whole new meaning......

Apparently Strauss means ostrich which I learnt on Only Connect this week. Just thought I'd mention it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Apparently Strauss means ostrich which I learnt on Only Connect this week. Just thought I'd mention it.

Strauss also means "bouquet", I believe - which could cause some confusion. "What can I bring you back from my business trip, darling?" "Oh just a small [strauss] will be fine"

[gurnemanz]

Not sure if we have had these before, but my current pet hates are the use of 'trial' and 'gift' as verbs.

Turning nouns into verbs is just one of the ways in which languages develop. As I randomly look around me in my living room I see various nouns which are also verbs: table, chair, carpet, book, bottle, cup. picture, cushion. pen, paper, plant, pot, label, frame, clock, bin, floor, telephone ...

[MickyD]

Turning nouns into verbs is just one of the ways in which languages develop. As I randomly look around me in my living room I see various nouns which are also verbs: table, chair, carpet, book, bottle, cup. picture, cushion. pen, paper, plant, pot, label, frame, clock, bin, floor, telephone ...

I never thought about that! Maybe this grumpy old man should concentrate on other things!!

[gurnemanz]

I never thought about that! Maybe this grumpy old man should concentrate on other things!!

I do know what you mean. I often feel the same about the new ones that come along, which can seem irksome and unattractive. I think we generally tend to just get used to them eventually and not think about them any more. If they don't prove to be useful additions to the language, I suppose they will fall out of use - by a kind of linguistic natural selection.

[kernelbogey]

confirm

This is now being used as a synonym for something like 'state' or 'report'

I've just come off the phone to a county council department: the 'agent' asked me for my postcode, and my having given it said 'Can you confirm the first line of your address?' Now I think confirm means to me somethng like give evidence of what you've just said/done, such as producing a driving licence to confirm the age I just claimed.

Here the call centre script could say And what is the exactt address within that postcode? Or What is is your address?

But as stated above, this is how language changes, and the internet is part of that now.

[LeMartinPecheur]

This is now being used as a synonym for something like 'state' or 'report'

I've just come off the phone to a county council department: the 'agent' asked me for my postcode, and my having given it said 'Can you confirm the first line of your address?' Now I think confirm means to me somethng like give evidence of what you've just said/done, such as producing a driving licence to confirm the age I just claimed.

Here the call centre script could say And what is the exactt address within that postcode? Or What is is your address?

But as stated above, this is how language changes, and the internet is part of that now.

I think 'confirm' can mean that they have the info in front of them already on their computer, or think they have, and just want to check. Data protection principles are probably in play too.

[Serial_Apologist]

This is now being used as a synonym for something like 'state' or 'report'

I've just come off the phone to a county council department: the 'agent' asked me for my postcode, and my having given it said 'Can you confirm the first line of your address?' Now I think confirm means to me somethng like give evidence of what you've just said/done, such as producing a driving licence to confirm the age I just claimed.

Here the call centre script could say And what is the exactt address within that postcode? Or What is is your address?

But as stated above, this is how language changes, and the internet is part of that now.

Confirming what they want to know about you would have avoided your having to tell them in the first place. .

[kernelbogey]

I think 'confirm' can mean that they have the info in front of them already on their computer, or think they have, and just want to check. Data protection principles are probably in play too.

Aah yes...

[LMcD]

The head honcho of M&S, responding to a campaign to stop the planned closure of our local M&S, says that it's the right decision, based on the company's determination to deliver 'a better located, more productive and sustainable store estate'.

[french frank]

I've just come off the phone to a county council department: the 'agent' asked me for my postcode, and my having given it said 'Can you confirm the first line of your address?' Now I think confirm means to me somethng like give evidence of what you've just said/done, such as producing a driving licence to confirm the age I just claimed.

Must remember next time I get a phone call from "BT", diving in and telling me that 'my internet connection has not been working to its full potential and …', I must remember to say, 'And can you confirm who it is you think you're speaking to?'