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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Recent hearings
Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"):
1. In reference to snow: "...but it isn't laying." Conversation in EastTennessee. "Laying" was used where I would use "sticking": the falling snow was melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.
2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legitimate usage?
3. "Merge them together." TV commentator, who can be praised, I suppose,for not saying "separate them apart."
4. "Keep the dialogue box open." Another TV commentator. I rather likethis phrase. Have you heard it?
5. "If people are pregnant..." TV interview. So: Is pregnancy no longerlimited to females? The man and woman who declare "we're pregnant" have they, or someone like them, proved that both halves of their couplehood are carrying unborn young within their bodies? I'm doubtful, but admittedly I don't keep up with human reproduction breakthroughs. (I think other comments about pregnant "people" arose not too long ago in AUE.)
6. "An entire crowd of citizens." TV commentator. An entire crowd isbetter, no doubt, than a partial crowd.
7. "Rush to judgment." Hundreds nay, thousands of people have beenusing this term way too often in recent years. Am I prejudging them or otherwise judging them unfairly when I say that tired-though-trendy(1) phrases come tripping too easily off their tongues?
(1) Note that "rush to judgment" had a good run in the 1960s; it's hardly new.
Maria Conlon,
who does realize that live TV can leave even the most lucid among us thinking "I can't believe I said that" and praying "Please, God, let me just disappear."
1. In reference to snow: "...but it isn't laying." Conversation in EastTennessee. "Laying" was used where I would use "sticking": the falling snow was melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.
2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legitimate usage?
3. "Merge them together." TV commentator, who can be praised, I suppose,for not saying "separate them apart."
4. "Keep the dialogue box open." Another TV commentator. I rather likethis phrase. Have you heard it?
5. "If people are pregnant..." TV interview. So: Is pregnancy no longerlimited to females? The man and woman who declare "we're pregnant" have they, or someone like them, proved that both halves of their couplehood are carrying unborn young within their bodies? I'm doubtful, but admittedly I don't keep up with human reproduction breakthroughs. (I think other comments about pregnant "people" arose not too long ago in AUE.)
6. "An entire crowd of citizens." TV commentator. An entire crowd isbetter, no doubt, than a partial crowd.
7. "Rush to judgment." Hundreds nay, thousands of people have beenusing this term way too often in recent years. Am I prejudging them or otherwise judging them unfairly when I say that tired-though-trendy(1) phrases come tripping too easily off their tongues?
(1) Note that "rush to judgment" had a good run in the 1960s; it's hardly new.
Maria Conlon,
who does realize that live TV can leave even the most lucid among us thinking "I can't believe I said that" and praying "Please, God, let me just disappear."
Top answer
[nq:1]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. " Conversation in East Tennessee. [/nq] In the UK, I think the more common expression would be "settling".
- [nq:1]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1.
- " Conversation in East Tennessee.
- [/nq] In the UK, I think the more common expression would be "settling".
- [nq:1]2.
- [/nq] A concatenation of "heart-rending" and "gut-wrenching", perhaps?
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103 Answers
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[nq:1]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. In reference to snow: "...but it isn't laying." Conversation in East Tennessee. "Laying" was used where I would use "sticking": the falling snow was melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.[/nq]
In the UK, I think the more common expression would be "settling".
[nq:1]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending
In the UK, I think the more common expression would be "settling".
[nq:1]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending
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Welcome back Grandma Conlon. Missed ya.
[nq:1]7. "Rush to judgment." Hundreds nay, thousands of people have been using this term way too often in recent years. Am I prejudging them or otherwise judging them unfairly when I say that tired-though-trendy(1) phrases come tripping too easily off their tongues?[/nq]
You are probably prejudging them, but not unfairly.
[nq:1]7. "Rush to judgment." Hundreds nay, thousands of people have been using this term way too often in recent years. Am I prejudging them or otherwise judging them unfairly when I say that tired-though-trendy(1) phrases come tripping too easily off their tongues?[/nq]
You are probably prejudging them, but not unfairly.
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[nq:1]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. In reference to snow: "...but it isn't laying." Conversation in East Tennessee. "Laying" ... falling snow was melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground. 2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legitimate usage?[/nq]
Seems to me it's "gut-wrenching" applied to a different organ.
[nq:1]3. "Merge them togeth
Seems to me it's "gut-wrenching" applied to a different organ.
[nq:1]3. "Merge them togeth
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In our last episode,
, the lovely and talented Maria Conlon broadcast on alt.usage.english:
[nq:1]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legitimate usage?[/nq]
Very common in these parts (Texas). Of course it is figurative; but then so is "heart-rending." "Wrench" is also very common for physical injuries which might else where be called "strains" or "sprains," and especi
, the lovely and talented Maria Conlon broadcast on alt.usage.english:
[nq:1]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legitimate usage?[/nq]
Very common in these parts (Texas). Of course it is figurative; but then so is "heart-rending." "Wrench" is also very common for physical injuries which might else where be called "strains" or "sprains," and especi
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[nq:1]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. In reference to snow: "...but it isn't laying." Conversation in East Tennessee. "Laying" was used where I would use "sticking": the falling snow was melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.[/nq]
Snow 'lying' is common enough, but laying..???
Snow 'lying' is common enough, but laying..???
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[nq:1]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. In reference to snow: "...but it isn't laying." Conversation in East Tennessee. "Laying" was used where I would use "sticking": the falling snow was melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.[/nq]
"Sticking" is what I grew up with in the North of England
[nq:1]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legit
"Sticking" is what I grew up with in the North of England
[nq:1]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legit
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[nq:2]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. In reference to ... melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.[/nq]
[nq:1]In the UK, I think the more common expression would be "settling".[/nq]
In the Bristol, England, area and some of South Wales they say "pitching".
Mike.
[nq:1]In the UK, I think the more common expression would be "settling".[/nq]
In the Bristol, England, area and some of South Wales they say "pitching".
Mike.
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[nq:2]Recent hearings (compare "hearings" to "sightings"): 1. In reference to ... melting, and thus not sticking to (or on) the ground.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Sticking" is what I grew up with in the North of England [/nq]
This side of the Pennines (you originate from Manchester, If I remember correctly), I have heard only "laying". That is also what I grew up with in the Midlands (Leamington Spa).
[nq:1]"Sticking" is what I grew up with in the North of England [/nq]
This side of the Pennines (you originate from Manchester, If I remember correctly), I have heard only "laying". That is also what I grew up with in the Midlands (Leamington Spa).
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[nq:1]John Dean wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]"Sticking" is what I grew up with in the North of England[/nq]
[nq:1] This side of the Pennines (you originate from Manchester, If I remember correctly), I have heard only "laying". That is also whatI grew up with in the Midlands (Leamington Spa). [/nq]
[nq:2]Tending to cliche now. But what isn't?[/nq]
[nq:1] That is the way of all excellent phrases
[nq:2]"Sticking" is what I grew up with in the North of England[/nq]
[nq:1] This side of the Pennines (you originate from Manchester, If I remember correctly), I have heard only "laying". That is also whatI grew up with in the Midlands (Leamington Spa). [/nq]
[nq:2]Tending to cliche now. But what isn't?[/nq]
[nq:1] That is the way of all excellent phrases
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[nq:2]2. "Heart-wrenching" (probably for "heart-rending.") Legitimate usage?[/nq]
[nq:1]Very common in these parts (Texas). Of course it is figurative; but then so is "heart-rending." "Wrench" is also very ... don't believe "heart-wrenching" is a mistaken hearing of some other expression. I think it is derived directly from its parts.[/nq]
It works by itself. It's inevitable that a new coi
[nq:1]Very common in these parts (Texas). Of course it is figurative; but then so is "heart-rending." "Wrench" is also very ... don't believe "heart-wrenching" is a mistaken hearing of some other expression. I think it is derived directly from its parts.[/nq]
It works by itself. It's inevitable that a new coi
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