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Showing posts with label British. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British. Show all posts

Friday, March 7, 2014

Peasy

Ok...

So I sincerely apologize for my long break from posting the words I hate.  My life has become exceptionally busy as of late with my teaching at the college, my kids having 13th birthdays, my family life, and various other things that generally consume one's time and days.

So, with all that... I am back with my next Word I Hate To Say - Peasy, Peezy, or Peasey!

Macmillan Dictionary - Peasy
ADJECTIVE 
BRITISH - INFORMAL 
British English pronunciation: easy-peasy /ˌiːzi ˈpiːzi/ 
- extremely easy.
This word is used mainly by children or when speaking to children.

First, I wish to state for the record, that this is not even a legitimate word.  Unless you consider the Urban Dictionary credible, there is no such word as Peasy in the English language.  Because of this, I get tired of hearing it, tired of hearing kids say it, and get utterly irritated that kids are being taught this word in elementary school.  No wonder our educational systems are a disgrace... we teach kids fiction and nonsense like Evolution, safe-sex, and imaginary words!

Secondly, as if I need to provide more reason to gripe...  Adults wander around saying easy-peasy lemon squeezy as if that is an common everyday phrase.  IT IS NOT unless you are addressing a preschooler (then refer to point number one above) and isn't much easier just to say that something is easy or simple?

Grow up people!  Teach our young well and the world will be a better place!  Ugh!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Wonky

First I wanted to apologize for the lack of post this past few days.  As with everyone from time to time, the busyness was overwhelming and I simply ran out of time to post.  So without further ado...

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Wonky!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Wonky
won·ky adjective \ˈwäŋ-kē\
won·ki·erwon·ki·est

Definition of WONKY
1 British :  unsteady, shaky
2 chiefly British :  awry, wrong

Examples of WONKY
- a wonky bureaucrat in the State Department
- She enjoys reading about tax law and other wonky stuff.
- He has a wonky knee.

Origin of WONKY
-probably alteration of English dialect wankle, from Middle English wankel, from Old English wancol; akin to Old High German wankōn to totter — more at wench

First Known Use: 1918.




So, today's Word I Hate To Say is one of those words that just seems, to me, to be pointless to use.  Rather than just say "the bridge is unsteady" or "After getting up too quickly I felt shaky," people try to get fancy (Notice that the word is derived from an Old High German word) and use the word Wonky instead.

Now, I try not to pick on people groups too much, but wonky reminds me of honky and honky reminds me of honky-tonk... and ultimately a honky-tonk is attended by rednecks and hillbillies. How's that for six-degrees of separation?

And... who couldn't think of Mr. Willy when you hear the word Wonky? Yes, I know it is Wonka, but close enough to spur the thought!



Wonky is a great way to describe the use of the word Wonky.  It seems like someone who uses it has simply let their mouth go awry!  ;)

Reference
Wonky. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 14, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wonky

(image) (December 29, 2009).  Update: Wonky pt. 2 (don’t call it Wonky). Retrieved January 14, 2014, from http://www.thebeatery.com/update-wonky-pt-2-dont-call-it-wonky

(image) (January, 2014). Retrieved July 7, 2015, from https://thebrotherhoodofevilgeeks.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-17594222-640-480.jpg

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Buffet

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Buffet!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Buffet
buf·fet noun \ˈbə-fət\
Definition #1 of BUFFET
1:  a blow especially with the hand
2:  something that strikes with telling force

Origin of BUFFET
Middle English, from Anglo-French, diminutive of buffe blow
First Known Use: 13th century

buffet verb
: to hit (something) with great force many times

Definition #2 of BUFFET
transitive verb
1:  to strike sharply especially with the hand :  cuff
2:  to strike repeatedly :  batter <the waves buffeted the shore>
3:  to drive, force, move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows
intransitive verb
:  to make one's way especially under difficult conditions
 See buffet defined for English-language learners »

Examples of BUFFET
The strong winds buffeted the ship.
<fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat>

First Known Use of BUFFET
13th century

buf·fet noun \(ˌ)bə-ˈfā, bü-ˈ, British especially ˈbü-ˌ\
Definition #3 of BUFFET
1:  sideboard
2 a :  a counter for refreshments
   b chiefly British :  a restaurant operated as a public convenience (as in a railway station)
   c :  a meal set out on a buffet or table for ready access and informal service

Origin of BUFFET
French

First Known Use: 
1718

buf·fet adjective \same as 3\
Definition #4 of BUFFET
:  served informally (as from a buffet)

First Known Use of BUFFET
1898




Ok.  Why would anyone hate a word such as Buffet?  Who doesn't love a good buffet with food steaming hot and the desserts piled high?  Well, that type of buffet I love! It is the pronunciation of the first few definitions that bug me.

Buf-Fet - to Buf-Fet or Buf-Feting is just an irritating sound to me as apposed to the French version of Buffet (Buffae).  This is unusual too since I would prefer the literal sound of a word over that of a word derived from another language entirely.

I dislike driving down the road and being buffeted by the wind to the degree I have to manhandle the steering wheel to stay between the lines.  I dislike the feeling of being buffeted when facing extreme stress and difficulties.  I would much rather slide up to a buffet and get a nice helping of roast beef and potatoes... Then return for some more!

Reference
Buffet. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffet

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Artic (Arctic)

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Artic!

Technically speaking, there is no such word as Artic, however it is a highly misused word for Arctic.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Artic
obsolete variant of arctic

ar·tic noun \ȧˈtik\
-s
Brit
:  semitrailer 2
short for articulated lorry

Since the only real definition of artic is actually a British abbreviation or slang for semitrailer, actually called an articulated lorry, I find this word highly annoying.  The true word is pronounced ARC-TIC, as in the Arctic Circle is way up North or let's go eat at Arctic Circle (for all you North-Westerners in the USA out there) home of the ORIGINAL Fry Sauce!

Artic is a word that I can best describe as a lazy word, a hillbilly word, or God-love-them, a redneck word! Those who use it, and I must admit, I too am guilty of being this lazy, are just uneducated as to the correct word, or are falling into their regional slang.

Tighten up the tongue people.  Right the ship!  It is Arctic...  As in it's way too stinking cold to care up there in the Arctic Circle!



Reference
Artic. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artic