Nouns as verbs. Irritating, right?

For years we've had 'medal', used at any big sporting occasion.

More recently we've had 'gift', especially around this time of year, and almost always used in conjunction with female beauty products - makeup, perfumes, hair driers, etc.

Today I heard a new one (to me at least) - 'guest'.

As in - paraphrasing - "What will you be doing over Christmas? Driving 200 miles to guest at your in-laws?".

No. Stop it. That's not English.

Quote from: Raider4 on 12 November 2025, 06:44:10 PMNouns as verbs. Irritating, right?

Today I heard a new one (to me at least) - 'guest'.

As in - paraphrasing - "What will you be doing over Christmas? Driving 200 miles to guest at your in-laws?".

No. Stop it. That's not English.

Yep thats an Americanism, as we know we are two nations seperated by the same language.

We have "gotten" lots of illegal language immigrants from across the pond :-)

Some, though obviously not all, of these "Americanisms" are actually "Britishisms" which Americans took with them to the New World and retained while we Brits moved on to something else but which we are now re-importing.

I'm sure I've quoted this on here before but I think it is worth the occasional repetition.

"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." - James D. Nicoll

But were the English - We are allowed to go where we want, take what takes our fancy, and leave what we don't like.  

When all is said and done its THe Kings English!!!!

I have just written a letter to the 'Whiny Customer Department' at PG Tips

QuoteDear Mr Tips,

Please find enclosed a teabag of yours I recently bought in a box of 40 from Budgens. As you will see it has two centimetre-long tears in it, so I dare not use it to make tea. I am pretty sure I did not cause the tear.

Will you please replace the bag, or send 4 (four) pence to recompense me, as this is the effective loss to me.

Please also have a serious word with the machine that did this – it needs to be more careful.

Yours Sincerely,

Also - Orcs

"We're" - note apostrophe.

Quote from: Last Hussar on 13 November 2025, 01:52:45 PMAlso - Orcs

"We're" - note apostrophe.

Pedant !

I blame the adverts for Nationwide B/S...

"Wedge me."
"Muffin me."
"Mist me."

There are probably another three, that I've forgotten.

QuoteI blame the adverts for Nationwide B/S...

"Wedge me."
"Muffin me."
"Mist me."

There are probably another three, that I've forgotten.

"Blimp me" is another iirc


Perhaps as in "Gor blimp me, guv'nor" 

Quote from: Orcs on 13 November 2025, 02:05:34 PMPedant !

This is how English has evolved. You can't pitch about it AND do it...

Actually,  knowing you,  you will...

Pendant !

English has a verb form and american an adverb form.
"They were englished americanly"

Quote from: FierceKitty on 14 November 2025, 01:04:12 AMPendant !

But that be a pendant - bad Kitty   

As you are aware, a bun is the lowest form of wheat.

That one really chaffs

While I strive not to english americanly, sometimes american english englishes better. Englishing americanly still irks me however, so I attempt to English using the kings english, which englishes weird sometimes, but no more than american english englishes.

Also, the english english english more englishly than americans english english.

Edit: It was pointed out to me that the English english English English better than the English english American English.

(I only hate myself a little for writing this  )

American English Englishes badly.

"I could care less".

Less than what?

A linguistics professor is giving a talk and says,"In language as in maths two negatives make a positive. For example, I won't not do that means that you will. However, two positives never make a negative."

A Scottish voice from the back of the auditorium goes,"Aye, right!"

Scottish English at it's best.