The mangling of idomatic expressions (a minor rant and call for commiseration)

[Zundfolge]

EX=presso, there is no GD X in espresso. And it is EX-specially annoying from people who are suposably coffee people.

I actually saw "Expresso" on one of the over-the-isle signs at Walmart. I actually told the manager about that one. I don't think they ever fixed it (I'll have to check again on Friday when we get groceries).



In addition to mangled idioms, un-mangled but miss-used ones also annoy me.

My boss often uses "I'll be persona non grata" to mean he'll be out of the office (ironically its when he is IN the office he's persona non grata to the extreme). Also used to have a sales rep that used the phrase "I was out of pocket" to mean out of the office or out of communication ... I used to always reply "you were paying your own way?" He never understood what I was getting at.


ETA: Oh and people that over-use adverbs like "actually" ... and people that don't properly use ellipses ... can't STAND those people

[Dingo]

People who think "per diem" means "one at a time".

Anybody who "misunderestimates" me.

People who use "variate" as a verb.

[Bailey Guns]

Orientate. Orientated.

[Justin]

'fustrated'

'warsh'

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk. Hence all the misspellings and goofy word choices.

[Dingo]

Orientate. Orientated.

This one irritates me too. Unfortunately, it's so common in it's (mis) usage that it's accepted generally as a substitute for "orient". It's even listed similarly in the dictionary.

[HoneyBadger]

I have an issue with people who add extra syllables to words, in addition to many of the grammar problems listed above. For example: People who say they are going to orientate themselves, instead of saying they will orient themselves.

Yesterday I heard a co-worker say he was conversating with his neighbor by his grill. Conversing. Not conversating.

Also, I think we can thank ESPN for this one because it's actually in the dictionary now, but commentate is not (should not be) a word. ESPN has commentators, when in reality I believe they should be call commentors, because that is what they do: they comment.

[Ronin13]

'warsh'

My mother is from KS and uses "warsh" quite a bit... as kids my brother and I used to make fun of her.

[sellersm]

Prostate vs. prostrate!! One's a position (i.e,; prone), one's a part of the body (a gland)! Get it right...

Gotta admit though, the English language is kinda weird! Ever see the "I Love Lucy" episode where Ricky has to read?

[BlasterBob]

My mother is from KS and uses "warsh" quite a bit... as kids my brother and I used to make fun of her.

Your Ma IS/WAS pronouncing it correctly. Washington, D.C. is also pronounced WaRshington.

[Rabid]

Reminds me of this ... NSFW due to language...

Beat me to it. First thing i thought of also.