Tuesday 7 January 2014

Americanisms V


Ghastly Americanisms are polluting our language and anybody who says "Can I get a latte?" should be shot. So why don't we object to:


pooch for dog
store
for shop
raise
for rise
not that hard of a task etc
Crystal Palace host Everton
(for “play host to”)
cook book for cookery book
résumé
for curriculum vitae
around
for about
deadly force

prep for prepare
take a left
stroller
for baby buggy for pushchair
morgue and casket for mortuary and coffin
cane for stick
upfront
laid back


But these still sound American:

worrisome:
worrying
Calling Oxford Street “Oxford” etc.
raise:
rise
garden-variety:
common or garden
intermission:
interval
wither:
dwindle
tar
for brand (from “tarred with the same brush”.)
take a hit
(on standards): reduce
I guess
trash
(our supermarket shop ends up in the trash)
poster boy

I’m headed to the beach.
I’m looking real close.
I’m OK with that.
I’m comfortable with that.

You gotta be joking!
Surely you jest!
What do you think of the show so far?
The opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings.


And we hate:


Who knew?
What’s not to like?


passing: "Various references to Chinua Achebe's 'passing', eg by Penguin, who should know better. Can we stamp out this American euphemism please." (Stephen Moss/‏@StephenMossGdn) (English since 1340, says OED)

More here, and links to the rest.



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