Mangled and abused words and phrases

Humpback

On a new journey
Dec 10, 2006
1,231
0
67
1/4 mile from Bramley End.
I just read and contributed to a thread on YouTube rubbish and it started me thinking about words and phrases which by being mangled and/or abused in everyday language or speech. (NOTE: This thread is not about incorrect spelling although personally this does irritate me too). I set out two examples below.

Tactical - appears on ever increasing numbers of outdoor kit to be used by non-soldiers
Organic - seen this used instead of vegetable


Any other gems?

Alan
 

Kepis

Full Member
Jul 17, 2005
6,854
2,752
Sussex
Awesome - for anything that is remotely interesting
Legend - For someone who is quite good at what they do
 

Mikey P

Full Member
Nov 22, 2003
2,257
12
53
Glasgow, Scotland
"Bomb-proof" - applied to any kit slightly stronger than a paper bag. Bomb-proof means you should be able to abuse it for some time before it falls apart and it is fit-for-purpose.

"Traditional" - something hairy, uncomfortable and lacking the benefits that technology has brought to human existence.

PS - Humpback - I share your pain at the lack of good grammar/spelling. If the non-native speakers can make the effort...
 
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All previous suggestions irritate the poo right out of me, but my 12 year old has just picked up a new one that annoys me even more: "epic"

"Oh Dad, Nicole just told me a joke that was absolutely EPIC!!"

No darling, she really didn't. It wasn't ten hours long and directed by Cecil B. DeMille, now was it? And it certainly wasn't a near-death experience in the mountains, so in no sense was it epic. Grrrrrr!

Thank you for starting this thread, I've been needing to get that off my chest for some time!!

Rich
 

Chiseller

Bushcrafter through and through
Oct 5, 2011
6,176
3
West Riding
"Traditional" - something hairy, uncomfortable and lacking the benefits that technology has brought to human existence.
I'll be your huckleberry :D

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
 

John Fenna

Lifetime Member & Maker
Oct 7, 2006
23,308
3,090
67
Pembrokeshire
The misplaced " ' " as in the sign out side the grocers "Cucumber's" ... cucumber's what?
The description of leg coverings as amphibian predators ... "gaitors" instead of "gaiters"
Arrant misuse of words that sound similar "two", "too" and "to" as an example, "toe" and "tow" as another...
Deliberate mis-spellings in names - "Krazy Kats" instead of "Crazy cats"...
"Literally" mis-used as in "I literally died!" - so you are risen from the dead? Did it take 3 days? Should I fall down and worship you?
OOOOOOOOOOOOooooooh the list is literarlly endless....
 

susi

Nomad
Jul 23, 2008
421
0
Finland
For Christ's sake, get over yourselves. Languages evolve and always have done, both in pronunciation and meaning. The English you're speaking today would likely make Shakespeare turn in his grave. And many of the Finnish words I use today, would be unintelligible to a Finn 50 years ago.

PS But I have to agree that the constant use of "tactical" turns my toes red. :lmao:
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,891
2,143
Mercia
A sheaf for a knife. Is it made of wheat?

A sheath for an axe - its a mask.

Tech' to mean electonic gizmo

oh...and incomplete sentences ending in inaccurate punctuation......
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,120
68
Florida
...Deliberate mis-spellings in names - "Krazy Kats" instead of "Crazy cats"...

How about replacing the s with a z? "Krazy Katz"

Dawgs?

As others have posted "tactical" when it obviously has no bearing to police tactics or gear.
 
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