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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
On the original note of annoying idioms there is a TV ad for a house renovation program in which, complaining of unexpected costs the owner moans "This place is turning into a cash cow." It annoys me every time.
For those not familiar with English idioms a cash cow is an easy source of money and goes with "He milked the company of all its assets."
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
I've recently had reason to wonder at seemingly unorthodox usage of singular and plural forms for animals. A friend of mine is currently living in Kenya, helping run a nature reserve there.
..........................................................
This thought occurs : in some languages -and in some instances - plurals are not used. Perhaps that is the case with your friend in Kenya.
In Hawaiian it is lei for the floral necklace, whether it is one or 21!
And here in New England we have moose. Lots of moose.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
"we saw a group of hyena and a herd of elephant".
I've seen this sort of thing more than once in print, especially in texts by naturalists or hunters. I thought it was similar to the use of "fish" for a collective.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
As someone who has respond to *complaints about my (past) use of "loose" when meant "lose"... the comments came with a good hearted twisted application of my screen name of musick into moose... this in response to my spelling the AWAD member named "Whitman O'Neil" short name for himself (I believe) "WON" as "juan"... it all comes from being taught spelling thru phonetics, yet learning full well exceptions are littered all over that ground. In the case of "lose", I was finally given a nemonic to remind me of the lost "o". Why would one "o" be pronounced the same as two "o"'s and change the "s" to a "z" sound? Just use a "u". Ain't that what they're for? That's why we call them "ewez".  Not that I learned all the rules of phonetics, but possibly just the intent (...possibly not). 
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293 |
Quote:
Why would one "o" be pronounced the same as two "o"'s and change the "s" to a "z" sound? Just use a "u". Ain't that what they're for? That's why we call them "ewez".
I agree emphatically. Well spoken.
Then there is the opposite (yet similar) trouble with "bear/bare", "red/read", et cetera.
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Quote:
Why would one "o" be pronounced the same as two "o"'s and change the "s" to a "z" sound? Just use a "u". Ain't that what they're for? That's why we call them "ewez".
Coz' English don't need no stinkin' rulz!
(Or at least we don't obey them much.)
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
>>I have written the Ultimate Self-Help Book!
The Complete Idiot's Guide for Dummies. Wow!! Can I have your autograph? http://preview.tinyurl.com/yzc4qjoops, this was re: PT, not re: Zed!
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
Which one are you? Dolt or Dullard?
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Quote:
Which one are you? Dolt or Dullard?
You talkin to me, nunc?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
fwiw, Dolt and Dullard are the putative authors of The Idiot's Guide for Dummies.
-ron o.
Last edited by tsuwm; 11/09/06 05:24 PM.
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