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#154117 01/18/06 10:05 PM
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In another forum, a user accused me of "overting the real issue". I'm pretty sure that I should have taken umbrage, but I left my umbrage exactly where it was and did not take it anywhere, simply because I don't know what "overt" means as a verb.

#154118 01/18/06 10:13 PM
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Since overt is pretty much the opposite of covert and covert means hidden and since we're verbing an adjective I guess "overting the real issue" means you're bringing the real issue out in the open. Dunno 'bout you but I wouldn't take that as an accusation.

#154119 01/18/06 10:19 PM
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Quote:

Since overt is pretty much the opposite of covert and covert means hidden and since we're verbing an adjective I guess "overting the real issue" means you're bringing the real issue out in the open. Dunno 'bout you but I wouldn't take that as an accusation.




Thanks. I shall continue to leave my umbrage untaken.

#154120 01/18/06 10:21 PM
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that doesn't even make sense out of context -- overt's not covert, so were you uncovering the real issue? (overt never has been a verb, and as a noun (obs. rare) meant an opening.)

what do you suppose was meant? obscuring the issue? diverting the issue? obverting the issue??

#154121 01/18/06 10:35 PM
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Quote:


what do you suppose was meant? obscuring the issue? diverting the issue? obverting the issue??




I read it as (d) Any or all of the above.

#154122 01/18/06 10:59 PM
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Perhaps he/she meant "averting the issue"?

#154123 01/18/06 11:23 PM
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I'm with Faldage on this one. it would be a "hip" usage for exposing the elephant.


formerly known as etaoin...
#154124 01/19/06 12:10 AM
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OF course it would be easier to tell from context, but a guy I useta know in Chi town might have used such a phrase to contrast with someone else using the word "subvert", so he would have been implying the 'over' was kind of opposite to 'sub~'. In other words, accusing you of flying a distraction over the head of the *real subject. Just my WAG...

#154125 01/19/06 04:18 AM
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Quote:

OF course it would be easier to tell from context, but a guy I useta know in Chi town might have used such a phrase to contrast with someone else using the word "subvert", so he would have been implying the 'over' was kind of opposite to 'sub~'. In other words, accusing you of flying a distraction over the head of the *real subject. Just my WAG...




Maybe it's a regional usage. The post was made by someone from The Windy City.

#154126 01/19/06 11:42 AM
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Like Logwood, I assumed it was a misspelling of "avert". As if you were avoiding the real issue.

Just my take.

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