Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 4 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
#143895 06/13/05 10:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
>Obviously I can't speak for Vernon,

And don't you forget it! He is right about this, though. Sorry, maverick.


#143896 06/13/05 10:32 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
lol! No offence taken from any of you poor winter-dwellers, of course :)

Since it's always quite possible my 'thinking out aloud' will result in illogical rambling, fire away.


#143897 06/13/05 11:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
the w-i-d-e-spread use of lay for lie

What's the problem? We like regular verbs better than irregular verbs. Lie, as a regular verb means something totally else. There's plenty of verbs that combine transitive and intransitive usages without changing form. Lay and lie mean essentially the same thing differing only in their respective transitiveness.


#143898 06/13/05 11:20 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
V
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
V
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 273
>Lay vs Lie

Is simply a case of subconscious anti-semitism, a simmering resentment of Minnesota Jews.


#143899 06/13/05 11:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
> Lay and lie mean essentially the same thing

Tell that to Bob Dylan!


http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/bob-dylan/21168.html


#143900 06/14/05 10:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Bob Dylan

Case in point. Or either him or Eric Clapton, both. Faced with the choice of two otherwise identical words, they both chose the more lyrical. I couldn't imagine them singing "Lie, lady, lie," or "Lie down, Sally." It just doesn't ring true.


#143901 06/14/05 11:10 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
> I couldn't imagine them singing "Lie, lady, lie," or "Lie down, Sally." It just doesn't ring true.

Yes, in terms of both poetry and meaning - a good lay is not the same thing as a good lie (or at least not always) :)


#143902 06/14/05 11:18 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
> Lie down, Sally.

why did I think that was Boz Scaggs?



formerly known as etaoin...
#143903 06/14/05 11:22 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Dunno - I now have an irrepressible urge to bop around with that wonderful pick-up rythym - "I've bin' tryin' all night long just-to-talk-to-you..!" Have to go see if it's still in the car.


#143904 06/14/05 11:34 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
E
addict
Offline
addict
E
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
>teeth on edge over the use of the word "lay" for "lie down"

That's just USn linguistic hegemony rearing its ugly head again, Mrs F. The usage which troubles you so is completely standard on the civilised side of the Atlantic. To quote from the late and much lamented Arsenal fan, Douglas Adams:

Not so, Max! You quote Marvin as saying "Now I lay me down to sleep"

You can lay yourself down (you can lay anything down), but you must LIE down. "lay" requires an object. (I am fully prepared for the spate of "lay" and "object" and "sex object" references no doubt flying my way.....)

Jackie, I'm so glad I'm not alone in the teeth-gritting over "I'm going to lay down"! Although I did read a worse one in a magazine that purportedly had an editor - "I lied down in the back of the van for a sleep."


Page 4 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 674 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5