One interesting word that has taken new meaning is "realize." In Spanish and presumably other Latin languages it means to create, actualize, bring to pass - "to make real." The word for comprehending is our word for "recognize." But somehow English gave the action of "recognizing" to the word "realizing." It took a while to sort the Spanish ones out in my mind, but it makes sense when you think about "realize" as "making real" and not "understand."
About 4 minutes total. I looked at dictionary.com to verify that realize has the official comphrehension meaning.
How about people that use 'do do' back to back in a sentence. I see that once in a while and just crack up! PS: Not a word used in respectable company: somewhere between irrespective and regardless. Use one of these instead.
I haven't heard disinterested and uninterested used correctly in a long time. The recent outbreak of "prestine" instead of pristine.
Unless you wanted to be flamed flammable inflammable ! This peaked my curiosity. Piqued mine. Save me an isle seat. aisle! Who's car is this? Whose! You have a lot of flare. flair! By elicit means. Illicit! I'm unphased. unfazed! Alter boy. Altar! (I hope) Do you have anything loser? Looser! (or, "what did you just call me?") What did you have for desert? Sand! Dessert!
Brings up another point - I've always thought that a well-researched etymology website would be a nice thing. Sure beats having to have your man-servants carry your OED everywhere you go. --Dan
Real estate ads are a never-ending source of amusement for such a topic - my all time favourite was the place advertised with a back yard "big enough for a marquis" - too bad if you were having a duke over for the barby!
dave, if you have a chance, check jeff foxworthy's latest redneck dictionary (published by random house last month). it's way over the top.. funny.
One of my favorites that is on FChat all the time: Where can I find break pads for my 3xx? It's BRAKES numbnuts!! You use your brakes. You take a break. Got it? John
When I first started in sales, I worked in the same office as my cousin! He was pretty pathetic on the phones. He would use the phrase..."and what-not"! I asked him one day....what exactly is a "what-not"? We both laughed, however, I know he still uses that little catch phrase! Jay
Here's an interesting link on "Common Errors in English" http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
Here is what they had to say about "irregardless" "Regardless of what you have heard, “irregardless” is a redundancy. The suffix “-less” on the end of the word already makes the word negative. It doesn’t need the negative prefix “ir-” added to make it even more negative." EDIT* As I get more and more into this site.....I love it! I may a Einstein after I'm done reading!
