Two (or 'Too'?) Commonly-Used Terms

nonightowl · Nov 14, 2022 at 11:26 AM

I'm off topic dear Beth, but I was just thinking about how we use odd phrases like "take a bath" or "take a shower." And we "catch a movie." I feel for people learning English; I mean how can you TAKE a shower??

We also say "draw a bath" or "run a bath", but those learning would think of drawing as artwork!

We say we hope to catch someone, but it means to get a hold of them, not chase them down. (Most of the time anyway, LOL) And we catch the train or bus......I've just been thinking of not just overused words but strange phrases, even to me.

Gosh, I'm glad English is my native language. Whew!

Nov 14, 2022 at 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonightowl

I'm off topic dear Beth, but I was just thinking about how we use odd phrases like "take a bath" or "take a shower." And we "catch a movie." I feel for people learning English; I mean how can you TAKE a shower??

We also say "draw a bath" or "run a bath", but those learning would think of drawing as artwork!

We say we hope to catch someone, but it means to get a hold of them, not chase them down. (Most of the time anyway, LOL) And we catch the train or bus......I've just been thinking of not just overused words but strange phrases, even to me.

Gosh, I'm glad English is my native language. Whew!

"have a seat" or "take a seat" is another one

"have" suggests you don't give it back

"take" = where do you want it taken to?

unaluna · Nov 14, 2022 at 03:03 PM

Theres a "take" joke in freuds book, jokes and their relationship to the unconscious. Apparently a popular ethnic joke back in his day was "did you take a bath?" "Why, is one missing?"

divine1966 · Nov 14, 2022 at 08:19 PM

I don’t think the issue is with English. Lots of these idioms and common phrases and overused phrases exist in other languages and often are translated pretty much with the identical meaning from one language to another. Like catch a bus or take a bath, for example. It’s not that different from other languages. Strange phrases or even overused phrases are not necessarily unique for English

unaluna · Nov 14, 2022 at 10:20 PM

Yeah. My mother always got "let" and "make" mixed up. English was her second language. Or maybe she didnt. I will let you wash the dishes after i make you eat dessert.

divine1966 · Nov 14, 2022 at 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

Yeah. My mother always got "let" and "make" mixed up. English was her second language. Or maybe she didnt. I will let you wash the dishes after i make you eat dessert.

Hahah indeed maybe she did mix them up, on purpose, she’ll “let” you wash the dishes.

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonightowl

...
Beth, generations are defined by music alright but also values, behavior, and WORDS!!! Remember "groovy" and "far out"? You're near my age. The Woodstock generation had the best music period.

Yaaasss...but so many (Most? All?) of those values, behaviors, words come from music or from pop/rock musicians.

The music of the '60's was greater than great! But the '70's rocked pretttty nicely, too. In certain ways I prefer seventies music because it was more truthful. But there was more beauty to sixties rock, though. But '70's Motown...romance, nothing but. WOW.

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

c'est le chien
that's about all I know.

Oui, et le chien est marron!

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammu

Bonjour
Au Revour
Adieu
Oui

That is all and my pronunciation is audacious

Take a peek at the show Versailles (roughly "vair-sigh") on Netflix and you'll want to learn French in a New York minute

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mote.of.soul

I think for the most part, other than on mental health type websites, generally, people use the words 'narc' and 'toxic' quite loosely meaning basically a very selfish, horrible, abusive type of person. At least that's the impression I get. And to that extent it probably is a fairly accurate description of their perception of the person - or at least, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt about that. Because I wouldn't take it as a literal psych evaluation of the person unless otherwise stated. 'Narc' and 'toxic' are basically general terms. But people can quite easily slap a label on others using those terms too, if they're say hurt or upset with someone. It happens. That's what I see on the internet.

Yes. I believe that the terms narc and toxic have become so overused, though, that they've lost meaning. What's it called....we've become desensitized to those words.

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 02:04 AM

It's true that every language has idioms and euphemisms. I doubt there is any language without. I have a few close friends who speak other languages, and don't use English much. When they translate some of the idioms from their languages, they make absolutely no sense to me. "And it is for that reason the butterfly always lands in the cake!"
Wha...??

I have read, though, that English (especially American English) relies more heavily upon idiom than other languages do. And metaphor, and etc., etc.

When all is said and done, however it's said or done, I remain fascinated, every day of my life, by the English language.

nonightowl · Nov 15, 2022 at 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

Theres a "take" joke in freuds book, jokes and their relationship to the unconscious. Apparently a popular ethnic joke back in his day was "did you take a bath?" "Why, is one missing?"

I've heard that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Yaaasss...but so many (Most? All?) of those values, behaviors, words come from music or from pop/rock musicians.

The music of the '60's was greater than great! But the '70's rocked pretttty nicely, too. In certain ways I prefer seventies music because it was more truthful. But there was more beauty to sixties rock, though. But '70's Motown...romance, nothing but. WOW.

Yup, the 70's was also a decade of SUCH good music too, and the 80's.....The era of classic rock is roughly the 60' to the 80's. Roz, a character on sitcom Fraser, said it's called that because it's CLASSIC and it ROCKS!!!!

unaluna · Nov 15, 2022 at 02:01 PM

That joke is AT LEAST one hundred years old! How do these things survive?!

MuddyBoots · Nov 15, 2022 at 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonightowl

I've heard that one.

Yup, the 70's was also a decade of SUCH good music too, and the 80's.....The era of classic rock is roughly the 60' to the 80's. Roz, a character on sitcom Fraser, said it's called that because it's CLASSIC and it ROCKS!!!!

We have a radio station here that used to be just "rock 92.9" but now they're calling themselves classic rock when they play stuff like Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. When did those guys become classic rock?

MuddyBoots · Nov 15, 2022 at 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Oui, et le chien est marron!

Mon chat est un chien

nonightowl · Nov 15, 2022 at 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

We have a radio station here that used to be just "rock 92.9" but now they're calling themselves classic rock when they play stuff like Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. When did those guys become classic rock?

Makes me feel OLD.

I've noticed they are now calling music from the 90's and first decade of the 2000's "classic rock".

I do like those bands you mentioned (not famiiiar with Soundgarden or I didn't know the name of the artist if I heard something from them) but they aren't "classic" to me. VH1 Classic Music Videos is sometimes as recent a 2010 and later.

unaluna · Nov 15, 2022 at 03:45 PM

I used to live around the corner from an establishment that had on its marquee:
"50's 60's 70's 80's rock". I wonder what it says now? I used to poke fun at it back then - in the early 80's!

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

Mon chat est un chien

Oh, no!!!!

*Beth* · Nov 15, 2022 at 05:17 PM

I consider Nirvana the last of the classic rock bands.

lemonSys · Nov 20, 2022 at 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

I consider Nirvana the last of the classic rock bands.

RIP, Kurt

[ of course we’re on a first name basis ]

— lemonSys

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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 39,871 (SuperPoster!) 12 66.4k hugs given	Nov 14, 2022 at 03:03 PM #63 Theres a "take" joke in freuds book, jokes and their relationship to the unconscious. Apparently a popular ethnic joke back in his day was "did you take a bath?" "Why, is one missing?"
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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 39,871 (SuperPoster!) 12 66.4k hugs given	Nov 14, 2022 at 10:20 PM #65 Yeah. My mother always got "let" and "make" mixed up. English was her second language. Or maybe she didnt. I will let you wash the dishes after i make you eat dessert.
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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 39,871 (SuperPoster!) 12 66.4k hugs given	Nov 15, 2022 at 02:01 PM #73 That joke is AT LEAST one hundred years old! How do these things survive?!
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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 39,871 (SuperPoster!) 12 66.4k hugs given	Nov 15, 2022 at 03:45 PM #77 I used to live around the corner from an establishment that had on its marquee: "50's 60's 70's 80's rock". I wonder what it says now? I used to poke fun at it back then - in the early 80's!
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Nov 15, 2022 at 05:17 PM #79 I consider Nirvana the last of the classic rock bands. __________________
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