Quote: AndreaLynne @ October 13 2009, 11:38 PM BSTMy father-in-law uses the word phenomenal to describe everything: Cheese, Yanni, his 5 year old computer.
I hate that word, because I can't say it. 
Words you hate Page 7
Quote: Baumski @ October 14 2009, 12:21 PM BSTOK, fair enough, but as for anyone else, is it like it once was when people pronounced it because they wanted to sound posh?
'H' is an evil trick question, because even though 'H' begins and ends with it's own letter, you can't pronounce it 'H', you have to say 'aitch' - which dosen't make any bloody sense.
'W' is another one, surely it should be 'double V'?
Oh and another word I hate because I'm guilty of using it is - meh.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ October 14 2009, 12:00 PM BSTI see. I can imagine the early Doctor Who script meetings - How should we describe the Doctor's relationship with his assistants? Distant? No. Friendly? Definitely not. Fatherly? Uh-uh. How about non-sexual affection felt by an older man toward younger males / females, like the kindness and tolerance that an uncle has for his nephews / neices? Yes, that sounds good, but how can we shorten that description to a manageable level? Dunno.
I was merely trying to give you an example that avuncular need not strictly mean 'being or pertaining to an uncle'. It's a great word, which I think I first encountered in Wodehouse. Apparently it's easier to be an uncle than a father (providing one has siblings).
Quote: Kenneth @ October 14 2009, 3:37 AM BSTAvuncular is often used loosely to denote affection (definitely non-sexual) felt by an older man toward younger males/females. Like the kindness and tolerance that an uncle has for his nephews/nieces. Thus Jon Pertwee would say Doctor Who's relationship with his female companions was always only ever avuncular. Although Doctor Who's avuncularity went out the window when Russell T. Davies came along.
It took a man with a crush on the doctor to write a script making the doctor sexy. It could not have been done any other way.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ October 14 2009, 12:38 PM BST'H' is an evil trick question, because even though 'H' begins and ends with it's own letter, you can't pronounce it 'H', you have to say 'aitch' - which dosen't make any bloody sense.
'W' is another one, surely it should be 'double V'?
Oh and another word I hate because I'm guilty of using it is - meh.
You should be making whimsical points about the English language as the weekly guest on Countdown, RC. And that's a compliment I use very sparingly.
Any words used in a sentence when the pitch rises at the end.
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Quote: Tim Walker @ October 14 2009, 1:21 PM BSTYou should be making whimsical points about the English language as the weekly guest on Countdown, RC. And that's a compliment I use very sparingly.
I would do, but Giles Brandreth has threatened to 'cut me'. 
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ October 14 2009, 1:53 PM BSTI would do, but Giles Brandreth has threatened to 'cut me'.
Oh, "The Guv'nor" has told you to back off? Fair enough then.
Peng - what a f**king stupid word, my neice uses it, that boy is peng, this cheese sandwich is peng, my hair is peng.
Makes me want to punch anyone below the age of 16...
Quote: Kenneth @ October 14 2009, 12:55 PM BSTI was merely trying to give you an example that avuncular need not strictly mean 'being or pertaining to an uncle'. It's a great word, which I think I first encountered in Wodehouse. Apparently it's easier to be an uncle than a father (providing one has siblings).
I'm not having a go at you Kenneth - I'm just amazed that the English language has created a particular word for a very obscure relationship reference.
Quote: Paul W @ October 14 2009, 1:55 PM BSTMakes me want to punch anyone below the age of 16...
Well, at least the verb has changed, that's progress of a sort...
Quote: Loopey @ October 14 2009, 12:06 PM BSTNot the actual words, but the way they are used:
When someone starts a sentence with 'also' or 'and' then finishes it with 'as well' or 'too.'
That drive sme crazy too Loops.
I'd like to add to that 'basically', 'realistically', 'at the end of the day', 'do you know what I mean'.
Quote: Paul W @ October 14 2009, 1:55 PM BSTPeng - what a f**king stupid word, my neice uses it, that boy is peng, this cheese sandwich is peng, my hair is peng.
Makes me want to punch anyone below the age of 16...
Peng? Does that mean something's good or bad? I've never heard that before.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 14 2009, 2:04 PM BSTPeng? Does that mean something's good or bad? I've never heard that before.
I think it can mean good looking, but as I said above it can be used to describe everything that's remotely amazing.
our language being broken down to one word for everything,that's not so peng.
Quote: AngieBaby @ October 14 2009, 2:01 PM BSTI'd like to add to that 'basically', 'realistically', 'at the end of the day', 'do you know what I mean'.
In Hackney, you often hear 'you know what I'm saying?', 'you feel me', 'cuz', 'blood', 'boyee' and 'innit' at the end of most sentences.