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Pedants' corner

bless him!

(60 Posts)
syberia Thu 01-Dec-11 09:38:11

My OH has used the phrase "damp squid" twice this morning while having a political rant, I hadn't the heart to correct him!! smile

tanith Thu 05-Jul-12 13:23:18

I was talking to a friend about picking up a car from Godfrey Davis many years ago, my sister who happened to hear, said " oh I had to go to the solicitor to do that, " Huh!! she was talking about swearing an affidavit ..

mrsmopp Thu 05-Jul-12 11:57:10

Just picked up this thread - to add to 'elegant sufficiency' my mum used to say it whenever whe was asked if she wanted more to eat. The full sentence was:
'I've had elegant sufficiency and any more would be an over indulgence to my already satisfied appetite.'

I had long forgotten the phrase - thanks for the reminder!

absentgrana Mon 05-Dec-11 12:38:51

A much beloved aunt was famous for her malapropisms. On returning from accompanying an even older aunt to the hospital following an accident, she reported that the diagnosis was a fractured pelmet. On another occasion, also at the hospital, she informed the patient transport department that the patient they were calling was still at the palmistry.

riclorian Sun 04-Dec-11 18:32:57

My mother had a 'schumacher ' tree in her garden -- I never did find out if it was Michael or Ralph !!

Anne58 Sun 04-Dec-11 18:08:55

I once suggested that it might be nice to hire bikes and go for a ride on the Tarka trail, and perhaps stopfor a pub lunch somewhere.

Mr Phoenix replied that he might consider it, but wouldn't want to wear "those Lurex shorts".

I had an instant image of Liberace on a bike!

starrygal Sun 04-Dec-11 13:13:39

I've heard a lot of folk use "squash" instead of "quash", as in "his conviction was squashed"...

Also, my ex-husband told me he preferred plumper women because "some women nowadays are so thin they're practically emancipated!". I howled with laughter, which probably contributed to our divorce.

Carol Fri 02-Dec-11 08:45:15

When credit cards started to become popular my mum used to talk about her Assess card (Access) and her favourite musical was Lez Miserabuls!

kittylester Fri 02-Dec-11 08:27:48

Don't you find though that these weird sayings become part of every your day speech and people start to give you very strange looks. My husband's Uncle always talked about people being "alkerolics" if they had a drink problem. We all use it now without noticing. Similarly, a neighbour's son lives in a computer belt! grin

Notsogrand Fri 02-Dec-11 04:25:22

I know someone who referred experiencing an extreme allergic reaction as going into 'Anaglypta Shock'.

grandmaagain Thu 01-Dec-11 14:57:11

I once worked with a lady who bought all her furniture at mi5 (we think she meant MFI but had'nt the heart to tell her)

Greatnan Thu 01-Dec-11 14:50:42

'Elegant sufficiency' was what the ladies of Cranford said when they served, or were served, tiny snacks at their tea parties. I love Mrs. Gaskell's novels.

gracesmum Thu 01-Dec-11 14:45:45

I know this is not in the same league, but I have heard a lot of people who claim close acquaintanceship with Arthur (Itis)

Twobabes Thu 01-Dec-11 13:54:36

Re fish/fireworks - over 30 years ago, in Rome, H and I had delicious meal in a cafe. We'd chosen something we'd never heard of and asked the waiter what we'd eaten - "Ees squeebs, no?"

And that's what squid has been called in our house ever since.

Twobabes Thu 01-Dec-11 13:39:01

The old lady I used to live next to suffered a variety of ailments, most of which she felt were the after-effects of her hysterogamy.

bagitha Thu 01-Dec-11 13:12:33

susie grin

jingl Thu 01-Dec-11 12:34:32

Ooh Susie. smile

susiecb Thu 01-Dec-11 12:24:39

i had an aunty who recommended Perry Sitimol for headaches.

Carol Thu 01-Dec-11 12:19:28

My MIL didn't go out of her house very much in later life. 'I've got acraflavia, dear' she would explain.

susiecb Thu 01-Dec-11 12:15:27

My FIL had always had ' an elegant sufficiency ' after a meal bless himsmile

jingl Thu 01-Dec-11 12:13:47

My aunty always used to talk about the alligator in her washing machine. (agitator) smile

syberia Thu 01-Dec-11 11:47:05

I have a dear friend who uses the expressions " It takes two to tangle" (tango) and " he is just swinging his leg" (swinging the lead). She always makes me smile!!

Hmmm, a thread on malapropisms?

jingl Thu 01-Dec-11 11:39:52

Well, if I walked into a fishmonger today and asked for half a pound of the little b----rs, I still wouldn't know which to ask for. hmm

kittylester Thu 01-Dec-11 10:58:17

Syberia how I wish it was true but I thought that was Ketty Lester - I can't sing a note never mind sing like Ketty Lester!

On the original topic, surely squid are always rather damp as em said and it would be against their rights to be set on fire!!

jingl Thu 01-Dec-11 10:48:08

It's got to be ageing brains! shock

Well, in my case, that is.

jingl Thu 01-Dec-11 10:47:12

Right Syberia. Say "bless her" about me too, please. smile