"must have" "at all" and "yeh - no"

Annobel, I agree with you about 'grab'. And how about "Can I get...." as in " Can I get a cup of coffee?". Yes, you can. Do you want want one?

Or 'No you can't. That's my job!'

Lily that 'get' really annoys me too alongside the response 'I'm good' when you ask someone how they are!

I'm enjoying this thread [not sewing - ha!]. It's making me laugh in spite of the weather. It reminds me of Shoots, Eats and Leaves by Lynn Truss. Our language is both wonderful and a minefield at the same time.

Good for Lynn Truss and John Huphrys too.

A dear Irish friend was driven mad by the response, "I'm fine, thank you" to the question, "What can I get you?". He used to say, " I didn't ask about your health, I asked if you wanted a drink!" Perhaps the response to "I'm good" should be on the same lines?

Or What at?'

I've just realised that 'I'm good' could be seen as a logical interpretation of 'Not bad' when used in response to 'How are you?'.

I have had a 'window of opportunity' in which to sit and read these, and thoroughly enjoyed them all.

At the end of the day I am laying on the sofa and theres all this bling on the shopping channel and I'm like Wow!!! Yeah no definitely I gotta go for it know what I mean like?

It's on trend so you gottahaveit, innit?

"I'm good" is an Americanism, born of their terror of adverbs...

Next salesperson who asks me "how are you today" (as if they cared!) I am ready. I'm going to tell them,
"Thank you thank you for asking me that my dear because I had a lot of trouble with my IBS and the doctor gave me little blue tablets well they were no good at all I've been back three times, I dont think doctors know anything these days do they, not like in the old days, they really cared then and would pop and see you if they were passing, but not now, oh no, oh yes my friends on different tablets, white ones shes got, and they work alright; ooh, I do like your shoes my dear, but of course I couldn't wear them, not with my bunions, I've got to go to the hospital for an x ray, they're going to operate on my bunions, twice they've cancelled me, its disgraceful I blame that David Cameron he doesnt know what he's doing, oh well mustnt keep you my dear but very nice of you to chat to me like this I don't get much chance of an intelligent conversation i live on my own you see and I dont get out much, not with my bunions, well I cant walk very far you see and also this IBS is dreadful well my dear I'll have to go because it's playing me up now so can you tell me where the Ladies room is oh thank you, see you next time bye bye............

Eats Shoots and Leaves, Goldengran. Otherwise it doesn't work as ambiguity!