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Double...Redouble...

(12 Posts)
Annobel Wed 23-May-12 22:46:27

phoenix grin

I think the boat has sailed on the 'decimate' issue!

I've probably said this before, but 'media' is one of my hobbyhorses and I fear that the boat has sailed on that one too. Media is, as you all know, the plural of 'medium'. And as for 'criteria': even children who didn't do classics at school used to be taught that this was plural, as is 'phenomena'.
Heigh Ho!

Anne58 Wed 23-May-12 21:57:30

I also get miffed by "decimate" when used wrongly. It is to reduce by a 10th, not to a 10th.

Anne58 Wed 23-May-12 21:38:14

When the holes in their bottoms heal over?

Annobel Wed 23-May-12 13:27:02

I wonder when it will dawn on politicians that nobody actually believes anything they say? confused

soop Wed 23-May-12 13:24:36

...which are made 'perfectly unclear...' grin

Annobel Wed 23-May-12 13:13:57

That's right, soop, but they do make 'pledges'. grin

soop Wed 23-May-12 12:51:39

And, they never make promises, because they can't keep them...

Annobel Wed 23-May-12 12:26:14

And, absent, they never make 'cuts', always 'savings'. wink

absentgrana Wed 23-May-12 12:18:17

Annobel Sounding more powerful is why politicians never spend money; they always invest it.

Annobel Wed 23-May-12 12:04:00

Yes, nag, I doubt it too. I think they use it because it just sounds more powerful than 'double'!

Anagram Wed 23-May-12 11:58:22

Yes. Perhaps they mean (although I doubt it!) that they have already doubled their efforts once, and will now do it again! grin

Annobel Wed 23-May-12 11:35:07

Why is it that politicians always say they will 'redouble' their efforts when they really mean 'double'? 'Redouble' strictly, speaking, means quadruple! I haven't played bridge for forty-odd years, but seem to remember that you couldn't redouble before you had doubled.