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Baker Street's most 'infamous' residents

(10 Posts)
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Riverwalk Tue 29-Dec-15 07:55:03

I could be having a senior moment but have twice heard a trailer on Radio 4 for Sherlock Holmes describe Holmes & Watson as 'infamous'.

Has infamous gone the way of enormity and changed its meaning? hmm

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Indinana Tue 29-Dec-15 08:32:08

Heavens, I hope not! That does sound rather odd for the Beeb to get it that wrong confused.

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trisher Tue 29-Dec-15 10:42:15

Perhaps a reference to Holmes' less salubrious habits? -like the 1% solution?

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Lilygran Tue 29-Dec-15 11:20:43

I think there are a number of words that have now lost their original meaning and I'm afraid 'infamous' is one of them. 'Reticent' went a long time ago and so did 'hopefully'. 'Hateful' is going the same way and so is 'despise'. It's partly the effect of other Englishes and partly ignorance. When it reaches the point where you hear the solecisms all the time, you have to adapt or risk being misunderstood. Unfortunately.

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Alea Tue 29-Dec-15 21:52:23

"Infamy, infamy! They've all got it infamy!"

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feetlebaum Tue 29-Dec-15 22:02:16

@trisher - Wasn't that a 7% solution?

@Alea - originally said in BBC's ^Take It From Here^- written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden!

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Alea Tue 29-Dec-15 23:02:41

Oh I thought it was Frankie Howerd in "Up Pompeii"!

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Alea Tue 29-Dec-15 23:05:38

youtu.be/kvs4bOMv5Xw

Aha, Kenneth Williams in "Carry on Cleo" apparently smile

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rosesarered Wed 30-Dec-15 10:11:49

You don't expect the Beeb to use wrong words, what us the world coming to?? Should be famous residents of course.I have also heard notorious used wrongly as well.

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rosesarered Wed 30-Dec-15 10:12:59

Carry On Cleo has the best script of all the Carry Ons.

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