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Pedants' corner

Off and on

(39 Posts)
Greta Mon 27-Jun-22 10:58:48

When rain has been forecast my computer tells me "Rain off and on". I'm sure we say "on and off". Am I right or wrong or is it optional?

Blossoming Mon 27-Jun-22 16:06:15

I say intermittent grin

Baggs Mon 27-Jun-22 16:10:41

My daft dad used to say k-nives and k-forks.

TillyTrotter Mon 27-Jun-22 16:12:27

Pretty sweetpeas, I love their fragrance do you Witzend ?

I am fairly sure we day “on and off” in this part of the country.

Elizabeth27 Mon 27-Jun-22 17:14:14

I have tried saying both and both sound right to me leaving me wondering which I do say.

grumppa Mon 27-Jun-22 19:01:02

Why does it never rain dogs and cats?

grandtanteJE65 Tue 28-Jun-22 15:45:40

MrsKen33

Our weather girl always says “There is sun on offer today.” Does that mean I can decline it if I so desire?

It should certainly mean just that, but I doubt that was what she intended to convey!

Honeysuckleberries Tue 28-Jun-22 16:00:16

Off and on of course. When you go into a room the lights are off and you turn them on.
On a naughtier note, I’m turned off but my husband could always turn me on !?

Baggs Tue 28-Jun-22 16:04:46

grumppa

Why does it never rain dogs and cats?

Alphabeticality Rules OK! ?

Witzend Tue 28-Jun-22 16:52:59

Egg and chips.
I thought it sounded wrong in Shirley Valentine when she said, ‘Chips and egg.’
I dare say it’s a regional thing though.

Juliet27 Tue 28-Jun-22 17:00:18

I’ve gone off this thread ?

Grannmarie Tue 28-Jun-22 17:01:38

Beautiful sweet peas, Witzend, and I love your descriptive collective noun!

I predict a riot??

Grannmarie Tue 28-Jun-22 17:03:04

Off and on, on and off, either / or really but definitely not or / either!

Mollygo Tue 28-Jun-22 17:20:27

On and off, in and out, knife and fork, salt and pepper, I don’t really mind, but any on say they’re going cold and hot?