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johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

NEW YORK (AP) - Edwin Newman, who brought literacy, wit and energy to NBC newscasts for more than three decades, and battled linguistic pretense and clutter in his best sellers "Strictly Speaking" and "A Civil Tongue," has died. He was 91.

"Know ye that a prince and a great man has fallen this day."

johnslat · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:59 pm Post subject:

Dear johntpartee,

Amen - rest in peace Mr. Newman. No peeve here but much sadness.

"Strictly Speaking, Edwin Newman was a Prince Among Men"

http://open.salon.com/blog/jeremiah_horrigan/2010/09/15/strictly_speaking_edwin_newman_was_a_prince_among_men

Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Regards,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:29 am Post subject:

I was recently reminded of a particularly peeving phrase. Doubt it would mean much to our transatlantic cousins, but here it is: 'to p*ss on yer chips'.

Basically, it means something like to shoot yourself in the foot, but I'll leave it to your own research to learn more...

Not something that should be said during a formal interview. Cripes, where does HR find these guys? I wish I could re-direct them to the East in advance...

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

The correct definition of this expression is to really mess something up for yourself (rather than for someone else) with an unnecessary and/or stupid act.

The key is that it is self-inflicted and therefore has a different meaning to "XXXX on your bonfire" or "rain on your parade" which refer to generally spoiling or putting a dampener on something for someone else.

The origin of the expression is from the scenario in the UK of a guy buying some takeaway chips (french fries for any US readers) after an evening's drinking.

Finding that he then needs a XXXX on the way home, the inebriated guy finds a quiet spot somewhere then and puts his chips on the ground nearby while he relieves himself. In his drunken state he then accidentally XXXXes on his chips, thus depriving himself of his meal through his own carelessness and stupidity.

The expression is particularly applicable for a celebrity who has badly damaged his/or her career because of a needless personal transgression.
"Way to XXXX on your chips, Tiger!" (Overheard at the US Masters)

From The Urban Dictionary

Never heard it before, but I like it! But, no, I wouldn't say it during an interview (even though the interlocuter probably wouldn't know what it means).

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject:

New peeve. Consulting the Urban Dictionary and not acknowledging it!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject:

grrr!!!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:12 pm Post subject:

Candidate didn't get the job. His parade was rained on. As for his chips...he did it all himself...

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Howdja know I got it from The Urban Dictionary? Huh? Did you look it up? You didn't acknowledge it!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:19 pm Post subject:

I checked it to see would Americans know of the phrase. But didn't quote it so no need to acknowledge it. What sort of researcher are you? Sheesh!?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:16 am Post subject:

Philistines. Lots of these nasties in the world. Best avoided.

However, on one of the the few occasions where I had need to utter this word I was ...utterly peeved when one of m'colleagues had the unmitigated audacity to 'correct' my pronunciation of it. Ignorant bitch that she was she even had some specious 'rule' which she duly trotted it out in her defence. Upon being presented with a dictionary and the transcription and she merely walked away casually throwing back a comment that she didn't need biased dictionaries to learn how to say words correctly.

Ignorance, and the pride taken in it by some, must surely be the most peeving peeve of all....

So my fellow posters. How do you pronounce it? And before you check it in a dictionary, care to hazard a guess as to how many citation pronunciations there are?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

fil' ist eens

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:06 pm Post subject:

Well, you'd been on the receiving end of the silly bat's tongue-lashing for that, Johntpartee, despite you being within your rights to pronounce it that way.

Others out there?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject:

Another peeve that has been rearing its ugly head again is going to alarm some of the more sensitive Americans here, I'm afraid. But if you are in an interview, please stop telling me that you can't use a given course book as you don't speak British. It really is quite a silly thing to say for a multiplicity of reasons...

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

In the dozen or so times I've ever heard that word, it was pronounced that way. How do you say it?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I would NEVER EVER say that about British English; anybody who does.....yeah, you know where the door is, retard. I often have to explain to students who question my spelling or pronunciation that Britishisms are perfectly correct and acceptable, but....