Posts filed under 'word choices'
November 3rd, 2009
“The jig is up” is a slang phrase “said of risky or improper activity,” according to Webster’s. This association reflects its origin, which “American Slang” puts at sometime after 1800 as another way of saying, “The criminal enterprise is discovered.”
Its current definition is “that ends it; all chances for success are gone.”
It’s sometimes written improperly as “The gig is up.” There are actually four separate “gigs” in Webster’s, but none is a good fit for the phrase. (I’ll look at the gig family tomorrow.)
How the word “jig” was chosen for it isn’t exactly clear either. In fact, even its association with dancing is speculative. The dictionary says it probably came from the Middle French “giguer,” meaning “to gambol, dance,” which came from “gigue,” “a fiddle.”
The jig is “a fast, springy sort of dance, usually in triple time.” Its motion also inspired “jigsaw” and “jiggle,” which is what Jell-O does.
I wasn’t sure I could fit that in, but apparently there is always room for Jell-O.
September 23rd, 2009
We received a reader complaint about the use of “cops” in a headline on Sunday’s Local cover — “Rally for Rockford cops brings 1,000 downtown.” Here’s what the AP Stylebook has to say about “cop”:
“Be careful in the use of this colloquial term for ‘police officer.’ It may be used in lighter stories and in casual, informal descriptions, but often is a derogatory term out of place in serious police stories.”
In other words, it’s a judgment call — unless we choose to never use it, except in quoted material. I think that might be carrying sensitivity to an extreme, but there’s no shortage of sensitivity issues swirling around this case already.
We could have avoided the whole thing by substituting “local police” for “Rockford cops.” Yes, it would have been a bit shorter, but a lot safer.
Interestingly, John B. Bremner had this to say in “Words on Words”:
“As a noun, ‘cop’ is gaining respectability as a synonym for ‘policeman’ and does not seem to be resented by policemen. It is certainly more respectable than the barnyard word the crazies scream.”
That was back in 1980, and the barnyard word was, of course, “pigs.”
Notice, too, that Bremner used “policeman” and “policemen,” both of which would draw complaints today because of the gender component.
So word sensitivity is on the rise on more than one front — in case you hadn’t noticed.
August 6th, 2009
You probably have heard of “homing pigeons” and “homing devices.” Try to think of them the next time you’re trying to decide whether the correct phrase is “home in on” or “hone in on.” (It’s the former.)
The verb “hone” means “to sharpen.” It comes from the Old English “han” for “stone” — in this case, a whetstone.
You can use “honing” for literally sharpening, as with such a stone, or figuratively, as in “honing your skills.”
But the phrase for guiding or being guided to a destination or target is “homing (in) on.”
Home is where we want to go.
August 5th, 2009
This follow-up is in response to a question about my previous offering.
“Downtrodden” is for folks who are suppressed, not depressed. To convey the idea that people are disappointed and unhappy, try something from the following list:
“Dejected,” “discouraged,” “disheartened,” “dispirited,” “downcast,” “downhearted,” “down in (or at) the mouth” or just plain “down.”
But not “downtrodden.” You have to be trod upon (literally or figuratively) to be “downtrodden.”
August 4th, 2009
The adjective “downtrodden” means “trampled on or down” or “oppressed; subjugated; tyrannized over.”
It’s the result of mistreatment of human beings by other human beings. It really doesn’t apply comfortably to inanimate objects, as in “a downtrodden neighborhood.”
The neighbors themselves might be downtrodden, but even then note that this is a very strong word and should be used with caution. It requires abuse by someone.
For things that aren’t alive, try “run-down” or “in disrepair” or “dilapidated.”
July 10th, 2009
“Restive” is one of those words, like “noisome,” that isn’t what it seems to be.
Its original sense was more like resistant to moving. It retains the meaning “refusing to go forward” — that is, trying to stay at rest.
More commonly nowadays it’s used to mean “hard to control; unruly” or “nervous or impatient under pressure or restraint.”
In other words, it’s more restless than restful.
July 2nd, 2009
The Associated Press clings to the notion that “over” is better for “spatial relationships” (”the cow jumped over the moon”) and “more than” is better “with numerals” (”he now makes more than $1 million a year”).
The AP can be excruciatingly slow to change its ways. In “Garner’s Modern American Usage,” Bryan A. Garner says “over” and “more than” are interchangeable in the latter instance, adding “and this has been so for more than 600 years.” (I would have said “over 600 years” to underscore the point.)
Garner concludes with, “The charge that ‘over’ is inferior to ‘more than’ is a baseless crotchet.”
I doubt there are many readers who are confused by this use of “over” when they see it, so it also passes the comprehension test.
And it’s a heck of a lot easier to fit into headlines.
June 10th, 2009
There are “blocks,” and then there are “blocs.”
Most of the time, we need the one with the “k”: starting block, cellblock, concrete block, building block, city block, block grant, block letters, writer’s block, block and tackle, block that kick, and blockhead, for example.
But for references to political alliances, use “bloc” (without the “k”): voting bloc, the old Soviet bloc, and so on.
Although powerful blocs are able to block legislation, “bloc” isn’t a verb — not yet, anyway. Perhaps if the “bloc” bloc were to pressure dictionary editors. …
June 9th, 2009
Last time, I explored the difference between “cabinets” as furniture and “Cabinets” as assemblages of people.
Interestingly, the people who are Cabinet members generally are called “secretaries.” And a “secretary” is also a type of writing desk, “especially one topped with a small bookcase.”
Additionally, because “chairman” is increasingly unacceptable in some circles because of its gender reference, the use of “chair” for the top dog of an organization is on the rise. Many word people are not ready to accept this one, insisting that “chair” means something sat on, not a sitter.
I think this is a losing battle, especially since “chair” seems to be generally accepted as a verb for “to preside over.” ”Chair” as the generic noun seems to be superior to “chairman” (but what if he’s a she?), “chairwoman” (but what if she’s a he?) and “chairperson” (oh, the humanity!).
I love to sit, but I can stand “chair” for a person.
June 5th, 2009
“Pole” and “pull” aren’t exactly homonyms, but they sound similar enough to cause some confusion.
For example, the village of Cherry Valley has some old buildings it needs to do something with. They’re “pole barns,” not “pull barns.” If you conduct a Google search for “pull barn,” you will find some examples of this erroneous usage. But mostly you’ll get “pole barns.”
They are so named because traditionally their structure involves poles set in the ground.
I don’t have a clue what sort of “pull” would be needed to build a “pull barn.” It probably would have to be political.
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