General Chat

Could we also have "different from" please - and not "different to"
Liz

Me too Maddiecow lol...loved Yul Brynner :)

xx

I so wish i wouldn't do this...come out with a phrase and then have to go and google for its origin lol.

1. Horses of a highly-strung nature were often accompanied by a goat (or a sheep). It was a way of calming a horse down, especially a thoroughbred horse before a race. See horse problems. The legend has it that rivals and crooks deliberately betting against that horse, would steal the goat, resulting in the horse being upset and less able to race. Such practices are uncommon these days (see bookmakers), although it was said to be common in America in the early 20th Century.

2. There is an old French phrase "prendre la chèvre" which also means approximately "to get your goat" or "to take away the goat". Various places suggest this is because in old times a person's goat would be their only source of milk, so they'd be understandably miffed if someone took it!

I don’t know the exact origin without looking it up - but it always brings to mind for me 'The King and I' etc... etc.... Etc...

Actually...and now I have started.......I don't particulary have a gripe with those who haven't been taught or had/have difficulty learning, or just plain didn't know. Colloquialism holds no bars with English as a written word anyway.



The people I have a gripe with are teachers/BBC and all those who should know better and are in charge of the education of this country. When they use the word GOTTEN or use 'accept' instead of 'except'.....well, as I say, Bring back hanging!

This isn't a slight against other countries who use the word.....If it is a word your country uses... then fine.....but it was never one of ours and I would hate it to become so.


or ect instead of etc Rose lol........as I say.....some don't know any different, but if it was used by those who are supposed to know better...then it gets my goat ( wonder where that expression comes from )

oooh now if you really want a word to rant over.....for me it is when people say "exetra" instead of etcetera ! Really gets my goat ( now what on earth is the origin of THAT phrase ? lol)

Rose xx

Got is one of the few words that irritates me.

I remember a foreign friend asking me to explain it and it was not easy to do so, especially as he spoke very little English :-)

Ahh but what dictionary/thesaurus are you using Aunty Wotsit? Not English I'll be bound......besides...'tis my moan and groan about UK usage....what other countries do is up to them!

PMPL now here's a road to go down ..... but dare we?

Listen Here Maddie Cow!...don't start me off Tsk!.....I thought I would have a gentle moan about the word GOTTEN ( Not that I think it should exist )...So, now that you have started.....I hate it when someone says Accept instead of except and vice versa.......Bring back hanging is what I say!

I hate the word gotten!!! Well actually I refuse to believe its a word although previous comments show it is. I also hate it when people say they Brought something from the shops when they bought it at the shop and Brought it home!

My husband cant say Coleslaw he says clawsaw another thing that drives me mad!!

Rant over

hi rose
you are always smarter rthan me
igor

*Hides ill-gotten gains* and runs >>>>>>>>

Lol Rose

trust you....but what he says is true :-))

I can't really blame people it 'is' catching and I have very nearly found myself saying it.....number one son was most disgusted lol

but I have found that so many are using the word that it may one day be the norm and I dont want to go to my grave with the word GOTTEN in the English language and our Grandchildren never knowing the difference.

hi Magnolia :))

xx

You wouldn't catch me using the word " gotten " , I'm most particular about speaking proper ........lol

Here's what David Crystal says about The gotten/got distinction in
The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (p.311):

"Gotten is probably the most distinctive of all the AmE/BrE grammatical
differences, but British people who try to use it often get it wrong.
It is not simply an alternative for have got. Gotten is used in such
contexts as
They've gotten a new boat. (= obtain)
They've gotten interested. (= become)
He's gotten off the chair. (= moved)
But it is not used in the sense of possession (= have). AmE does not
allow
*I've gotten the answer.
or *I've gotten plenty.
but uses I've got as in informal BrE. The availability of gotten
does however mean that AmE can make such distinctions as the following:
They've got to leave (they must leave) vs
They've gotten to leave (they've managed to leave)."

;)) go on Susan have a bit more of a rant lol

xx

pretty please....all of us who are UK born and bred......perleeeeeese say got...not gotten....even the BBC News people are using it....soon all of the UK will be using it......Perleese leave GOTTEN to the Americans and not bring our children up thinking it is one of 'our words'


Rant over