watching meaning babysitting and other odd stuff

[Wordsaremything]

Is it just me? Seems v American. 'I asked my neighbour to watch my children .' Very passive and odd
Similarly , you don't choose an outfit, you 'pick one out.'
You don't fancy anyone, you 'like' them ( possibly facecloth related , I suppose)
Any more?

The old fart.

[Wordsaremything]

You mean I'm not making myself clear or you agree, Derek

[AdrenalineFudge]

Words aren't really your thing are they? Be honest .

I don't think anyone uses the word 'fancy' anymore - it sounds naff, in fact even the word naff is actually quite naff.

[limon]

"Can I get" makes my teeth itch

[museumum]

When I was growing up "watching" somebody's kids was more informal than babysitting. It feels to me like babysitting is when you pay somebody and you go for a night out. "Watching" is when you nip to the shops or to get another kid from Cubs or brownies.

[Grilledaubergines]

yes, 'can I get' irritates me as do statements ending 'right now'. I.e "Are you kidding me, right now".

[BikeRunSki]

I first hear me "Will you watch", "Can I get" from an Irish family I knew. I have always thought of these as Irish turns of phrase which have crossed the Atlantic with Irish immigration.

[Needthesunshine]

I don't think 'watch' is American. My gran used to watch me when my mum was at work 40 years ago in Scotland.

[ShatnersBassoon]

Watch the kids is normal. Older children aren't babies to sit with. They just need, well, watching.

I don't know why you think choose is wrong in that context. When there are a number of options, surely you choose one.

Fancy isn't much used today. It's all done by emoticons these days, no need for words.

[OhMrBadger]

The old fart

I read, and re-read that as 'The ODD fart'. All I could think was, nothing wrong with the odd fart if the moment grabs you!

[paxillin]

Watching the kids sounds like they are the entertainment.

[MaisieDotes]

possibly facecloth related , I suppose

was that an autocorrect from Facebook?

bike here in Ireland we say "mind". Can you please mind the kids for me. "Watch" not so much.

[MaisieDotes]

Maybe it's a Scottish/ Northern Irish thing.

[Iknownuffink]

Watch the weans, cat, dog, budgie, fish. = look after. In my part of the UK.

Certainly not an Americanism.

[paxillin]

They aren't so very entertaining past toddlerhood, I wouldn't watch them for fun.

[DaisyAdair]

'Watch' is common in Scotland.

'Choose an outfit' - nothing wrong with that?

I 'fancy' lots of people.

Who's an old fart? apart from me

[LIZS]

Isn't watch the equivalent of mind ?

[strawberrie]

'Watch' is common parlance in Scotland, in my circle it would be quite common to say 'she watches her granddaughter two days a week' or I'm watching my niece at the weekend.

Surely you stop fancying people at the age of approximately 16😂

[DumbDailyMail]

'Watch the kids' is normal English isn't it?

As is 'Choose an outfit'

'Like' someone or 'fancy' someone is much of a muchness.

So, I'm afraid YABU and a bit daft.

[byjimminey]

Your title was so strange I just had to come and see what you were on about.

[GreatFuckability]

we say 'watch' in that context in wales, and have used that expression since i was a child. its just a different form of 'looking after' isn't it?

also, all the cool kids (so my dd tells me anyway) have 'crushes' these days as opposed to 'fancying' or 'liking'.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

"Watch" is a really passive word though. Watch them do what? Play with matches? Drink the drain cleaner? It smacks of non intervention.

"Fancy" I rather like. It is a very frivolous and lighthearted word.