"Watching" children

6 replies

RicottaPancakes · 20/03/2017 14:57

I've noticed that people have started "watching"children a lot! But they mean that they " looked after "children (I hope!) Very annoying. Please look after your children, don't just"watch" them!

OP posts:

EphraimWaite · 02/05/2017 18:43

Colloquial, innit?

Original poster

RicottaPancakes · 02/05/2017 19:45

Is it? I thought it was American. I've also noticed people have started saying that they watch (see, correct use of "watch"!) TV "shows" and "movies", grrr.

OP posts:

FeckinCrutches · 02/05/2017 19:47

Used a lot in the North East! "I'll watch the bairns"

Garnethair · 02/05/2017 19:50

I don't like it either. Neither do I like 'are you feeding them'. Yes, I shall be giving the children tea, but I only 'feed' babies and animals.

KatherinaMinola · 02/05/2017 19:54

It's not recent - my grandmother used to "watch" me 40 years ago.

weebananamilkshake · 02/05/2017 19:56

I'm pretty sure it's colloquial. May be somehow related to being 'on watch'...? As in 'not on my watch'.

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