It's "set foot", people, not "step foot"!

[BrightOrangeDahlias]

Yet another thread where this phrase has come up. It makes me want to scream into a pillow. Where has "step foot" come from?!? And can it bugger off back again?

I’ve noticed it too. Makes your eyes itch.

Thank you!

Oh god it drives me crazy too, two threads today!

It makes no sense. Don't people think about the meaning of words anymore? I don't know why this particular phrase winds me up so much but it really irritates me for some reason!

Just recently, it seems to be everywhere. So irritating!

I haven't heard this one. Do you see it written rather than hear it spoken?

'Don't people think about the meaning of words any more?' Those who use 'I could care less' to mean 'I couldn't care less' evidently don't.

It's written, people keep mentioning it in threads. I guess it's because people mishear it in conversation and write it incorrectly, not realising it doesn't make sense.

Same as "could care less" and "should of"...

<can of worms opened>

I haven't seen this one before, but doubtless will come across it soon.

As to whether people think about the meaning of words anymore: I suspect not. In my opinion it's because people don't read anymore. Words have become no more than sounds, and not part of a wider structured language.

I saw "lone behold" on an SM post the other day arrrgh

Saw tu da lu the other day instead of toodle-oo 🤣
I mean it's very sensible made up spelling but I had to think hard about what they were saying!

It’s using ‘bring’ instead of ‘take’ that kills me and it’s everywhere!

Sentences such as ‘he said he won’t bring me to my appointment next week?’ make me yell ‘TAKE! He won’t TAKE me / you!’

I hate it.

Thank you, op. 'Step foot' has been irritating me for a while.

‘he said he won’t bring me to my appointment next week?’

And then you get 'he bought me to my appointment'.

I only have Instagram and have noticed that in the case of a lot of the posts and replies, the poster seems to lack basic English skills. Written and spoken. It's depressing

Thankfully, I've yet to come across "step foot", but the lack of understanding of the most basic words is worrying.

Not long ago, I saw a post from someone who described herself as "an educated women" - a complete oxymoron. I commented on it by copying her statement, putting women in italics and saying "Really?" underneath. Then I received a reprimand from someone saying, "Unnecessary, DancingFerret."

Granted, it may have been unnecessary in the context of concentrating on the content as opposed to the grammar, but if people accept and actively defend poor English, the outlook for our language is grim.

The RAGE!

I think it's because people read less, so just "spell as they hear".

I’ve not come across this but I’ve just read “I was taken back” on a different thread. I’m assuming the poster meant she was taken aback because she was trying to express her shock. I’m seeing and hearing this all the time and it makes me want to scream

Absolutely this ^

😱

I saw that on here. That was a new one in me.

I'm afraid that I'm going to have to quote my pet hate again here -
discrete v
discreet.

It seems as though EVERYONE thinks there's only one word and the spelling of it is optional, and it is driving me MAD.

I’ve just seen ‘step foot’ twice in a thread about Primark. Aaargh.

Why is it once something is mentioned, it seems to crop up regularly! I’ve just seen ‘step foot’ again on MN. It’s a very recent usage IMO, but it’s really caught on.

I've seen "step foot" used quite a lot recently and it makes me irrationally angry!

Another one that makes me seethe is "upmost"!

I agree to an extent that people "spell as they hear", but don't people even question whether what they've heard makes sense?

And I've just been reminded of this one, seeing it on another thread:

It's 'off his own bat', not 'off his own back'.

And of course the perennial 'tow the line', rather than the correct 'toe the line'.