'From the get-go'

[PotteringPondering]

I'm fed up hearing people talk about things happening 'from the get-go'.

I know it means 'from the beginning', and (like so many other expressions today) it comes from black American slang.

But it's annoying: a 'go' meaning a beginning isn't something you get.

I dislike it too. It puts me in mind of “on your marks, get set, go!” but with enough words omitted to make it sound nonsensical!

You have reminded me of the expression 'from the word go'.

Can't bear it. You are not alone @PotteringPondering

Of course, we do say say 'get going'.

It may derive from that – but it's still irritating!

I remember my mum using this saying back in the 80s. Is it really American slang?

It's not one that bothers me tbh. I imagine there are loads and loads of common, everyday colloquial words and phrases that Brits use all the time, not realising they originated from black American slang from the 60s, 70s etc. Why is their origin a problem?

I absolutely hate that saying. I don't know why but i get the inner rage if I hear anyone over here in Britain say it!.
Also hate many other Americanisms such a "Regular" fries, rather than medium sized.
"Period" rather than the end.
im sure there are many more so no doubt il post again when they come to mind.

Medium-sized fries sounds like there aren't any long ones or short ones .

😂 I meant portion size! your comment made me laugh though 😂

I always thought it was a nod to a Jewish divorce bill a get, ghett, gett?

My grandfather was Jewish & my mams said it as long as I can remember (shes 81).

I just think it's a bit ridiculous how snarky and snobby many Brits are about 'Americanisms' when British English is, and always has been, absolutely full of loan words and expressions originating from other countries and languages. That's what language does, and it's all the richer for it. Obviously you're not going to love every word or phrase. Therr are plenty of originally UK words and phrases that lots of people hate. But it seems absurd that a phrase being American should automatically make it awful.

The problem with colonialism (for the coloniser anyway, there are far too many problems to count for the colonised) is that if you force your language on a country it then leaves open a channel for them to share back.

And of course, no one wanted that, it's a terrible shame and all, but it was a risk.

And as for the slang coming from black Americans, my God, how terrible. You do know how their families got to America though don't you?

It leaves a bad taste in the mouth British people complaining that black Americans who speak an entire language due to enslavement by the British have dared to pass back a bit of slang.

Well said. I have no American ties and have never even been there, but honestly the rabidly anti-American attitude on MN is really getting a bit tiresome.

Makes my teeth itch. As does Uptick and reach out.

I’m with you on uptick and reach out but ‘from the get go’ has been with us for about 50 years.

I (very unreasonably) get the rage every time someone says ‘any way, shape, fashion or form’.

I think Pedants' Corner needs to be split in two: One topic for actual pedantry (i.e. a sterile-but-sometimes-interesting preoccupation with grammatical/orthographic/spelling/ rules) and a separate topic for "Expressions I don't like" (because they are northern, or southern, or American or ugly or new or outdated).

Most Pedants' Corner threads I click on these days seem to concern the latter. And (to be pedantic about it), that is not pedantry!!