These things creep into our discourse - rant, sorry! (Lighthearted)

[mellongoose]

When did we start ‘taking’ coffee or other food and drink? I’ve seen it a lot in threads over the last couple of weeks.

It sounds like a very old fashioned way to refer to food/drink as a remedy that has been resurrected. I might be wrong but it’s ignited my spidey senses!!

See also, American language (nothing against our Us friends) in English period dramas, such as Bridgerton or Mallory Towers. Will try to think of some examples. Is it just me?! Surely US audiences can cope with our, slightly longer ways of expressing ourselves?!

I also have nothing against the American version of the English language when spoken by Americans but the sheep like copying which is eroding our country drives me utterly mad.

An example, somewhat similar to yours is ”Can I get” instead of “May I have”.

I have developed a small growl whenever I hear such phrases which I hope is only in my head but I fear may well be audible on occasion.

It is all the worse given America is hardly a place to emulate.

Even worse is "I'll do a flat white". What are you going to do to it?

Also have recently noticed cinema/movie adverts now say 'March 23' instead of March 23rd. Drives me insane!

It's 'gifting' for me. Nobody 'gives' anyone anything any more, they 'gift' them. 'Who gifted you this lamp?' said nobody ever, yet when people are talking about giving things to other people, they suddenly 'gift' them!

@GloiredeDijon beautifully and elegantly put.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat I don't like gift as a verb either, but given that I'm normally in favour of language that enables nuance, I'm now wondering why. 'Give' doesn't have the same implications of generosity and permanence so perhaps I should be more open to it.

I really hate ‘do’ to mean ‘been to’. I’ve done Europe. We did Asia. What do people mean ‘do’? Done the whole of it? Done what to it? Like you could ever possibly have completed a continent or a country, like a level in a computer game.

Yes taking is very harsh/ cold- like they’re taking a supplement!

Even worse, British shops and businesses have adopted this too which just reinforces it.
Undoubtedly some twentysomething in marketing is to blame.

I hate "shop the new collection" - obviously just a way not to say "buy stuff from" and it's yuck.

Re Bridgerton, the one that always really jars with me "I could use" as in "I could use a lie down". But whoever writes that seems to think as long as there are no contractions, it's all authentic. So they will say things like "Mr Bridgerton, I can not think that you do not wish to go grab a coffee and then bang me in the summerhouse, as I could definitely use a good shag"

When did we stop contacting people and start 'reaching out'? Makes me cringe every time I hear it, especially when it's said by my work colleagues.

Thank god! I thought it was just me! It makes my teeth itch.

But I've no idea why I find this particular 'newism' so annoying? And I can also see that in some cases it does actually clarify meaning, that the item being given is actually a gift. But it still rubs me up the wrong way every time!

My people. Welcome!

I’m with you on gifting. I also cannot fathom what people ‘do’ to places. Surely one visits, travels and sees places?!

Yeah exactly. Travel to, visit, anything else except for do. I find it so annoying but so many people do it. Even people who I think wouldn’t.

i also hate 'doing' places, Travelling to and visiting doesn't have the 'yeah, been there, seen it all' connotation that 'done' has.

'I've visited Milan' = I went to Milan and saw some sights.
'I've done Milan' = I've been to Milan and seen everything that there was to see and now never need to go back.