Words you can't use any more

[CoalTit]

I know language evolves and all that. I accepted that "nonplussed" is now an unusable word because so many people take it to mean its opposite. I didn't really have much occasion to use it anyway. But now it turns out that "lame" and "literally' have suffered the same fate.

I've hurt my foot. I tried to explain to a friend on WhatsApp that I won't be going dancing this week, by writing: "I'm literally, technically lame". I got a long voice message in return expressing sympathy for my lack of confidence, saying how intimidating the dance scene can be.
So I tried, "No, lame, like a horse" and that seemed to work.
Then I messaged my upstairs neighbour to say I can't help her with her work in the light well today because I'm lame. I hurt my foot helping her so I thought she'd understand.
She replied asking me to get up the ladder so she can pass things down to me. I tried " I can't help you today; I can barely walk", and she seemed to understand.

I thought I could use "lame" to save myself typing out "I hurt my foot; it's badly swollen and I can barely walk". I thought I could use "literally" to make it clear, but no.

When finishing a sentence a space before placing a full stop is incorrect and not required. 😉

Speechless because I'm confused. Is that wrong?

No, that's the proper meaning! I think most people today use it to mean "unbothered", which is pretty much the opposite.

'Disinterested' has lost it's original meaning.

Considering lame is used commonly for animals, it’s you that introduced the confusion. I think you should also admit you didn’t use it for “ease” but thought you’d be funny and it fell flat. It happens.

Oh I see I've not come across that use. I was trying to think what the opposite would be and coming up with things like feeling a moment of clarity or something!

Exactly!!

Blame fat early morning fingers for that 😉. It's a less serious crime than 'should of'.

I could also blame the fact I’ve just woke up and got early morning brain but I won’t I’ll admit I made a mistake… as did you

I don't see how 'should of' could possibly be a mistake or a typo. I'd stick with the excuse you were being rebellious if I were you.

Nonplussed means confused, doesn't it?

What do other people think it means?

Who is correct?

Well I have horses and would know exactly what you meant. It means 'limping' but has nothing whatsoever to do with them not being able to tell you about it. They don't need to, it's obvious!

American English uses it to mean exactly the opposite of it's original meaning.

Most people use it as not bothered, unimpressed, unfazed.

How is unbothered the exact opposite of confused?

This made me laugh out loud 😂👏🏻👏🏻

My point is you’d know they were lame but not necessarily the specific cause or injury. (You probably would with your own horse, as you know it’s history). A horse can’t say ‘it’s a sprained ankle / cruciate ligament / meniscus tear / pulled thigh muscle.’ A person can and usually will.

For horses lame is a catch-all for ‘can’t walk properly’. Whereas people usually talk about their particular injury and what exactly they can and cannot do.

I haven't come across nonplussed meaning unbothered or similar, only perplexed or taken aback. Maybe I don't read enough American content.

Coloured . That's not on anymore, although people of colour seems to be ok.

Yes see that’s what I thought it meant. I thought it meant not fussed, can’t be bothered, disinterested. 😳

Nonplussed is confused, bamboozled, bewildered. The opposite - plussed? - would mean having perfect comprehension of the situation.

That has nothing to do with being bothered or unbothered. Do these people mean ‘not fussed’?

I use the word lame for humans and animals alike because I think "limping" sounds...lame, in the newer sense.

So in American English, nonplussed means fully comprehending the situation?

"no, I get it, I'm totally nonplussed! This makes sense!"

I'm nonplussed that so many people here have not heard the use of lame relating to people. I would have known exactly what you meant and it didn't occur to me for a moment that it was an unusual use of lame. Very much in the minority though, it seems! I'm in my 50s so maybe an age/generational thing

Me neither, I didn't understand that part of the OP. I'm not sure it's even a word that I come across anyway. I'm surprised it's common enough to be noticeable