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.

nonplussed
adjective
uk/ˌnɒnˈplʌst/ us/ˌnɑːnˈplʌst/
Add to word list
surprised, confused, and not certain how to react:
I was completely nonplussed by his reply.

From the Cambridge Dictionary.

It doesn't mean 'not bothered'.

They are wrong.( Or possibly American.)

They are wrong. (Or possibly American.)

Veering into wrong usage as we are, I find myself irritated at the change in usage of mortified. It is truly confusing sometimes.

Mortified means ashamed, deeply, painfully embarrassed. Common usage has become upset, distressed.

I read about something terrible happening to someone and them being ‘mortified’. I don’t understand why they feel responsible or ashamed. The inference is that they have some sort of deep-seated self-esteem problem.

I find myself nonplussed at their mortification.

I would know what it meant but would think it a strange use of the word because it is generally only used for animals or if you don't know the cause of someone's inability to walk properly, you might describe someone you had witnessed hobbling as lame. But for yourself you know why you are hobbling so you'd say sprained ankle, injured foot or whatever.

I know. However, if you’re too young to have heard the original meaning and only hear /see a word in certain context (for whatever reason), that’s how you understand that word and start using it as well. Unless you frequent this board , of course.

But at that time it would have been pejorative. I seem to recall ‘queer’ being deliberately reclaimed by gay friends in the late 80s, and even they considered it their word, and not one outsiders should use.

Thank you for explaining that nonplussed had changed its meaning now (for many people). I only knew the original meaning and had no idea about the change, which may well have given rise to some misunderstandings!

I've just woken up, and you need more punctuation!

I see nonplussed used incorrectly on here.

I almost never see 'ambivalent' used correctly. Plus, 'enormity' is rarely used in the way I used to understand it as a child. Modern usage likens it to 'magnitude' I think.

I used a word for the meatballs we had as kids when describing food I’d had as a kid and both my teens screeched at me that I couldn’t say that.

ahhh that is a common myth. Decimate does literally meant reduce by 10% but has never actually been used in that way:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-03/decimate-does-not-mean-to-kill-one-in-every-10/11459980?section=analysis&utm

Funny when the youth take a good but not well used word and use it all the time - ie nonchalant

I haven’t heard that but am currently enjoying whatnot, for this and that, whatever. It’s quite charming.

We must stand firm against the tide of bad grammar and malapropism.

I can't figure out what the word is! Help!!

Faggots

Blow their minds next time you go shopping 😄

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/product/mr-brain-s-pork-faggots-x6-656g

Interesting….. I’ve only ever known it to mean “puzzled”. I didn’t know it also meant “unconcerned” or “unbothered” these days. But I suppose it is somewhat understandable that this has happened.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=assets.sainsburys-groceries.co.uk/gol/7656433/1/2365x2365.jpg&tbnid=j8wdK_VByFCu9M&vet=1&imgrefurl=www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/product/mr-brain-s-pork-faggots-x6-656g&docid=TRU9dTYH15CQ9M&w=2365&h=2365&hl=en-GB&source=sh/x/im/m1/4&kgs=f94332f1797a49e5&shem=epsd1,nisbtsa2,nisbtsal,nispret,rimspwouoe&utm_source=epsd1,nisbtsa2,nisbtsal,nispret,rimspwouoe,sh/x/im/m1/4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://share.google/7CACez3pabQmYuR5f

You can still say it and tell your children that faggot is a slur used in the US not the UK. Similarly 'fags' used to mean cigarettes in the UK. Treat them to some Mr Brain's Faggots readily available from Sainsbury's.

Here 🙂

... Oh, cross-posted with many!

Oh don’t. This is an enjoyable thread, discovering words that are no longer understood . Let’s not turn it into ‘it’s political correctness gone maad’!

It’s the word in Fairytale of New York that is rarely now broadcast. To protect American sensibilities.

When I typed it autocorrect changed it to 'maggot'. I don't think we should give in to American usage if we are using it to describe traditional British food and not as a slur. It's not about political correctness.

They also used to have 'fags' at boys' public schools (don't know if they still do!). It was a term used for the younger boys carrying out small, menial tasks for the older boys and prefects, such as cleaning shoes, making toast, tidying rooms, etc.

Does anyone still use the term 'lame excuse'??

I think you made things worse for yourself. ‘Lame’ hasn’t been used for a person in years, maybe decades. It would have been easier to say you’d hurt your foot.

And yes, some people do think nonplussed means the opposite (eg nonchalant, not confused).