Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Username

Mike K

Member Since

March 10, 2012

Total number of comments

4

Total number of votes received

9

Bio

Latest Comments

The Best Euphemism for Shithouse?

  • March 10, 2012, 3:01pm

Brus, DerekH is NOT correct in saying that in the US it is considered less "ladylike or refined" to say "loo" instead of crapper or shithouse. That must have been a joke.

Usually what people want to do is suggest that there might be some other reason for going to the restroom besides taking a smelly dump or changing out a tampon, especially in a polite social situation. So we choose a wording that leaves open the possibility that one wants to just wash the hands.

"Ladies room" or "men's room" is commonly used. Likewise, "the facilities". You don't even have to mention the "room" itself. I like to say, "I'll be right back-- I'm going to go freshen up" or even "I need to go powder my nose". Since I'm a guy, it gets people chuckling and thinking about something other than me urinating or wiping my ass.

I think this is why women like to go to the toilet in pairs especially when men are around. They think the men might believe that they're just going to chat or do make-up.

Sift

  • March 10, 2012, 2:18pm

Please repeat after me:

I Do Not Sift Juice! I Will Not Sift Juice! I Have Never Sifted Juice! :-)

You can filter the pulp out. You could possibly strain, but that is reserved for cases when you start with a thicker mash. If you started with a thick mash of crushed tomato or pineapple, you would strain out the juice.

But if it a liquid with a little bit of pulp, you filter.

tailorable

  • March 10, 2012, 2:10pm

Agree with semiotik-- I wouldn't use it either. But it is not because a document is incapable of being "-able". A document can readable. It could be inalterable.

Tailorable isn't in Webster's dictionary.

Also, fabrics and suits can be "tailored". Attaching this meaning to a document is a strange comparison. I know "tailor" is gaining wider usage, e.g., "We can tailor your _________ to suit your needs", but it just sounds like marketing jargon to me.

“I’m just saying”

  • March 10, 2012, 1:31pm

To all the people that write that they came here to find the derivation of the phrase, someone already posted a use of the phrase that dates to the 1940's. It was used in a play. Go through the thread an reread. You missed it.

As far as the meaning behind it, I found that "ridethgus" summed up its passive aggressive quality quite well:


Ridethgus (unregistered)
January 6, 2007, 10:49pm
"im from vancouver, just north of cali and washington and i hear all the time. im only fifteen and ive always that it was just said in casual talks about nothing. i guess its just a random comment that really isnt sposed to be taken seriously."

"casual talks about nothing", "random", and "isn't sposed to be taken seriously" perfectly sum up the lack of ownership for one's questionable intentions, words, and attitudes when using the phrase "just sayin' ".

"Random" is another heinous word that erases thought. It means nothing other than, "I don't understand what was just said or what just happened and I don't know HOW to think it out or describe it properly, or maybe I just don't LIKE what happened, so I will try to build group consensus against that event by saying, "That was random." So, "random" is a perfect way to deny the insulting intent behind the phrase "just sayin".

Or, there is W.F.:

W.F. (unregistered)
January 31, 2007, 11:54pm
Hmm, everytime I or my friends say "I'm just sayin'" we're usually pointing out a truth or opinion that most people don't want to hear or are afraid to say aloud. But at the same time, we're hoping they don't get offended or throw a fit. Most often though, it's said after something fairly humorous, leaving the listener to their own conclusion."

Translation: We use it when we want to make fun of someone by saying something that we know will hurt their feelings or by pointing out that their position is assinnine, and at the same time we want to make sure they are so thoroughly ridiculed that they have nothing to say. "Leaving the listener to their own conclusion" means that since nothing of substance backs up the insult, there is nothing to argue against.

I absolutely love Vwmoll's idea for a response: "Well try just NOT saying it." Perfect.
Of course, we have to accept that the response might be, "Dude, no offense, I was just sayin." Even apologies can be passive aggressive. It's hard to communicate with people that make a point of not thinking.