What English expression do you hate the most?

[glasgowcyclist]

It seems to be noting something as uncertain, though the second one may just be querying why you had said something (were you suggesting she try it?).

But is does always seem an odd usage to me as well.

Since the first wasn’t a straight yes, I interpreted it as no.

In the second, I’d just had a verdita + tequila combination and said to her, “Once you try verdita, you’ll never go back to salt and lime again.”

 

[Red17]

Okay, this doesn’t relate to an expression so much as strange punctuation.

I’ll give you two examples and I’d be grateful if anyone could explain this baffling usage, which appears to be a younger generation thing.

I recently sent a WhatsApp message to my daughter, asking if she’d like to come to a dinner event with me. Her reply was, “I don’t think I’ll have time?” What is the question mark doing there?

Later, in an exchange about drinking tequila, she wrote, “I never do salt and lime?” Again, what’s with the question mark?

These are, to me, statements and not questions so I’m puzzled as to the use of the interrogative.

Anybody else come across this?

Has she been mixing with Australians?

 

[presta]

Why not just "Give me a cup of tea!"

Because they're running a business, not a charity?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Has she been mixing with Australians?

Struth, I bloody hope not!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Because they're running a business, not a charity?

OK OK Sell me a cup of tea!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Today I am mainly hating 'laser focused'

Stop it please. That includes you, the BBC 1pm News.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Today I am mainly hating 'laser focused'

Stop it please. That includes you, the BBC 1pm News.

Is your hatred concentrated only on that one phrase, to the exclusion of everything else? Is your hatred, by any chance, laser focused?

 

[Drago]

Hey nonny nonny.

 

[icowden]

In the second, I’d just had a verdita + tequila combination and said to her, “Once you try verdita, you’ll never go back to salt and lime again.”

I think the inference is "why would you ask me that". I too have seen this used in messages.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Is your hatred concentrated only on that one phrase, to the exclusion of everything else? Is your hatred, by any chance, laser focused?

It is, but for the miscreants I unship my blunderbuss. Don't want to just wing 'em.

 

[Moon bunny]

Well if you're going to take things absolutely literally the alternatives aren't so great. They are all products of the fact that we're paranoid about giving orders to people.

"I would like a cup of tea" is just a statement of fact, not a request. It leaves it up to the other party to decide what to do about your desire. The response might be "Would you indeed? So what's stopping you from asking for one?"

"I'll have a cup of tea" is more like a prediction. If all goes well, in five minutes I will have a cup of tea. We still don't know how this is going to come about.

"May I have a cup of tea" is speculating on the possibility of having a cup of tea some time in future. The answer might be "Yes, you may, but first you must order it".

"Can I get a cup of tea" is not much better. It's asking whether it's possible to obtain a cup of tea. It's a bit redundant though, especially if there is a sign above the counter advertising tea. Of course you can get tea here. It's a tea shop.

But all these phrases are dancing around the fact that we are giving an instruction to the person serving. Why not just "Give me a cup of tea!", or if we are feeling polite "Please give me a cup of tea".

Best to just be brief. "A cup of tea, please." OK, it's not a proper sentence as it lacks a verb, but it's unambiguous, to the point, and has "please" on the end, so it's polite.

Of course, they all work. They all get the message across, which is what language is for.

You missed ”Tea! Now! Or else!”

 

[craigwend]

Bit of artwork to cheer you all up

 

[Fab Foodie]

Oh no. @Fab Foodie will be disappointed!

No, absolutely not! Like @Tribansman I abhor the term as well!

Yes, I am a Food Scientist by profession, the nickname came a very long time ago when I worked in R&D at BOC. We had a Food Applications team 'The Foodies' and a design and Engineering team 'The [am not aloud to write that word]'. During some work in a fish factory in Grimsby, somebody from the engineers had to get down on the wet smelly floor and undo something under a machine. Whilst they all stood around discussing who it should be, I picked-up a wrench, and got down and got it sorted which prompted the phrase 'he's a Fab Foodie'. Boring but true....

The label 'Foodie' as it's used today is certainly not one I'd apply to myself. See also: 'Fine Dining'

 

[MichaelW2]

You missed ”Tea! Now! Or else!”

May I borrow a cup of tea.
Where is the restroom?

 

[Profpointy]

See also: 'Fine Dining'

I use the term "fine dining" as a euphemism for going out on the piss