Do you ‘grab’ your lunch? Do you ask to ‘get’ a coffee?
Such ‘lazy’ language patterns seem to have angered some Metro readers, who blame the US sitcom Friends, overworking or ‘busy-itis’ for these phrases.
Do you find them annoying? Or do you think people need to chill out when it comes to common phrases?
Have your say in the comments below.
■ In response to Graeme in Blackpool (MetroTalk, Thu) who hates it when people say they’re off to ‘grab lunch’.
Years ago, when this country was a more civilised place and the workforce was treated better than slaves, lunch lasted for an hour and many people would return home for it.
Ever since the treadmill was sped up to enhance the wealth of those who don’t know the meaning of hard graft, everything has to be ‘grabbed’ on the run. Christopher H, Lee-on-the-Solent
■ Hi people, please stop saying ‘flaunting’ when describing open disregard of rules – the word is ‘flouting’. To ‘flaunt’ is completely different: to display something ostentatiously to provoke envy. Though it does seem certain people can flaunt their privilege by flouting without consequence. Small point but it’s so jarring.
Oh, and while I’m here, I expect the use of ‘grab lunch’ is a symptom of busy-itis – feeling, or wanting others to believe, that you’re far too busy to have a proper lunch break, whether it’s true or not. It could become a habit. Adrian, Leigh-on-Sea
■ I wholeheartedly agree with Graeme in Blackpool about ‘grabbing’ lunch. Only the other day I pulled up my son on his use of the phrase.
However, I have to pick up on something else within Graeme’s letter. Surely as a northerner he must realise that it’s ‘dinner’, not ‘lunch’! David Bamber, Preston
■ ‘Grabbing lunch’ is almost as bad as the ‘Can I get a pint of…’ you often hear when waiting at the bar in pubs. No, you can’t ‘get’ a pint – the person behind the bar will get it for you and you will pay them. This ‘get’ seems to be an Americanism – I blame the Friends sitcom for inflicting it on all of us. Please make it stop. George, Hillingdon
■ Graeme in Blackpool is right about the language failure from people.
It is the same as ‘Can I get a coffee etc’.
No, you can’t – well, not unless you serve yourself. People are being morons. Wake up and be polite. The English language should not be abused like this. Susan Vinnicombe, Merstham, Surrey
■ I note that, rather randomly, of late people seem to have started to use the word ‘randomly’ in the way in which they until quite recently used to use the word ‘literally’ as padding for sentences which presumably is intended to make them sound more intellectual but actually makes them sound daft. The word quite literally doesn’t mean what they’ve decided, somewhat randomly, to use it to mean. Hey ho. Julian Self, Milton Keynes
■ I agree with Graeme. The same applies in coffee shops when people say ‘Can I get?’ instead of ‘Please may I have?’.
Another annoying thing is the missing T in words. Words such as ‘party’ and ‘Saturday’ have a T in them. Vicki, West Midlands
Mao and woke? Not an analogy
■ I believe that the parallels that Ahmed (MetroTalk, Fri) sees between ‘woke’ culture and Mao’s China are overstated. Can he give any examples of people who have been put in any real danger for disagreeing with an opinion considered ‘woke’? I’ve seen people disagree robustly and have their views and words criticised and questioned, but no beatings or imprisonment just for expressing an opinion. Ed, Portsmouth
We have only good things to say about beleaguered NHS
■ The British Social Attitudes survey that found public satisfaction with the NHS has reached an all-time low (Metro, Thu) is very worrying.
Funding, staffing levels and access to care are stated as the top reasons for public dissatisfaction.
However, I believe the quality of service varies enormously from area to area and from one GP surgery to the next.
I live in London’s West Hampstead and have had a really excellent service from the medical centre I’ve had the privilege of attending for the past 25 to 30 years.
I’ve always been able to see a GP very quickly and any hospital investigations have been carried out very efficiently and without any delays. I just wish that my very positive experience of the NHS was able to be replicated from area to area and throughout the country.
If this were to happen, I believe that many people would be a whole lot happier. Alan Jensen, West Hampstead
■ The NHS is getting such bad press at the moment that I want to say I recently had a prostate cancer operation and the whole process from GP to MRI to biopsy to operation was quick and efficient.
Croydon hospital and St George’s in Tooting were brilliant. Gary, Croydon
Gambling, social media and tickets to the coronation
■ The ‘slackers’ who Keith Howkins (MetroTalk, Thu) sees on packed Tubes as ‘early’ as 4pm on weekdays are the same people who occupy the 6am trains. They are rammed, too. Bob, South Woodford
■ In this social-media-soaked world, wouldn’t it be amazing if some of the ‘influencers’ sent out ideas about kindness, hope, gratitude and the benefits of hard work to the youngsters who hang on their every word. Mrs H, Yorkshire
■ William Hill must pay a record £19.2million after the gambling regulator found ‘widespread and alarming’ failures to safeguard customers (Metro, Wed). If it is to
be fined, surely off-licences should be too, for people who buy alcohol and have an addiction.
Then there are the chicken shops selling poor-quality food to people
with food issues, beauty salons over-pumping lips, and plastic surgeons filling insecure people with silicon. Amanda, Leeds
■ I’m still waiting for my invitation to King Charles III’s coronation in May. Perhaps at the last minute a couple of seats will become Spare. Mike, Surrey
■ Paul Billson’s letter (Metro Talk, Thu) about the successful bonsai shop moving into smaller premises really made me laugh. Thanks, Paul. Colin, by email
Start a text with VIEWS followed by your comment, name and where you live to 65700. Standard network charge applies. Or email mail@ukmetro.co.uk. Full T&Cs on metro.co.uk/terms. Metro is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. Comments may be edited for reasons of legality, clarity or space.
MORE : Suella Braverman admits she didn’t know Rwandan police killed refugees in 2018
MORE : Russian blogger killed in explosion after ‘woman handed him statue’
from News – Metro https://ift.tt/zJmOgnh
0 Comments