Language

[moidoid]

Pragmatic means that you can be dogmatic about what you believe to be true. Even if it isn't! You see a point and tend to stick to it, often defending yourself if people pull you up on it!

With respect, no it doesn't.

It means finding practical solutions that fit reality rather than sticking to an ideology.

'Ever the pragmatist, Robusto quickly decided that his determination to wear his favourite hat needed to be reconsidered given the high winds buffeting the pier'.

[moidoid]

I used to confuse 'ennervated' with 'scintillating'!!!

What a prat. I'm ashamed.

[moosekelly]

One of my favourite's is Quixotic. I rarely use it and have a loose understanding of it's meaning but it's a fit for this thread.

[larrysputnik]

"Befriend"

I thought it meant to become someone's friend and then betray them. But I have never heard it used this way. I guess it either means this and it has been used incorrectly for so long by so many people that it no longer means this anymore, or I am confused (very likely) and it always meant to simply become someone's friend.

My confusion is further demonstrated in my 22 year old old haircut. It expresses the duality of man as thinkers (in this case the scholars who wrote the original definition for "befriend") vs. initiators ( everyday consumers using the word "befriend" to fit their own vocabulary needs). My hair demonstrates this through an attempt to blend conservative and liberal, conformity and rebellion, safety and rock 'n roll, all into one ultimate hairstyle expression. Business in the front gentlemen, party in the back ladies.

[Drewmidorn]

Salubrious used to bug me.... have it sorted now though! lol

[bnelly]

Egregious is a tricky one for me : used now to mean "outstandingly bad", but comes from a meaning for "distinguished or eminent"

[cj121]

Salutary is a word I often thought pompous, but I can see the benefits of using it here and there.

Re Babs Windsor, I thought 'plating' was cunninlingus tbh.

[Robusto]

Bone China-ing?
Saucer gargling?

(Sorry).

I quite like concomitant.

[moidoid]

I describe people as 'widdiful' when I want to insult them without sounding as if I am.

It sounds almost like a compliment but means 'worthy of hanging'.

[Deano]

Analogous. Picked up at uni and frequently use it - "corresponding in some particular: A brain and a computer are analogous."

Dichotomy is one I currently use a lot.

[Deano]

By the way I worked with a northerner for a while and keep using "one or t'other", which is most annoying.

[Boss Hog]

mines mediocrity. dont know why, probably doesnt mean anything fancy??

[larrysputnik]

"mines"

A lot of my students frequently use this word. Example:

"That pencil is mines."

-or-

"Mines is always in there."

[Robusto]

My pupils use UP a lot.

I'm going up the canteen.

My grandma died up Thailand.

That last one was a great one.

[cbob]

I believe that a "Pragmatic" is one of those ubiquitous coin-operated toilets you see all over the Czech Republic....

Oh... wait a minute.. I think that's PRAGUEMATIC.







Never mind.