I'm reminded of a sentence from Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, describing the Archbishop of Lima's dislike of the abbess of the local convent/orphanage: (I'm paraphrasing) He hated her with what he called a Vatinian hate, and counted the cessation of her visits among the compensations for dying.
Interesting that you use a food example. When I think of instances where I’ve heard “despise” used to mean “hate,” it’s either people or food examples that come to mind, such as “I despise him” or “I despise beets.”
Curious and interesting. I don't think most of us over here would say we 'despised' a food item - though we might perhaps jokingly but maliciously say that we despised somebody who liked something.
This does imply a difference in meaning, usage or both on this word.
I dunno. I know people who despise cilantro or (unwanted) garden bamboo, but I think in those cases it is a kind of mental personification of the hated object.
The word 'carnage' is another of my bugbears. For example, last week the Scottish Government announced that pubs would close for 16 days, but cafes could stay open. This caused some confusion and the comment that 'If the rules aren't clear, there will be carnage.
Now, I have heard many things about Scotland, and Glasgow in particular, but I don't believe that 'great and bloody slaughter' or 'the flesh of slain animals or humans' will result from a lack of clarity on the difference between pubs, cafes and restaurants?
The word 'carnage' is another of my bugbears. For example, last week the Scottish Government announced that pubs would close for 16 days, but cafes could stay open. This caused some confusion and the comment that 'If the rules aren't clear, there will be carnage.
Now, I have heard many things about Scotland, and Glasgow in particular, but I don't believe that 'great and bloody slaughter' or 'the flesh of slain animals or humans' will result from a lack of clarity on the difference between pubs, cafes and restaurants?
Definately overused. The "Carne" - meat or flesh - aspect of it should make it clear that the meaning is slaughter, death, blood and body parts. Whereas what they actually mean (at least in the media) is confusion and puzzlement.
To use a metaphor effectively you need to know what the word properly means and to be able to tell when as a metaphor, it has become stale. In @Rev per Minute's instance, it looks fairly clear that the user can and has done neither.
Metaphor is fine, but "Carnage" as a metaphor for "A bit of confusion" doesn't work. As @Enoch said, it needs to be used more carefully.
I mean, if the Scottish government announced that eating salads was compulsary, that would cause carnage, because there would be a real chance of violence or death. IN this case, there is no actual likelihood of bloodshed, so it doesn;t work.
if the Scottish government announced that eating salads was compulsary, that would cause carnage, because there would be a real chance of violence or death.
I didn't say it was a good metaphor. But English is full of decaying metaphors, only this morning, somebody said to me that time marches on. But time doesn't have legs!
if the Scottish government announced that eating salads was compulsary, that would cause carnage, because there would be a real chance of violence or death.
Only if they forbade people from deep-frying it.
We had friends visiting from Australia. We went out for lunch and our Australian friend ordered a salad.
A.F., looking at his salad suspiciously "What are these?"
Me: "Onion rings. Onion dipped in batter and deep fried"
A.F. "Ha ha. Seriously, what are these?"
Me: "Seriously. Deep fried onion rings."
A.F, cutting one open "You're right!" *pushing onion rings to side of plate"
Me: "If you're not going to eat them, I will. I love onion rings!"
A.F *mind blown at the concept of any part of a salad being deep-fried*
I once employed a French exchange student. She was a bright cookie (metaphor) and good fun.
We were making ham sandwiches. "what is 'English mustard?" she asked, looking at me. "It's like French Mustard" I said, "but not as strong, try some".
Perfidious Albion ..... she was gutted, as they say, ... an expression I dislike, scorn and detest.
I once employed a French exchange student. She was a bright cookie (metaphor) and good fun.
We were making ham sandwiches. "what is 'English mustard?" she asked, looking at me. "It's like French Mustard" I said, "but not as strong, try some".
Perfidious Albion ..... she was gutted, as they say, ... an expression I dislike, scorn and detest.
Ah. @RockyRoger, but it isn't an expression you've despised!
Meanwhile, a friend, originally from Norfolk, says of French Mustard, that it would be quite a nice flavouring if it didn't call itself mustard.
I once employed a French exchange student. She was a bright cookie (metaphor) and good fun.
We were making ham sandwiches. "what is 'English mustard?" she asked, looking at me. "It's like French Mustard" I said, "but not as strong, try some".
Perfidious Albion ..... she was gutted, as they say, ... an expression I dislike, scorn and detest.
This totally passes me by, escapes me, goes right over my head.
Wasn’t it Peter Mandelson who went into a Northern chippy and asked for ‘some of that guacamole’?
I rather think that's one of those myths that keeps getting re-told because it captures something of the character of the erstwhile MP for Hartlepool. I did once come across the suggestion that the guacamole incident had actually happened, but the star of the show was a young visiting American, and the story was later appropriated for the Baron of Darkness. This sounds quite plausible - guacamole was far more commonplace in the US in the 90s than it was even in the cafes of Islington, and it's more reasonable to assume that an American visitor had managed never to have heard of mushy peas.
This thread has gone horribly off topic, and now shipmates are bad mouthing mushy peas!
I love mushy peas. I scorn and despise guacamole.
Back to topic: I heard (shock horror!) the blessed Melvyn Bragg (miss) use the word 'enormity' to describe Alan Turing's contribution to computing. Now I have PTSD - a term all to often used for minor trials and tribulations. At least their praise for his work in code breaking wasn't fulsome.
To be sure, it needs to be made properly. With just a bit of garlic, salt, and maybe some sour cream. Maybe some lime. Not these weird vegetable thingies I see.
To be sure, it needs to be made properly. With just a bit of garlic, salt, and maybe some sour cream. Maybe some lime. Not these weird vegetable thingies I see.
I had mushy peas as part of my lunch today, but cheated. They came ready-prepared out of a tin. My fish, also, was breaded and not battered. It was, however, cod.
It's curious that despite the Reformation having been 450 years ago, and most of the UK population being not just prods but lapsed ones, it's still semi-standard that work and school canteens will serve fish and chips each Friday.
@mousethief I regret overcooking peas and then mashing them with a fork won't give you mushy peas. The starter ingredient is dried peas which are hard. You then soak them overnight and then boil them slowly with a bit of bicarbonate for quite a long time, until they're really soft.
@mousethief I regret overcooking peas and then mashing them with a fork won't give you mushy peas. The starter ingredient is dried peas which are hard. You then soak them overnight and then boil them slowly with a bit of bicarbonate for quite a long time, until they're really soft.
It's curious that despite the Reformation having been 450 years ago, and most of the UK population being not just prods but lapsed ones, it's still semi-standard that work and school canteens will serve fish and chips each Friday.
It's curious that despite the Reformation having been 450 years ago, and most of the UK population being not just prods but lapsed ones, it's still semi-standard that work and school canteens will serve fish and chips each Friday.
Can't say I've noticed that in the UK. I have noticed it in my US workplace, though - fish every Friday, without fail.
Comments
This does imply a difference in meaning, usage or both on this word.
Now, I have heard many things about Scotland, and Glasgow in particular, but I don't believe that 'great and bloody slaughter' or 'the flesh of slain animals or humans' will result from a lack of clarity on the difference between pubs, cafes and restaurants?
I think on these shores they're in bed and having fun.
Definately overused. The "Carne" - meat or flesh - aspect of it should make it clear that the meaning is slaughter, death, blood and body parts. Whereas what they actually mean (at least in the media) is confusion and puzzlement.
You'd think nobody knew that existed.
Metaphor is fine, but "Carnage" as a metaphor for "A bit of confusion" doesn't work. As @Enoch said, it needs to be used more carefully.
I mean, if the Scottish government announced that eating salads was compulsary, that would cause carnage, because there would be a real chance of violence or death. IN this case, there is no actual likelihood of bloodshed, so it doesn;t work.
We had friends visiting from Australia. We went out for lunch and our Australian friend ordered a salad.
A.F., looking at his salad suspiciously "What are these?"
Me: "Onion rings. Onion dipped in batter and deep fried"
A.F. "Ha ha. Seriously, what are these?"
Me: "Seriously. Deep fried onion rings."
A.F, cutting one open "You're right!" *pushing onion rings to side of plate"
Me: "If you're not going to eat them, I will. I love onion rings!"
A.F *mind blown at the concept of any part of a salad being deep-fried*
You should have pretended they were calamari. Telling non-Brits that mushy peas are guacamole is fun too.
Ye gods. Nutella is evil enough.
Oh come on, there has to be a limit.
We were making ham sandwiches. "what is 'English mustard?" she asked, looking at me. "It's like French Mustard" I said, "but not as strong, try some".
Perfidious Albion ..... she was gutted, as they say, ... an expression I dislike, scorn and detest.
I have a cookbook by John Tovey that has a recipe for savoury eclairs stuffed with herby cream cheese and spread with Marmite.
They look like chocolate eclairs ...
Meanwhile, a friend, originally from Norfolk, says of French Mustard, that it would be quite a nice flavouring if it didn't call itself mustard.
In the chapter entitled "Guaranteed to make you sick"?
Perhaps the traditionalists are right about Hell after all.
This totally passes me by, escapes me, goes right over my head.
Possibly she wasn't so much gutted, as had the top of her head blown off. (figuratively speaking).
Wasn’t it Peter Mandelson who went into a Northern chippy and asked for ‘some of that guacamole’?
All mustard is the devil's library paste.
I rather think that's one of those myths that keeps getting re-told because it captures something of the character of the erstwhile MP for Hartlepool. I did once come across the suggestion that the guacamole incident had actually happened, but the star of the show was a young visiting American, and the story was later appropriated for the Baron of Darkness. This sounds quite plausible - guacamole was far more commonplace in the US in the 90s than it was even in the cafes of Islington, and it's more reasonable to assume that an American visitor had managed never to have heard of mushy peas.
I love mushy peas. I scorn and despise guacamole.
Back to topic: I heard (shock horror!) the blessed Melvyn Bragg (miss) use the word 'enormity' to describe Alan Turing's contribution to computing. Now I have PTSD - a term all to often used for minor trials and tribulations. At least their praise for his work in code breaking wasn't fulsome.
You're one of those coriander leaf refuseniks, aren't you?
To be sure, it needs to be made properly. With just a bit of garlic, salt, and maybe some sour cream. Maybe some lime. Not these weird vegetable thingies I see.
Some avocado, surely?
No. Cilantro doesn't bother me. Although it's in fucking everything now.
Well what do you make yours from?
I had mushy peas as part of my lunch today, but cheated. They came ready-prepared out of a tin. My fish, also, was breaded and not battered. It was, however, cod.
It's curious that despite the Reformation having been 450 years ago, and most of the UK population being not just prods but lapsed ones, it's still semi-standard that work and school canteens will serve fish and chips each Friday.
@mousethief I regret overcooking peas and then mashing them with a fork won't give you mushy peas. The starter ingredient is dried peas which are hard. You then soak them overnight and then boil them slowly with a bit of bicarbonate for quite a long time, until they're really soft.
Why?
Clearly food runs deeper than faith.
Can't say I've noticed that in the UK. I have noticed it in my US workplace, though - fish every Friday, without fail.
From the skulls of people who catch me in stupid mistakes.