The Newsroom

Irritable phrases

Staycation (August 2009)

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GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
harryO posted:
Please,please , please can you stop using this stupid phrase, 'holidaycation', its sounds pathic especially when being used on your news programme or any programme for that matter. I first heard this phrase on last sat on the BBC morning news and thought what idiot thought this one up. Please refrain from using it, its not even a word and sounds just stupid.

Regards
Harry.


Umm, Harry, who are you talking to?

Mail me the answer. I'm late for my holidaycation.

Poop poop.
SD
SDLF
Gavin Scott posted:
harryO posted:
Please,please , please can you stop using this stupid phrase, 'holidaycation', its sounds pathic especially when being used on your news programme or any programme for that matter. I first heard this phrase on last sat on the BBC morning news and thought what idiot thought this one up. Please refrain from using it, its not even a word and sounds just stupid.

Regards
Harry.


Umm, Harry, who are you talking to?

Mail me the answer. I'm late for my holidaycation.

Poop poop.


Surely the phrase is (the equally annoying) "staycation"
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
harryO posted:
Irritable phrases

I've never seen a phrase being irritable.

What does it do? Grunt and complain a lot?
SN
Silver Nemesis
harryO posted:
Sorry its 'Staycation' anyone else think this phrase is stupid, it does not even sound right when used to describe a holiday in the UK. I thought that the news was supposed to presented using the queens english, where did this word come from.
As for being irritable, well yeah it gets right on my T_ts when I hear it being used.

Think the word you're looking for is "irritating", not "irritable".

As far as the use of "staycation" on the news goes - they're not using it in a sentence as if it's a normal word out of the dictionary. They mention it because it's being used more and more to describe the current trend to stay in the UK - whether that trend is newsworthy is debatable, but it would seem strange if the BBC didn't note the use of this "word" in their reporting.
DA
David
Silver Nemesis posted:
It would seem strange if the BBC didn't note the use of this "word" in their reporting.


I just assumed the BBC invented this word. It's the only place I think I have heard it. Is it used anywhere else?
SN
Silver Nemesis
davidlees posted:
Silver Nemesis posted:
It would seem strange if the BBC didn't note the use of this "word" in their reporting.

I just assumed the BBC invented this word. It's the only place I think I have heard it. Is it used anywhere else?

I think I *have* heard it elsewhere, yes - in fact, a Google search tells me it's been used in the Times, Telegraph, Independent, Guardian and Daily Mail, and (surprisingly) has been added to the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

It doesn't bother me actually - but maybe I'm the sort of person that accepts that the English language changes all the time.
MI
Michael
Silver Nemesis posted:
davidlees posted:
Silver Nemesis posted:
It would seem strange if the BBC didn't note the use of this "word" in their reporting.

I just assumed the BBC invented this word. It's the only place I think I have heard it. Is it used anywhere else?

I think I *have* heard it elsewhere, yes - in fact, a Google search tells me it's been used in the Times, Telegraph, Independent, Guardian and Daily Mail, and (surprisingly) has been added to the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

It doesn't bother me actually - but maybe I'm the sort of person that accepts that the English language changes all the time.


Gazunkly. Emgladdend I am this happenstance occurs.
RM
Roger Mellie
harryO posted:
I thought that the news was supposed to presented using the queens english, where did this word come from.
.


As in the Queen's English? Wink

Certainly English changes, but not always for the better-- especially if useful clarity is lost (confer the incorrect usage of "infer", when "imply" is meant). Whilst "staycation" doesn't damage the English language in that way (the word has its use)-- I do think it is a contrived portmanteau. Perhaps "a home-holiday" would be a better phrase? It alliterates at least, and doesn't sound so grating-- well not to me anyway Laughing
Last edited by Roger Mellie on 26 August 2009 5:59pm
WO
Worzel
The weather is a 'Mixed bag'. Hate that phrase!
MD
mdtauk
Doesn't the term 'Mixed Bag' come from the old sweet shops, where you would buy a bag with a mixture of sweets, and some would be nice and others the ones you don't like...
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
mdtauk posted:
Doesn't the term 'Mixed Bag' come from the old sweet shops, where you would buy a bag with a mixture of sweets, and some would be nice and others the ones you don't like...


Mixed bag, as in "heterogeneous collection" was first used in print in 1936.
RB
RB
'Now the news where you are."

What? In my living room?

No, it's actually from a studio 102 miles away (as the crow flies).

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