Saturday, December 31, 2005

Two heads are better than one

'er indoors & I have just spent a week in Tasmania. We overnighted in a town called Oatlands at a B&B run by two semi-retired gay folk from Brisbane. Now this in itself was a funny story, but not a language funny.

Deciding where to dine that night wasn't a hard choice. We could go to the RSL, if it hadn't been a Sunday (their night off) or the other pub (the fancy one, which had table cloths!), so we ended up at the other pub (which proved to be marginally better than going hungry).

Now these Tasmanian country folk had put their heads together and come up with some a little brochure detailing all the pub had to offer on the back of the menu. Given the wide range of menu options, there was plenty of room left over to do so. So what did the pub have to offer?

Accomdation (sorry - no 5 syllable words allowed)
Fuction room (hate to imagine what went on in there)
Sky Chanell (showing French movies, perhaps?)

Thursday, December 29, 2005

The elusive compass

In an email from on high meaning more work for me:

Perhaps you and she may establish a procedure for this ... a task that has alluded us to this point

I feel led to water, but I'm still not thirsty.

Friday, December 16, 2005

The power of the mind

From an email sent by our QC Inspector.

"As you know we use the dial for adjusting the cleanroom pressure. It always falls down and makes the reading higher. I have already asked Irene to put it back to the right place several times. It looks to be temporally stuck there. I thought we need to improve the method to adjust the pressure. Do you have any good idea?"

Here's my good idea: Sub-contract a hypnotist to temporally unstick it.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

A lore unto himself

From an email volley regarding current events:

The guy I refer to 'IS' Cronulla. He is the guy who has folk law writing about him.

Perhaps he's referring to the unwritten code of behaviour in the Shire. Surfers write it, vigilantes enforce it?

I think Morris Iemma wishes he could get some folk to do some law writing, too.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

those crazy summer nights...

A colleague at work is doing a community survey in which people make written submissions in response to questions. This was our fave:

"Food cafes and takeways should be open till late as many people don't want to go to pubs and restaurants - to be able to buy some takeways and sit on the beach on the barmy summer nights is fabulous."

You just never know what nutty things will happen in Manly on a nice summer night while you're sitting there on the beach with a takeway, do you?!

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

very freudian

One of my clients is THE most computer technological inept person I've ever come across, so I respect the fact that he has run a business by himself for the last year.
However, occaisionally I get impatient - I know it's hard to imagine...;) and I was trying to be diplomatic about some instructions I had written which he had queried:

"That just says (blah blah blah) to me" said he.

"No, that's cool, it's best to aim to the lowest common dumbinator" mispronouces I.

He didn't notice, but that was a freudian slip if I ever I wore a nightgown..

Monday, December 05, 2005

The best-ing-er-est-able weekend ever

In an email received this morning:

"What did you get up to? It was too gooder weekend to spend at home..."
Does that mean if you had en enjoyable weekend you were a do-gooder?

Keeping a close eye on VSU

Barnaby Joyce was on the radio this morning (yes I know, hard to believe innit?) discussing the Voluntary Student Union Bill which is due to debated in the Senate this week. In between making multiple references to "requiring facilities so that students become functioning members of society" (?!?!), when questioned about changes to the legislation he said:

"...there has not been one nanocentimetre of movement on the Government's behalf..."
Ah if you paid as much attention to correct units of measurement as you are to the Government's actions you would know that there nanocentimetre is actually 10 picometres (10exp-12 from memory). But a point well made - looks like some of those fees could be well spent on conversion charts for the decibel system.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

genus at work

Posted on a staff noticeboard advertising tickets to our nightclub's NYE event

"with headlining acts ......(UK),....(UK),....(AUS),....(live PA) and percussionists plus a genre of local DJ's"

should be a class act, or something of that sort....

Friday, December 02, 2005

If you truly love something...

From a description of a device that stores info from your mobile sim card:

You loose your phone, you loose your life. If you don’t have your numbers, how do you call people? Who owns a phone book these days? That’s exactly what your phone’s for.

Feeling tense? Throw your mobile away!

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Mistaken National Indentity

I was watching the Gymnastics the other night as well and the Australian girl was about to perform on "The Floor". She was in with the chance of a medal and the commentator in his excitement and haste announced that she was from Austria!!!

I have heard this happen before but never from an Australian. I was shocked!

Sunday, November 27, 2005

No mirrors in the gym, please

Watching the Gymnastics World Championships in Melbourne, my lovely life noticed that one of the gymnasts was named "Anastasia Lukin". Harmless, right? Well, it appears that a Russian shortening for Anastacia, one that the commentator had a penchant for, is "Nastya".

Poor old Nastya Lukin. "Nastya Lukin" than who, I wonder?

Friday, November 25, 2005

Up for a duck

On the radio today the treasurer Peter Costello was discussing the pros and cons of short term seasonal work in Australia such as fruit picking. The question was whether one should import seasonal labour from overseas, or keep those jobs for Australians. Using a timeless Aussie metaphor, the radio interviewer suggested that it would be difficult to ask Australians to "pull up stumps" and move to the country for such short term work.

A feature of all propaganda is the ability to bewilder an unsuspecting radio audience with the invention of a new verb. The treasurer's response was:

"Do you really think that it is easier to up-stump people from overseas, rather than to up-stump Australians for those jobs?!?"

Just what English needed. A verb for "semi-voluntary short-term relocation".

Runaround Jury

I love attending conferences.

So here we are discussing new and innovative ways to reduce the amount of data entry done in the office by getting students to do it directly into an online database. (Wish you were there?)
Anyway, it can be a confusing business for those switching over to a new system and changes are bound to happen as a result of some testing,

"but it's really a case of trial by error."
Another argument against the death penalty, perhaps?

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Still a contender - if you can be read

Meetings - where would we be without them? At one this morning attended by a colleague of mine, she gave up counting the number of times the following phrase or ones like it were used:

"They can still be illegible to enter if..."
I guess it depends on whether you can read their application form or not.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

which side?

At my daughter's first dance recital(?)/concert thingy (yes she was fabulous and gorgeous and of course stole the show, well sang the loudest!) the dance teacher was giving awards and speeches and thanked Simo profusely for being her "left hand man".

Does that mean she's his right hand woman?
Or that she's left handed?

All language funnies members present agreed it just wasn't quite right... thoughts anyone?

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Facing up to terrorism

Last night on Lateline, a National politician whose name I didn't catch was discussing Labour's view of the new terrorism legislation in light of the arrests made yesterday. I quote:

"Labor have egg all over their face from head to toe"
Unlike whoever he was, who after saying something like this hasn't?

Cleaning: a fun way to get around or just depressing?

Noted today in a sign on the wall at the office, detailing the cleaner's obligations was the following bullet point:

"Hard floors to be swept and reception area moped daily"
Funny, I've never seen him bring his scooter in, but he does walk around looking a touch depressed.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Never say goodbye

On an indigenous harbour cruise last Monday (yes, it was work), our commentator gave an ample preamble and then,

Without further adieu, let's get on with it.

An oldie but a goodie.

Monday, November 07, 2005

new summer fashion: the upholstered look

In a uni 'what's on' email:

The 2005 Annual Charteris Lecture, USYDJustice Michael Kirby, The High Court of Australia 'The Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights'6.00pm pre-dinner drinks, 6.30pm for 3 course meal and wine, Dress: Lounge Suite/Day Dress

It can get awfully tiresome standing about for a large dinner and talk.

Friday, November 04, 2005

It's not that kind of meeting

Same bloke as before, getting confused in making sure they had enough seats occupied at a face-to-face meeting:

"We need more bums on faces at the meeting"

"...on a thought process made for two..."

Another one from the office environment:

"Everyone is going off on their own tandem"

The Road More Travelled

The Great Robini was heard to utter more than traditionally exacting ultimatum last Saturday:

"It's my way is the highway"

I think David Koresh was convinced of a similar notion.

Slow moving house for sale

Checking out property at domain.com.au I came across one house described as having...

"An elevanted position"
Well if its situated on the back of a 5 tonne pachyderm, I guess it would do.

Beaten to the punch

Dazzler,

Our IT dept. must be in synch with yours - i have just received an email with

"The server is back online. Thank you for your patients."

Maybe they learn it in at IT school or something?

King of your domain

Not meaning to bring the tone down in any weigh, shape of form here are some real-life websites that aren't what they look like - I kid you not:

The Who Represents database for agencies to the rich & famous:
www.whorepresents.com

The Experts Exchange - supposedly for people with knowledge on programming:
www.expertsexchange.com

Looking for a new pen - get one from the island:
www.penisland.net

Need some therapy but don't know where to find it? Try:
www.therapistfinder.com

Or perhaps just something for the garden - you might visit the nursery at Mole Station here in NSW:
www.molestationnursery.com

Thursday, November 03, 2005

a phoenix rises from the kettle

A reporter discussing the collapse of the Lane Cove Tunnel:

"The dream has now evaporated into a whole new reality"

Now we know how reality came into being.

Not wasting your words

In an email I just received...

"Need less to say..."
It was only six sentences all up.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Is there a Doctor in the house?

Our IT department - probably like all IT departments - is a little overworked. To their credit, they retain a happy demeanor and never neglect those little pleasantries that help to grease the corporate wheels. This was the sign-off to an email advising of an upcoming server outage:

"Thank you for your patients."

At least you can tell they're trying....

a twist of melon

This is a nice mix of a few I've heard lately...

I'm going to breach the subject of time zones. Problems can arrive when we belive that G-Dav is actually at work at 12:06am posting language funnies - probable as that may be... I've changed the at'tributes (that's for ppl who can read stress markings) on the blog time settings. You definitely might notice that we're now posting on the same time and date that we actually live in. Hopefully it'll prove an insensitive for you to write more.

Thanks mostly to the training guy for InDesign who, incidentally, is the only person in the world not to remark that Caro and I speak in unison and could poss. be related.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Having a laugh with some wobbly words

I've just got out of another meeting which concluded with one attendee stating:

"If it doesn't work, we can just regiggle things"

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Shh - I think I'm trying to cry

At lunch today, a colleague said:

"If that was the case, I'd be quelling up right now"
Yeah I was there and I have no idea what she was trying to say either.

Torment Graveller

From the Citysearch website, having recommended a French restaurant there were other options under:

More gourment dining

A new trend you could enlighten us on, Alex?

Monday, October 24, 2005

no footsy in Forster or you might fester

A politician on the radio was discussing the new shoot-to-kill laws in Australia. He said:

"We should not do anything to help fester terrorism"

Now, don't get me wrong. I take his point, even if I think the new laws are ridiculous. But I was interested in a new lexeme that has crept into Aussie English.

Can fester be used in this way, i.e. as transitive verb analogous to 'foster' except that it has opposite connotations?

I think these two make a fascinating word-pair, where the simple change of a vowel can suggest that you are nurturing either a beautiful young baby boy named William, or in danger of producing a young man who suddenly turns dangerous and violent, growing out of the slime of your obviously dysfunctional family home, possibly nick-named Billy.

Funny as...something that's really funny

This came from our Communications Officer. I thought it deserved a posting:

Her simile was like a vast, glittering tower of metaphors and analogies – only without the crenulations and towers and drawbridges and other architectural stuff….

As any anxious parent of an HSC candidate can tell you: It’s that time of year again. The following is a list of similes found in Year 12 English essays .....

Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

She grew on him like she was a colony of E. coli and he was room-temperature prime English beef.

She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree.

The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM.

The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a shopping bag filled with vegetable soup.

From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Sex in the City" comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot oil.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

Even in his last years, Grandad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

"Oh, Jason, take me!"; she panted, her breasts heaving like a Uni student on $1-a-beer night.

He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

She was as easy as the TV Guide crossword.

She walked into my office like a centipede with 98 missing legs.

It hurt the way your tongue hurts after you accidentally staple it to The wall.

… and now at least you know what a simile is.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Another care of the George...

Said my Mum to the G "Come on, lets go and give Mummy a break"
Said G indignantly (oh the stupidity of the adults I must deal with)
"But she's NOT abreak. Mummy's all fixed."

care of the George

watching a cute kids show where dragon was planning his own surprise party, Giorgia proudly told me that "mummy, dragon hid the presents for the elephant of surprise"

Yeah, it's a kid's show but I think she still misquoted the "element of suprise".


(adendum - thought this might be relevant, paula.)

Thursday, October 13, 2005

The good oil

A quote from the Australian of 12/10/05 in regard to oil prices:

"Where there is a persistent trend for some particular price to rise quickly over a longish period of time..."
An example of persistent oxymoronic paradoxical contradictions over a rather short period of time?

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

the space between us

In an email received today:

For more information regarding XXXXXX, please visit our web site: www.XXXXXXX.com.au. If you would like to be apart of the XXXXXX 2005/06 PROGRAM, please feel free to contact me at any time (as per my details below).

I'm not using their phone provision next semester in view of the complete absence of service. I would definitely like to remain apart - should I freely contact him??

Monday, October 10, 2005

Nervous exploration

So I get home from roaming the globe, having given the builder my front door key (clearly he's only used it for decorative purposes), and use the secret back door key to get in. As security protocol at Adams St requires, my faithful flatmate has deadlocked the front door and I can't actually get out of the front door, let alone get my luggage in...
Luckily the Dazzler has the brilliant idea of simply removing the flyscreen and handing the hefty suitcases through the window. Necessity being the mother of all invention, we continue using this method to take lunch outside onto the deck and devise a cunning plan proving that two stools make a stile. Elegantly stepping up onto the stool, through the window and down onto the outside stool is fine for the young and oh-so-agile. However, the parental unit are planning on making an afternoon coffee visit. (Where's the language funny, you ask?)
So, I'm waiting for Mother and Father Dearest to make an appearance and roll their eyes at their strange middle child's way of life. For those of you who know them, punctuality is not a problem and they were due at 4:30.
It's 4:35 and they still haven't arrived... 4:40... 4:45.... (watch, window, watch, window) At which point the Dazzler observes,

"You keep glancing up with this look of intrepidation"

I suppose I was quite fearful at how bold my folks would be.

Epilogue:
True to form, Gail took the challenge and was half way through the window before announcing her arrival and their new dalliance with tardiness. Xochitl arrived home and allowed them a more horizontal exit...

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

The Latest in Communication!!

Whilst driving back from Wagga Wagga yesterday (pause for sound of falling cutlery ... then again maybe not) we cruised past a Ute with many large antennas, aerials, masts etc. adorning the front bull bar. Julia had a sneaky peek at the driver and remarked

"He's talking on his CBD radio"

Did she mean his mobile?

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Wheels keep on rolling

Popped up in a meeting the other day:


"We can start getting the balls in motion"

Nice piece of juggling that.

Friday, September 23, 2005

An Angel in the House

From http://www.crikey.com.au/articles/2005/09/23-1109-2689.html

"Take out all the politics and personal vitriol and you are left with a male, aged around his 40s, having suffered illness and who has been confronted by his own immortality..."

Yes, it's true, there are still some folk out there who think Mark Latham is an angel.

Unfortunate Incentive

A lady on ABC radio, who happened to have been at the ground the last time the Swans won the AFL grand final in the 30s, was commenting on how much this weekend means to her:

"it's like the carrot at the end of the donkey"

hee- haww.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Golden Oldies

Found a couple of LFs written down from pre-e days.

Caro (take a bow) explaining how it is that her friend's mother could make financial decisions on behalf of her own ailing parent:

She has power of eternity over her dad's affairs

Superman never had that.

*************
Cousin Kaz (of 'I've only tipped the iceberg' fame) on her tour of Italy:

We set off into Rome with avengance
That pick-pocket will wish he'd never messed with this tourist...

They were sights to be held
Sometimes historic monuments need a little lovin' too.
************

Em, you might be able to clarify the context of this one:

There I was in all my refinery, going to a wedding on the back of a truck
Hope she didn't get refined for not wearing a seatbelt.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

famous funnies

For those slow times when the funnies posts are a little lean, here's somewhere to spend an hour or two in tears, disbelief and laughter.

http://www.dubyaspeak.com/

We can outcompete with anybody.

Laptop or lap & top?

I was down in Melbourne yesterday and noticed the following sign at the security checkpoint:

"Laptop computers must be removed from their cases and presented as two separate parts"
Unfortunately my screen doesn't detach that easily - or maybe it does? I wasn't willing to try it though.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Body or word contortionism?

I met some people at dinner on Friday night, and it appears we are not the only ones tracking misappropriations of the English language - one of the people I met said her workplace had a common folder full of quotes from just one member of staff. Although I couldn't remember them all, this one stuck in my memory:

"I'm bending my arse over backwards for you guys"

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Excellent Perspex

This is partly so you get a taste of what it's like to work with 'chipper cheerful' Americans, and partly because I found it funny. I'd emailed our US student advisors to let them know a WA university gave us permission to post an excursion video they'd made on our 'Prospective Students' marketing website.

Thanks Paula! I went on the Northwest trip as a student, and this was a great reminder--super cool that it's on the web, I will direct perspective students there to check it out for themselves.

Sometimes I wish our students would just fade off into the distance...

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Inn-flamatory restaurant

I've just spent my lunchtime checking out who got what in this year's SHM Good Food Guide comp (http://www.smh.com.au/news/good-living/who-got-what/2005/09/05/1125772455628.html).

Aside from the fact (everyone, cutlery in hand please, and poised over the floor) one of our contributor's restaurant just so happened to win "Restaurant of the Year" (and release cutlery now) I happened to notice that the winner of the Regional Restaurant of the Year was:

"Colitis Inn"
Okay so it wasn't really. It was Collits Inn but it made me do a double take. "What is colitis?" you ask? Its the inflammation of the large intestine and is characterised by cramps, constipation, copious discharge of mucus (but not out your nose), bloating, fever & even pain (what - on top of all that?). Not exactly something I'd be wanting my restaurant to be associated with, even if it was a mistake.
BTW, what do the chefs at a 3-hat restaurant do with the other 2?

Incisive play

During my end of season football trip one of our midfield players went on a mazy run through the opposition defence. Discussing it later on, one of the guys noted

“it was like a knife through hot butter!”

Given the hungover state of the opposition it was probably right on the money.

DHL to the rescue!!

Julia noticed this one whilst perusing some junk mail. It was a flyer from a chiropractor informing us of the need to do something about our bad backs / sore necks. It contained some glowing references, including one from a policeman …

“being in my line of work I had to do something about my lower back spasms or my courier would be over”

Monday, September 05, 2005

Well no wonder it took sooo long

Sited on the web today someone who'd written that...

"Michael & Gello painted the sixteen chapels"
What do you reckon they dropped out of first - English or Art History?
Having a discussion about heat distribution from our chimney (exciting times to be had on a Friday night at our place) with friends. We explained that from our experience, the walls around the chimney do not heat up. We showed a friend that the wall above the fire was not warm, however they could not rest until all walls were tested for evidence of warmth. Going through to the next room with a wall adjoining the chimney, they were proud to show us that it was in fact warmed up from the fire, exclaiming "See, I am worth my weight in salt!"

Caesar's domestic life?

Cousin Kaz decided to get home before writing her travel email about her weeks in Europe (Italy not included), so the excitement levels were a little contained as were her language funnies. There were slim pickings, but there was a good word-order-affects-meaning example in there:

I really made an effort to "do as the Romans do when in Rome"...

their laundry?

Starting with a bang - the French way

I opened an email from our Parisian colleagues advising of a new training course they're starting which is having a...

"Quick-off meeting on September 28"

I guess you don't need more than a day for that kind of meeting. Personally, I'm glad I won't have to be there.

OH&S logic

I turned up to work this morning to find the kitchenette on our level is out of action due to some OH&S issue (what - they've worked out this area contains boiling water?). The sign advising that the kitchen is out-of-order says"

"NOT IS USE"
So if(kitchen=null) or (OH&S issue=1) then (sign) & (spellcheck=null)?

Friday, September 02, 2005

Comment Spam

On a more serious note...I have noticed that we are getting some comment spam...so I have turned on the word verification feature which means that when you comment there is a small verification procedure to go through which will help us avoid automated comments on our blog. Sorry for the inconvenience, but a rolling stone is better than two birds in the moss.

Getting over-exciting

Received in an email this morning, in which the sender was describing the new All Black haka:

"(It was) spine tinkling stuff"
Hadn't previously thought that the vertebral column might be directly attached to the urinary sytem, but I suppose it gives a reason as to why people wet themselves when they get excited. Afterall we all know the impact getting pissed has on the fifth cranial nerve.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

joy in the journey

Apparently, some people feel the need whilst telling you a story to give you all the details which are meaningful to them, yet do not necessarily a succinct anecdote make. ( yes, yes, insert incredulous comment here all of you....)

A girl at work dropped this one like a hot knife through a tin roof,

My mother's, ex-partner's, gay-brother's chihuahua.

the rest of the story was far less humorous...

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Confetti bolognese

Workmates say the darndest things...

It's like that graffitti you throw over the bride

Must have confused that white dress for a blank canvas.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Creed for the new millennium

a bloke from work came up with this one - i think he knew what he was saying

"i'll take no care and no responsibility"

he must be about to enter politics

Monday, August 29, 2005

Running rings around them

What is it about sport that brings out such beautiful examples of malapropisims and mixed metaphors? Probably the adrenaline and the need for speedy expression over accuracy in the heat of the moment. After taking time to reflect on a game and write an article for our mag, one of our students still came out with:

The Crows annulated Collingwood 151 to 41...

I've learned enough about AFL in my line of work to know that forming the opposition into rings is an unusual tactic, but it clearly worked for the Crows!

Sunday, August 28, 2005

more confused than me even!

As famous as I am for mushing more than just romantic moments, this guy got it really badly wrongly eh?
I think it was a contestant on the "The Mole" when asked how he would feel if he was the first evicted sorry, knocked off, voted off or whatever:

[i've] got a lot of goals in me to take at the cake


Even I'm a tad confused....

Friday, August 26, 2005

Ya love dags?

More a good example of Chinglish, but worthy all the same. Spotted this morning on a novelty pen (the kind of thing one might obtain from one of those there "Morning Glory" shops):

"Bob Dog Pet
- your special love friend"

Look don't get me wrong - I still love dogs - just not in any particularly special way.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

ill-US-trate

My latest mobile phone sales manager (don't ask...) to my boss:

Is than an American accent I depict?

I refrained from telling him his post-vocalic 'r's were nowhere near an accurate portrait of the US dialect.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Broken relationships

Its been the week for it... just had lunch over at Macquarie, and filled in a survey for a student. One of the questions asked you to circle your current marital status, and luckily, even though I was distracted by the fact this was the first time IN MY LIFE I had given a different answer, I spotted this beaut:

Current marital status (please circle):

Single Married Divorced Defecto

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

US Forces

Just to bring the tone of the blog down a notch, we'll return to JJJ's linguistic tripping on the 'airways' (but wait, there's more).

Talking about Jimi Hendrix's discharge from the US Army for being repeatedly discovered 'showing himself a good time' in the latrines when he should have been performing other duties, the radio hosts sympathised with his behaviour.

"It was definitely an intelligent and admiral response to his situation."

Apparently not even holding a high-ranking position in the navy can stop you being kicked out of the army for reprehensible use of a dunny...

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Vague constructions

Gotta love a good meeting, especially when some adapts a 500+ year-old phrase...

"...for all intensive purposes..."
For those wondering of the true origin, I quote:
"This cliche (meaning "practically") is a shortening of the legalphrase "to all intents, constructions, and purposes" (found in an act adopted under Henry VIII in 1547)".
Well I've learnt something. But what if your purposes are more vague in nature?

Monday, August 15, 2005

Restaurant with attitude

Also spotted yesterday afternoon in Surry Hills, a small Thai restaurant trying to double as a nightclub it would appear - this is lifted from the menu in the window:

"BYO - no cover charge"
Not sure how much they charge to open a bottle of wine for you, because the door b%tch wouldn't let us in - not with the shoes we had on.

Illegal carparking thrives in Surry Hills

Spotted in the black bocks of Surry Hills (the "lock the doors & don't stop at red lights" section)yesterday afternoon - a sign at the entrance to a derelict carpark:

"Offenders will be persecuted"
Under this regime of persecution its no wonder that illegal carparking is rife in Surry Hills. Illegal parkers are meeting in secret in small cells at private homes throughout the suburb...

Friday, August 12, 2005

between the lines

Full page Ad in the SMH drive section.

With their influence and independent thought being felt at home, in the work place and more importantly - the marketplace, today's generation of women are responsible for a sea change in thinking.

Can you sea through the condescension?

this use of sea change feels wrong to me- although apparently Harold Pinter used it to mean a dramatic change.
Has my understanding of the term been shaped by the ABC?

Anyway, I find the author's use of this metaphor ridiculous due to the fact that I find the ad ridiculous.

..."Attitudes .... have adjusted to include female customers as intelligent decision makers."

"The person you buy your next car from at Trivett could be a man - or a woman, in a suit...."

Wasn't Nietzsche responsible for a sea change in thinking?

Thursday, August 11, 2005

When it breaks loose

Having spent all week all week in a training course with colleagues, it was only a madder of time before someone let something slip. Funnily enough, it was the previously mentioned Tania:

"It's only a matter of time until this thing eruptures"
And no, she wasn't talking about a pimple. If this word does ever make it into common use it would be only fitting that it be used to describe severe acne.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

except the unexpected

Several weeks ago, several regular language funnies bloggers gathered in Curl Curl for an Indian takeaway feast. Perusing the menu, we read with interest the various special deals on the menu, including one tantalising ad for a sort of buffet with several dish combinations for a bargain price. Beneath this chirpy exclamation mark ridden offer was the stern warning that despite assurances of choice one was, in fact, to "Expect Seafood".

Imagine our disappointment when it dawned that in fact we were to 'Except Seafood"

What could we do but accept the exception?

Friday, August 05, 2005

Mutually exclusive

Just overheard in the corridor outside my office:

"Well the feeling is mutual - in fact its
even more mutual from my side
"
Yeah, aha.

anatomical anomaly

My mother, commenting on how the Australian cricket team was abused by the English press when they lost to Bangladesh, summed it all up this way:

"They must have really copped a ribbing on the chin"

I just can't quite picture it...

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Strange Bedfellows

Shaz has excelled herself again!

I'm going to make sure my accountant looks in every crook and nanny for any extra money in my tax refund this year.

Not sure mine at H&R Block is so thorough as to don the rubber gloves for a cavity search...

don't hold back - give 'em curry!

The old man in question is known as "Mad Tones". He's Maltese, suffers from industrial deafness and his motto (as a professional builder ) is 'force it til it breaks'. He has a long standing argument with his Indian neighbours over property boundaries.

A comment on the diet in his household,

Your old man would probably restrain from eating curry then....

Monday, August 01, 2005

moviespeak

Late on Sunday night, too comatose to be able to extract ourselves from the couch we are tortured by some lame and fatuous show about movie production and promotion which held boundless potential for some english chop-suey.

You cast a kind of 20/20 hindsight look over your shoulder.

three in one!

there's something about the genetics, the DNA of a movie, which really reductively ensures it is or isn't going to be a great movie.

There were many more that I giggled at but was sure i would remember.Luckily I wrote those last two down....

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

only in springfield...

So you take a seat in a plush retsaurant where you're sure they will probably find a way to charge you for the air you are consuming (service charge 17%).You figure there's going to be some unusual items on the menu, some of which you may never have heard of before, but ready to try a few new things.You skip the Lobster and the Foie Gras entrees, peruse the mains feeling confident until you see

Gilled Wild Boar with Caramelised Witlof Celeriac Puree

It seems that not only have they suceeded in genetically modifying wild boar to breathe underwater but finally someone has grafted celeriac and witlof together into one fantastic vegetable....

(menu from 2 hat Sydney restaurant 27/7/05)

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Get excited!!

My cousin responsible for some of my most cherished mixed metaphors is on the move again!

Dear Paula...

Well.. am off to Europe tomorrow.... Yahoo!! Will be sending out those reports on what I did.. not sure if you are enjoying them and laughing with me or at me...mmmm!!

Love Ka


No - there's nothing to spot in there, just the promise of good things to come (along the lines of 'I've only just tipped the iceberg in London' and 'They were sights to be held').

Friday, July 15, 2005

Birds and the bees on Big Brother

I checked with alex and he thought this was funny too...

From Big Brother (no not really a watcher, was just flicking through on a bad night of televison, in between checking out the supre site...)

From Christy, aged 20, female:

"Yeah, I just think, you know, she's been watching me like an eagle"

no more to say really.

Classy Indonesian

Was checking out the Supre fashion site, where they were showing a charming little shirt dress, described as :

ITEM NAME : BOUTIQUE BUTTON UP SHIRT DRESS

Ok so what's so funny there? Well - Pay close attention to the Description as:
'Button up shirt dress with boutique print'

do you think they might have meant batik?
"nore mayte it's a boo-teak print. Yeah."

If you can't see pic, go to www.supre.com.au


Monday, July 11, 2005

Haka Hiccup

When doing a little research on NZ culture for Weezer and G-Dav's wedding, I came across some lovely spelling, a rather figurative preposition and a neat little lexical invention.

When it comes to the Haka, the northern hemisphrere is infactuated on everything about it.

If that's inspired you and you want to get fact-up, go straight to the source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/rugby_union/features/newsid_3152000/3152754.stm

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Strophe of good luck

On a menu at Alio in Hurry Sills -

Baked snapper with spinach and a lemon, caper butter.

Tasmanian salmon on asian greens and an anchovy, cream sauce.

At least if you order the snapper, there'll be enough citrus left over for your Hoegaarden, but spare a thought for that poor hairy fish squashed under a virtual giant on the plate.

I had the barramundi.

Friday, June 24, 2005

spoilt brat

Also a radio beauty:

One of my flatmates, whose name I won't indulge....

While we're on the topic, Xochitl, I think we've pandered to your name for long enough. Can we just call you Jane from now on??

Thursday, June 23, 2005

a warm reception

from the radio:

"and he was welcomed into the bosom of the house"

ouch.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Cry Freedom!

I was chatting with one of the secretaries in my office when she came out with this corker:

"Well, Harriet is thin but at least she looks healthy. Christine is just emancipated."

Lucky Christine!

Height restrictions!

I was in a shopping centre yesterday and was walking past one of those machines that measures your height and weight and gives you a printout as to how overweight/underweight you are. Next to the machine was a sign that read:

"Find out your ideal height!"

Now, unless you possess some kind of medieval torture equipment, I would have thought that changing your height was stretching the realms of anatomy (if you'll pardon the pun).

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Paying your dues

Overheard on the weekend...

"One needs to pay due vigilence"
I'd suggest being more digilent with your use of the english language

bowling for columbine

Perhaps we should include a link to JJJ's audio streaming...
On the radio on Sat morning, the dj thought he'd turn his hand to footy tipping:

"As you all know, I bat for Collingwood"

Not really sure the willow is all that welcome on the AFL oval.

Monday, June 13, 2005

A few crackers from the north...

A recent trip to the Northern Territory unearthed a few pearlers:

1. Listening to a news report in which the exponential growth of a market was being commented on, someone turned to a friend of mine and said:


"Shouldn't that be expedential?"

2. At a flower show, one of the owners of one of the displays insisted on referring to her flowers as "bromelaids". Of course, the tricky part was carrying on with the conversation. In keeping with the local dialect, they were referred to as bromelaids from that point on.

3. Newsradio commenting on a circular from the Pope about national wages case and how Methodists and Catholics had last century supported the concept of a just wage

"Even the Pope had issued 'encyclopedials' about it."

Is that just more comprehensive than the standard encyclical?

4. A sports reporter talking about Greg Chappell's demands for his Indian coaching job claimed that Chappell wanted a particular person who was a 'kinseyologist'.

The reporter added that he thought this was an expert in human movement. What kind of human movement, one wonders!

5. And to close, two classic mixed metaphors:

Referring to events that happened a long time ago:

"But we've all passed a lot of water since then..."

How true!

And referring to the high rate of something or other in the city of Darwin:

"per head of capita"

Any actuaries interested?

Sunday, June 12, 2005

another sporting gaff...

On the radio today, commenting on Barry Hall's composure under pressure:

"he has a cool, calm, collective head on his shoulders"

That must be uncomfortable...

Friday, June 10, 2005

In a hurry?

Some dude in Sydney being tried on terrorism charges allegedly produced a jihad manual, which he admitted was slapped together pretty quickly. But he said, and I quote...

"Better haste than never"
Mmm, when it comes to terrorism, I vote for never.

The immaculate perception

And from the middle of a meeting this week...

"There was a false conception"
I'm sure there was - I'm just glad I wasn't around to see it.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Positive Anymore - not funny, ha ha

I've been doing some ongoing cleaning out of my desk at work (as I move upstairs to my corner office with a window) and came across some notes from a conference we had in 2003. I was fascinated by the US Consulate representative's usage of 'anymore' in a positive context and took more notes on that aspect than on how to get a passport replacement for a student...

"We're all full of databases anymore"
"It's the smart way to travel anymore"

Finally got around to being properly way-tracked (thanks, Alex) from work and 'parently it's a dialect thing from Midland US States and a bit from New England and may go back to a Scots-Irish dialect.

From the Maven's Word of the Day http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980206 :
"Anymore, I just can't get out of bed in the morning," is a dialect form that has gotten a great deal of attention from writers. It means 'nowadays; at present', and is found in positive constructions. Usage critics often condemn this use, and also often think it is new, but it is found back to the 1850s in America, and becomes especially common after the 1930s.

From the Linguistic Society of America http://www.lsadc.org/faq/index.php?aaa=faqengl.htm :
I've been eating a lot of pizza anymore. In this use, anymore means something like 'lately'. If that sounds odd to you now, keep listening; you may be hearing it in your neighborhood before long.

Artificial Intelligence

c/o Shaz:

"He's not exactly the smartest tool in the shed."

Who needs a sharp axe these days anyway?

Thursday, June 02, 2005

States of Matter

JJJ provides a pretty steady supply of these - esp. Jay & Dr:

"Well, that's a rock tight reason for it."

Not as oxymoronic as water solid, though.

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Our blog neighbour joins in

I clicked on the "next blog" button and met some dude called Wooster, who amongst other things gets weird with candles and ipods - each to their own. But he must have e-overheard us, and I quote him...

"Heard this from an NDTV news reporter as he was covering the bus service from Srinagar-Muzaffarabad that started off:


"....the security as usual remained unprecedented...."

Now 'unprecedented' ought to imply something that has never been paralleled. Something that hasn't happened before. And 'remain' implies that something hasn't changed, or rather stayed the same. So we have a security cover at a level that has never been paralleled, but stayed the same. Hmmm."

Someone tell him that something can start off as better than anything else and remain that way.

Handsome boy modelling school

Speaking of lyrics, try this one from the aforementioned band:

"Beauty is in the eye of the tiger"
Any bonus points for the theming?

Monday, May 30, 2005

Wax lyrical

I attended both a 3rd and a 30th birthday party over the weekend. At one of them, the guests were allowed to inhale helium and sing (endlessly, but oh-so-amusingly) 'Ice, Ice, Baby'.

Ivan: Why does helium make your voice go funny?
Adam: It does something to restrict your lyrics.

If only...

Dodgy foundations

Someone I ride with was talking about her impending trip to see the Tour de France this year, and came up with...

"It hasn't really sunk home yet"
Well I should hope not. That would be the last thing you'd want to come back to after a month away. I'd be getting those foundations checked before I go...

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

more sporting greats

retired Rugby League star Ricky Stuart, commenting on the selection of State of Origin teams:

"Not picking Rhys really does go against a grain of salt"

what can I say?

another genius sportsperson

Graham's last post just reminded me of an old fave. The half-time game review of a rugby league match was punctuated with this insightful comment:

"You know, at the end of the day, the team with the most points on the board at full-time will probably win the match."

Precious.

Kitchen Desoine

New kitchen being installed at work. We're having some state-of-the-art feature as labelled by designers on the plans:
Bence under Frege

I don't think orthography is their only problem...

Friday, May 20, 2005

Here's one I pinched...

...from one of my favourite websites:

www.dangerhere.com

it's a website dedicated to nonsense spouted by the footballing fraternity.


Here's a line from the weekend - uttered by a coach whose team needed to win their last game in order to stay in the Premiership.

"Hopefully, the lap of the gods will look kindly on us."

as the website said - we'd rather not picture it.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Wet Fish

From Jay and the Dr on JJJ this morning - broadcasting for a change from Townsville.

"We're looking for gossip from locals so we can fit in around here better. We've only just arrived and are still a bit green around the ears."

Slightly more pleasant than being wet behind the gills, I guess.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Not today...please...

From the weblog of of a stressed out chef - care factor zero, ,

"this day, I couldn't be asked."

Sunday, May 15, 2005

A Fisherman's Gaff

I suppose fishermen have never been renowned for their linguistical abilities, but these two eat the cake.

One fisherman was discussing the use of a fighting chair for fighting marlin:

"When you're in the fighting chair, its much easier, because you're strapped in like a dinner"

Rex Hunt, describing a fishing trip to a pier:

"We've really enjoyed our little sautee to the pier"

Friday, May 13, 2005

never let semantics get in the way of a good line

From a friend's email...

Greetings poignant friends,

Well it has been quite some time between emails, in fact, over six months I believe. A bit of shocker on my part but fortunately however, the usual bombastic urge has got the best of me.

Loses a point for poignant, but recovers it on bombastic - "Equal Steven"

good usage can make you laugh, too

Context: 2 thugs, Coney and Lionel, talking to the Jamaican security guard (Albert) in a Brooklyn hospital waiting room while their boss is being operated on. He'd been knifed brutally in the guts.

"You gotta cigarette for us, Albert?" said Coney.
"Can't smoke in here, mon," said Albert softly.
"No, that's a good, sensible rule,"said Coney. "'Cause you got all these people in here that's concerned about their health."

Coney was occasionally a master of the intimidating non sequitur. He certainly had Albert stymied now.

- Motherless Brooklyn, Johathan Lethem

Friday, May 06, 2005

Lack of concern!

One of our procedures instructs Quality Control personnel to refer any problems to


"... a concerned engineer. "


What if they couldn't care less?

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

IT free from hyperbole...

Our IT guy, thanking us for putting up with changes to our filing system and then our core operating system, promised us only that it was

"all for the better".

I didn't know whether to thank him for his realism and candour, or to ask why they've cut off access to the TAB website...

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

A new word for the heart of a matter

Used by a colleague in a working meeting today... "essentrally" (or "ecentrally"), as in...

"this is essentrally the issue I want to discuss"

I'm not sure what she was referring to, but I'm guessing it was something to with something of core importance?

Sunday, May 01, 2005

I was looking on E-Bay...

While looking for some second hand clothes to by on E-Bay I found this item for sale:

"Boys pumpkin patch pance + bodysuit"...

Friday, April 29, 2005

Oxymorons

I want you to "act naturally"
Was "found missing"
Is a "resident alien"
Programmed in "advanced BASIC"
Its a "genuine imitation"
Would you care for some "airline food"
Good grief
"same difference" innit?
"almost exactly" the same
A "government organization"
"sanitary landfill"
Left "alone together"
Considered to be "legally drunk"
Let out a "silent scream"
Part of "Australian fashion"
The "living dead"
The "small crowd" that gathered
A proponent of "business ethics"
Ad-free "soft rock"
Head of "military intelligence"
Child proof
"Now, then ..."
making "synthetic natural gas "
"taped live" in front of a studio audience
sorry I "clearly misunderstood"
use the "plastic glasses"
"terribly pleased" to see you
my, what "tight slacks" you have
she's "pretty ugly"
want some "diet ice cream"?

Thursday, April 28, 2005

A conundrum

"It's the things that Westfield do"

Shouldn't that be "it's the things that Westfield does"?

Westfield is a singular noun, and should definitely agree with the verb of which it is the subject, i.e. Westfield does, not Westfield do. Some might object that"Westfield" it is a collective noun. I doubt that , but even if it was, other collective nouns wouldn't work, "rice" for example.

So you have "it's the things that rice does that makes it a healthy food" and not "its the things that rice do that makes it a healthy food"

Any thoughts?

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Tanyaisms

So, I work with this girl called Tanya. Tanya is an educated, intelligent girl, but has a special way with words. Some might call them "Spoonerisms", however when it comes to Tania we think they're in a leak that they own, so they've been labelled Tanyaisms...

* Walking in to a university lecture late, the lecturer stops while Tanya regathers her composure, during which she blurts...

"I'm so sorry, I've been so busy today my teats have hardly fuched the ground"

* She is having her car serviced one Monday morning, and her boss offers to give her a ride to work, during which he asks "So, how was your weekend?". Tanya's reply?...

"Really good - I spent most of it birthday *c*ard *h*unting for my brother"

* Talking about one of her colleague's apparent weight gain...

"He's really been pounding on the piles"

* Last year Tanya got herself a new man. For those of you who know about Myers-Briggs personality typing, Tany is an ENTJ and her man ENTP. If you don't know anything about MYPT, they are fairly similar but differ in their J-P component. Someone asked how it was going with the new man, to which Tanya replied...

"Well, ever since we started going out his 'P-ness' has been driving me crazy"

* But it must be catching. A couple of weeks ago one Monday morning she asked me how my weekend was. I had moved house and cleaned out the old one for the final inspection, so of course my reply was going to go something along the lines of...

"Busy - I spent the whole thing mooning and cleaving"

Please don't dwell on the visual image this may conjure.

Typo? maybe not!!

Excerpt from a friend's email.


HI!!!

I have just arrived back from my tour through the west side of canada. I was
so much fun. We went to ....

Monday, April 25, 2005

Never trust an intern

"Due to the hard ground the dead were interned in the trees"

Those ANZACS...

According to one caller on the radio this morning, Australians "being involved in Gallipoli was a passage of rites for the Australian Army."

Did she mean "passage of rights" - who's to say?

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Mixed Metaphor Heaven

We'll burn those bridges when we get to them

It's not exactly rocket surgery

You all look like you've been slapped with a stunned mullet!

The truth is in the pudding.

Friday, April 22, 2005

Thanks, Sony

"Our a Lustrous boss - Ms Melissa Crockford is taking a well earned break."

She certainly is held in high regard...
Courtesy A. Faulkner 8/4/05

Shaz

Eeew - spiders make my blood crawl!

Did someone drop acid at lunch time?

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Nicole Kidman

"Their minds are just so facile"

Nicole Kidman on how incredible the mental capacities of UN spokespeople are.