|
|
Post by Crazy Horse on Mar 22, 2013 11:47:07 GMT 1
The worst four-letter word in the English language.  Not what you might think of first of all, dear reader! When I attended my first English language class at my new secondary school, way back in 1962, the head of English came into the room. As was the custom at that time, my new form-mates and I rose from our seats in recognition of a master entering the room. After being gestured to sit down again, he took the register, (always carried out before every lesson) and then proceeded to ask a question of his new, first form pupils, who were already rather nervous and apprehensive about what to expect. His opening words to us, looking back, were at first a bit of an ice-breaker, then followed by a fair warning that was always carried out, without exception. He asked us what we thought was the worst four-letter word in the English language. You might imagine what a class of about twenty or so young lads had in their minds. It was normal for a pupil or pupils to be chosen, fairly randomly by the master, to give the answer. Not wishing to give voice to what was in our minds, we rapidly thought of reasonable alternatives. The answer was always wrong. The master, having had his fun, would then enlighten us and give the warning. The answer, gentlemen, he said, is the word nice. He continued... If you ever use that word in an essay which you submit for my scrutiny and marking, you will be given no mark at all and be required to submit another essay, to be completed and handed to me the following morning, in addition to one you were given. He elaborated. The word nice he said, means nothing at all. To describe something as nice diminishes the English language. Is it wonderful, beautiful, magnificent, dreadful, gruesome, awe-inspiring, amazing? But nice? Oh no, that will not do gentlemen, that will not do at all. I have never forgotten those words, I fall into the trap of saying nice sometimes, but when I do, I silently apologise to that master. I have never forgotten his name either, thank you for your teachings, Mr. Walsh. 
|
|
|
|
Post by SussexFlyer on Mar 23, 2013 13:34:42 GMT 1
Chuckle! We too had that same message driven home to us at school re never using the word 'nice'.
Can't help feeling that today we have a new crop of badly used adjectives which are lazily inserted in a sentence without any thought as to their suitability. 'Awesome' is one but perhaps one of the worst is another four-letter word, 'cool'. And, if there is a pause while the speaker briefly wonders on which adjective to use, that pause is invariably filled with yet another four-letter word, 'like' which makes me cringe whenever I hear it. 'My Cub is, like, awesome.'
|
|
|
|
Post by Crazy Horse on Mar 24, 2013 13:41:33 GMT 1
Chuckle! We too had that same message driven home to us at school re never using the word 'nice'. Can't help feeling that today we have a new crop of badly used adjectives which are lazily inserted in a sentence without any thought as to their suitability. 'Awesome' is one but perhaps one of the worst is another four-letter word, 'cool'. And, if there is a pause while the speaker briefly wonders on which adjective to use, that pause is invariably filled with yet another four-letter word, 'like' which makes me cringe whenever I hear it. 'My Cub is, like, awesome.' Ah, Here we go! I do believe that sussexflyer and I are of like mind, so to speak. The following is a snippet of "conversation" overheard by me, not long ago, someone talking/ shouting whilst on their mobile 'phone. Note mobile 'phone, not a cell. It went something like this..... "All I can say is well, what, well it's like awesome innit? You know what I mean like, sort of, well like cool, I mean, like, you know? Awesome man, it's so like well, you know, well cool innit? Like well, what can I say man, innit awesome, you know what I is talking about, cool, you is awesome, innit, you know? You like, know what I is talking about innit?" Everything is as clear as crystal then. I do expect the the odd comment here. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by toff on Mar 24, 2013 23:54:43 GMT 1
The very worst four letter word in the world is crash! Firstly, it has five letters, so is absolutely awful as a four letter word, and secondly, it is a word that has far more awful implications than 'hell', or even worse ' Bradford' ( the place that hell tries to emulate!)
The word crash means a) You have lost your car/ job/ wife/ wallet/ life/ liberty.
b) you have lost all your family photos, and no matter how much you cry, they ain't coming back! Yeah, you can pay to have them recovered, but they will also include those pics of women who aren't your wife!
c) Worst of all. You have lost a plane!
Despite the fact that the motor was held on by one loose screw, none of the servo plugs were in the right way and the elevator was held on by an Elastoplast, it wasn't your fault!
Your confidence crumbles at the thought of rogue radio waves sent out to hunt you down like the fake you are! You can't fly! They will get you!
And then, as though heaven sent, and angel called 'steve' or possibly 'bob', will say ' OOH, shunt that be pushed in, like?'
And...lo and behold, thanks to the ark-angel 'steve' or possibly 'bob', your confidence will be magically restored, due to an 'expert' ( they fly five times a year, with an airhogs toy plane), looking at your pride and joy.
As definitions go, I think crash is the worst four letter word!
|
|
