As the title suggests, I have a Victor Meldrew moment whenever I hear this appalling (and meaningless) phrase. It's just waffle. It was bad enough when its early perpetrator (David Coulthard) used it when commentating on F1; after all, something is needed to fill the time when nothing interesting is happening on-screen, but now I find the pretentious phrase appears when this computer boots.
So, is it the most irritating phrase ever, or are there other candidates? (Probably from the field of management-speak.)
So, is it the most irritating phrase ever, or are there other candidates? (Probably from the field of management-speak.)
"This day in history" seems to be an oxymoronic statement. "This day" indicates the present time. If we are talking about something historic, one should say "that day in history".
I think you people need to get out more. 😉
jeff
jeff
"We need to talk"
"Step into my office"
"It's not what you think"
"I just wanna say"
"Let me tell you"
"Leader of the free world"
"Step into my office"
"It's not what you think"
"I just wanna say"
"Let me tell you"
"Leader of the free world"
I thought about it, but I can't understand why you said that. 🙂
I think it's obvious that there is an implicit verb, and that is "will enter": This day will enter in history.
Furthermore, "that day in history" doesn't even sound right, in my opinion, since history is a chronicle, even chronological, of facts and it's clear that we will always say "this day" indicating in reality a date connected to an antecedent event that happened.
Furthermore, among verbs there is the so-called "historical present" or "vivid present" (I don't really know which of the two is more correct in English, which is not my first language) which overcomes certain apparent inconsistencies. 😉
I can only speak in relation to my native language, of course.
Translated into English (FWIW), there is a phrase that I find truly unbearable because it is misused in too many cases and it is the following: "Be wary from imitations", insted of the correct way "Be wary of imitations".
Not sure if fully OT, though. 🤔
See? "This day in history" is so irritating it even starts a grammar dispute! So it's not just me...
I'm afraid I've used "We need to talk." It wasn't a happy occassion. "Step into my office" sounds like the prelude to, "You're fired." So I'd argue that both are way beyond irritating and firmly into catastrophic.
I'm afraid I've used "We need to talk." It wasn't a happy occassion. "Step into my office" sounds like the prelude to, "You're fired." So I'd argue that both are way beyond irritating and firmly into catastrophic.
Still don't understand why "This day in history" is so irritating.
Two days ago someone told me "This day 80 years ago in history is the day Mr. A Hitler shot himself' .
A statement of fact.
And 'it's not what you think' is often needed as a correction. What language is for.
Jan
Two days ago someone told me "This day 80 years ago in history is the day Mr. A Hitler shot himself' .
A statement of fact.
And 'it's not what you think' is often needed as a correction. What language is for.
Jan
You could also say that these two statement gave a signal of what was to come. Soften the blow, sort of. That's a good use of language.
Jan
