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Post by laurenj on Oct 27, 2015 11:38:39 GMT -4
I was just in a meeting where someone suggested using a "vanilla envelope" for something. Heeheehee.
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izzypop
Lady in Waiting
Posts: 181
Mar 9, 2005 11:34:59 GMT -4
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Post by izzypop on Oct 27, 2015 13:01:38 GMT -4
I was just in a meeting where someone suggested using a "vanilla envelope" for something. Heeheehee. Oooh - that's a flap you'd like to lick!
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putch
Blueblood
Posts: 1,987
Nov 17, 2006 12:25:16 GMT -4
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Post by putch on Jan 13, 2016 17:32:18 GMT -4
What is your opinion and definition of the word "gaudy?" To me, it means cheap and tacky. I've seen two articles today that used "gaudy" to describe things that didn't seem like they should be described that way. Does it have a new definition I'm unaware of?
In both articles, it was being used to describe things I would say were "stellar," "record-breaking," "incredible," etc. My definition of gaudy doesn't compute with those.
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Post by chonies on Jan 13, 2016 18:17:54 GMT -4
Hmm...could you link to the articles or post excerpts? I agree with your definition, and now I'm curious.
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putch
Blueblood
Posts: 1,987
Nov 17, 2006 12:25:16 GMT -4
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Post by putch on Jan 13, 2016 19:49:00 GMT -4
I can't link this one but here's part of the paragraph and sentence it was in: "The NFL’s Carolina Panthers will host the Seattle Seahawks in a divisional playoff game next week. Quarterback and MVP candidate Cam Newton and his stellar offense put up gaudy numbers up all season on the way to a franchise record 15 regular season wins…" Here's the link to the 2nd one: Gaudy 15-1 record
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Post by Mugsy on Jan 13, 2016 21:00:01 GMT -4
That's weird, is there a similar sounding word that they should have used? Like using grizzly instead of grisly when describing a murder; yes, I've seen that.
I googled gaudy and all the different sites said garish, bright, showy, tacky, tasteless, etc.
Reading the two examples, it sounds like they mean showy, as in awesome. A 15-1 record is really good, a show-stopper maybe? Sports reporting is notorious for having new phrases show up everywhere until they are annoyingly ubiquitious - "he made no mistake and hit the twine".
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sumire
Blueblood
Posts: 1,992
Mar 7, 2005 18:45:40 GMT -4
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Post by sumire on Jan 14, 2016 3:12:30 GMT -4
That is weeeeird. If I had to use "put up gaudy numbers" in a sentence, it would be "I put up a whole bunch of gaudy numbers, but the Homeowners' Association said they were an eyesore and made me take them down." Googling, though, it does seem to be a thing in sports-reporter slang for at least the past two years: "Despite his gaudy passing stats, it's Marcus Mariota's ability to run that makes him special." "NYK 107, MIN 102: Gaudy Numbers, Unselfish Play Lift Knicks to Home Win [...] It was a night of gaudy numbers--Arron Afflalo exploded for 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis tied his season high with seven blocked shots, Anthony's all-around perfromance--but down the stretch, it was the "little" plays that sealed the victory." "The 25-year-old slugger leads all of baseball in home runs, and his 158 OPS+ and 67 RBI are downright gaudy." "Denver Broncos--Victoria says: Tacky, kitschy, gaudy, tawdry. In layman's terms, this is one ugly uni. Cool it." (Oh, no, wait.)
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putch
Blueblood
Posts: 1,987
Nov 17, 2006 12:25:16 GMT -4
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Post by putch on Jan 14, 2016 9:06:56 GMT -4
I did see "showy" as one of the meanings but that use of it would seem to be the same as garish, at least to me.
I hate the meaning of words is flipped to make them something they aren't. Made up slang words (i.e., bling) are one thing. Actual words with actual meanings being used for something else are irritating. Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.
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Post by batmom on Jan 14, 2016 12:46:06 GMT -4
It honestly reads like some kind of thesaurus accident - they looked up "showy" and somehow it lead them to gaudy and having never heard it before figured it was a like for like word? Sort of like running a sentence through a translating app a couple of times and then back to the original language gets you this
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Post by chonies on Jan 24, 2016 21:01:08 GMT -4
People who do not speak with any of England's many regional accents, please do not use 'gobsmacked' except possibly in writing. It just sounds wrong. Yes, it's fun word, but it's so ubiquitous now in the US that it needs to go away now so I can miss it.
And take 'gutted' with you. I love it--it's evocative. But I'm tired of it. And I know this is exceptionally picky, and I've probably complained about it before.
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