. . ., and counting

In My Humble Opinion
1

married 27 years, and counting

non-smoking 15 days, and counting

I tried to think of a good third example but the top of my head is empty.

I used the first one in an email to an old friend recently and my husband had a fit, telling me that to him it meant I was counting the time until I could get out. To me it has always meant something ongoing, and counting meaning the number used isn’t the final one. So, how do you see it?
Now I’m not going to go running to him to gloat if people agree with me, but I would like to know if I’m the weird one here or if he is. So tell me what you think when you hear that expression. Please.

2

That is what it means to me as well.

3

I’ve always heard/read it as following the original sequence.

Gained two papers towards my diploma - and counting (increasing)

Lost 17 pounds - and counting (decreasing)

Your example of ‘27 years and counting’ would strike me as automatically meaning the marriage would continue for as long as you could keep counting the years.

4

On the one hand, it DOES imply counting toward a goal to me.

On the other hand, if I encountered it in the stated context, I would understand it just as intended. I just wouldn’t USE it in that context.

5

My example of decreasing was wrong (the lost poundage would still be a rising number) a better example is what I replaced.

I’ve been made redundant, my employment finishes in 12 days - and counting.

Now excuse me while I go work on my CV.

6

Thanks, guys. At least now I don’t feel quite so crazy.

7

That sentence seems strange to me.

I’ve been made redundant by my employer, I have twelve days left.

“…and counting” always seemed to me as going forward not counting down the days until the end.

Maybe he felt the “and counting” part was like you were keeping track? Like it was so long it is a burden?

I dunno. The comment would not have upset me.

8

Perhaps it’s a regional thing, I’ve often heard it either way. It does usually have a positive connotation. How about ‘10 days till my vacation - and counting’?

9

Suddenly “and now I’m prayin’ for the end of time to hurry up and arrive” is playing in my head… :wink:

I think it can mean either thing, depending on the context. I also think that it was silly for your husband to get upset.

10

How about:
thirdwarning…and counting

11

Well, actually, years ago that might have worked. I wasn’t the last one. Although I think my parents were hoping I would be, so maybe that wasn’t the right way to look at it.

12

It was, a bit, but he’s not the most secure of men. I’ve never given him any reason not to be, but it’s just the way he is, I guess. And it did come during a week when there were several other things that made him feel left out and such. It’s rough on him, living away from home for work right now.

13

You should have looked for the first usage of “Hi Opal!”. That would have been the appropiate third example.

14

“Und Counting…”

I keep picturing that brainless automoton in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ quoting the countdown into the intercom as attack helocpters blast the derrick with missiles and machinegun fire. (Its right about the time that Blofeld issues the order to “Prepare my Batho-Sphere”.)

As long as you can keep your husband out of the seat of an attack helo, you should be OK…