# Evolution of the English language (arguable spoiler re: Survivor rumors)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 18, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973 "2000-07-18T13:41:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973/1 "2000-07-18T13:41:04Z")

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Should Gervais win, his name would enter the lexicon.  
“Don’t be such a Gervais.”  
“He’s trying to Gervais his way through.”  
Can you think of any other pop culture individuals whose names have entered common usage?

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**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973/2 "2000-07-18T13:44:32Z")

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Hey, wasn’t there a TV show who said something about getting a Lewinsky?

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**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973/3 "2000-07-18T15:01:32Z")

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It’s spelled Gervase, which is a really neat name, if you ask me.

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**Author:** ![BigJoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@BigJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigJoe)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973/4 "2000-07-18T15:07:00Z")

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The word “guy” came from the name of one the participants in the gunpowder plot against the British Parliment - “Guy Fawkes”. It was considered an insult for a long time before evolving into the current usage.

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973/5 "2000-07-18T15:12:09Z")

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Sorry for the misspelling, but its gots ta be pronounced Jervis to signify his utter worthlessness.

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**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2000, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-english-language-arguable-spoiler-re-survivor-rumors/25973/6 "2000-07-18T15:25:22Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \*  
> \*\*  
> Can you think of any other pop culture individuals whose names have entered common usage? \*\*

How about Bobbitt? Surely that name is now synonymous with any penile amputations.

Lewinsky has become another way of saying “blow job”.