# I refuse to let GWB fucking make new words!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 2, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215 "2004-02-02T18:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/1 "2004-02-02T18:57:07Z")
I am fucking sick of having GWB make up new forms to the english language. But what really pisses me off is the incorrect use of the transitive verb grow. " we need to grow the economy" etc. etc. This is incorrect. [cite](http://www.bartleby.com/61/80/G0288000.html) When will this shit end? PS. I’m not a prescritive grammarian, but I sure as hell don’t like **THAT** jackass changing the language. He’s fucked up everything else that he’s touched, imagine if we all of a sudden had to speak GWB’s english? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/2 "2004-02-02T19:05:43Z")
I think GWB is not the best speaker in the world. However, from your cite: > [@](#): > > 1. Usage Problem To cause to increase or expand by concerted effort: strategies that grew the family business. Or am I still missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/3 "2004-02-02T19:06:49Z")
“Prescritive?” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/4 "2004-02-02T19:08:38Z")
What is this? Lame-ass Bush Family Rant Day? ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/5 "2004-02-02T19:16:34Z")
I hate the growing trend of using the verb “grow” in the transitive sense when talking about something other than plants, but it’s pretty well entrenched by now and there’ll probably be no going back. Bill Clinton used to say it all the time. [Here’s one example.](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/@capitol/committees/istea/istea_clinton_3-12.html) ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/6 "2004-02-02T19:17:50Z")
Personally, I love it when GWB pretends that the words he’s using are new. For example, about a year ago he was making a big deal out of using the words “revisionist history,” as though he had just invented them out of whole cloth. For example… “Some people want to pretend this never happened. These people – I call them **revisionist historians** – _(pause, smirk, wait for “oooohs” and “aaaahs” that never come)_ are wrong.” Yeah, Dubya? Just because a word is _new to you_ doesn’t mean it’s new to everyone else. We’re not impressed. You look like a comedian whose joke just fell flat. ---
**Author:** ![darksight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@darksight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darksight)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/7 "2004-02-02T19:29:03Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#): > > I am fucking sick of having GWB make up new forms to the english language. But what really pisses me off is the incorrect use of the transitive verb grow. > > " we need to grow the economy" etc. etc. > > This is incorrect. [cite](http://www.bartleby.com/61/80/G0288000.html) > When will this shit end? > PS. I’m not a prescritive grammarian, but I sure as hell don’t like **THAT** jackass changing the language. He’s fucked up everything else that he’s touched, imagine if we all of a sudden had to speak GWB’s english? It took me a whole 2 seconds on google to find this: Environmental protection: “It is no longer necessary to choose between growing the economy and preserving, and even improving, the environment,” Clinton said. [http://www.useu.be/ISSUES/clint1121.html](http://www.useu.be/ISSUES/clint1121.html) So Clinton must have liked this phrase as well. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/8 "2004-02-02T19:31:53Z")
Nah I know that others use it too. Although there are many rational grounds for my Bush hatred there are many irrational ones too. grow down the deficit is the one that makes me want to vomit in my own mouth, although it doesn’t appear to be real. [Prescriptive Grammarians](http://www.sebsteph.com/Professional/Bart's%20class/Readings/crystal.htm) for those who doubt that statement. And revisionist historians are the best, aren’t they. I forget how he used it, but it seems like it was extreme irony as he was the one actually doing the revising, from WMD being the key cause of the war to Terrorism. That was before he went to liberations of Iraqis. We’ll see how he sold the war last year again when he revises it later to. “Just kinda got boring around unka karls playroom” I feel much better. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/9 "2004-02-02T19:45:57Z")
Really, OPs of grammar rants (especially particularly dubious ones) have a certain obligation to preview their posts for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Otherwise, people are liable to point and laugh. :points and laughs: ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/10 "2004-02-02T19:47:53Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > What is this? Lame-ass Bush Family Rant Day? I was wondering the same thing. There are something like 5 Bush & Co. related rants in the Pit now. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/11 "2004-02-02T19:53:21Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#): > > This is incorrect. [cite](http://www.bartleby.com/61/80/G0288000.html) The irony is, ‘cite’ as a noun always used to supposed to be ‘citation’, didn’t it? Anyway, OT1H words being extended in obvious ways are good when they’re useful, OTOH, there must be a better word than ‘grow’ here (though maybe not - none springs to mind) but OTGH whether you mind Bush messing with the language this is hardly the most prominent example, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/12 "2004-02-02T19:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > " we need to grow the economy" etc. etc. I dunno, I think it’s possimable this statement was grammatercally correct even before he was electicated. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/13 "2004-02-02T20:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > **Shade** : There must be a better word than ‘grow’ here (though maybe not - none springs to mind…) The [usual phrase](http://www.google.ca/search?q=%22strengthen+the+economy%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search), as a matter of style, seems preferable in that it does not reify the subject any more than is necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/14 "2004-02-02T20:36:14Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > The [usual phrase](http://www.google.ca/search?q=%22strengthen+the+economy%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search), as a matter of style, seems preferable in that it does not reify the subject any more than is necessary. Good point. Though it suddenly occurs to me I’m not sure if there is or not a difference between “making the economy larger”, “making the economy stronger” and “YOU’RE ALL GETTING RICHER! VOTE FOR ME!” in anyone’s mouths…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/15 "2004-02-02T20:49:14Z")
Bush needs to grow a brain. 🙂 However, I don’t think it’s a terrible usage, if you consider it a gardening metaphor, perhaps? There are a TON of worse ways he could express the concept: “We need to embiggen the economy.” “We need to largify the economy.” “We need to biggie-size the economy.” “We need to enhugenate the economy.” ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/16 "2004-02-02T20:53:13Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#): > > Nah I know that others use it too. Although there are many rational grounds for my Bush hatred there are many irrational ones too. > > grow down the deficit is the one that makes me want to vomit in my own mouth, although it doesn’t appear to be real. > > [Prescriptive Grammarians](http://www.sebsteph.com/Professional/Bart's%20class/Readings/crystal.htm) > > for those who doubt that statement. > > _sigh_ A rant about grammar coming from a gibbering ape that cannot be bothered to capitalize properly, among other grammatical flaws, is supremely ironical. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/17 "2004-02-02T20:55:07Z")
Your protesterations are in vain. The President has previouserly been permittated to get away with this and win votes. He now conversinalates in the expectitude of never facing correctification. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/18 "2004-02-02T21:03:47Z")
This is one of the stupidest rants I’ve read in my time here, didn’t you read your own fucking cite? > [@](#): > > But the transitive use applied to business and nonliving things is quite new. It came into full bloom during the 1992 presidential election, when nearly all the candidates were concerned with “growing the economy.” Damn GWB for inventing this usage 12 years ago during the presidential election he wasn’t running in! Damn him! ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/19 "2004-02-02T21:10:09Z")
Hey, whatever happened to the concept of “the king’s english”? That is, however the king speaks IS proper english, by definition – everybody ELSE had better adapt! Oh wait, that’s right. We got rid of the king some 227 years ago. Never mind 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blassie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@Blassie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blassie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215/20 "2004-02-03T00:07:35Z")
I’ve got it! Listen, Mr. President, try this: George W. Bush never, I repeat, NEVER said Iraq was capable of developing nuclear weapons with 6 months. He said they were capable of developing nucular weapons. Never said nuclear. Now, bastards, prove him wrong. So there. (Harumpf) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-refuse-to-let-gwb-fucking-make-new-words/227215.md?page=2)