# Let’s try a new tact on this
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [December 22, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434 "2003-12-22T11:04:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/21 "2003-12-22T19:44:30Z")
That’s a bold face lie!
---
### Author:  [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/22 "2003-12-22T19:51:03Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by tdn \*
> **Tact** : Tempo in which a conductor moves his baton from beat to beat.
>
> So it **could** be correct usage, if people are thinking in those terms. Dollars-to-donuts they aren’t.
Now, now, now, wait a minute. What is this “dollars-to-donuts” you speak of?
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### Author:  [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/23 "2003-12-22T19:54:14Z")
I can’t believe you are getting so upset over this. Just get over it, it’s not that big a deal.;):wally
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/24 "2003-12-22T19:56:32Z")
I think “tack” is correct… for all intensive purposes.
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### Author:  [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/25 "2003-12-22T23:10:51Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Barrytown \*
> \*\*I don’t know. Something here doesn’t quite jive. \*\*
I’m about 90% certain that I’ve heard this one as well, though I haven’t seen it in print.
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### Author:  [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/26 "2003-12-22T23:35:25Z")
Don’t worry, they’ll get their just desserts.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/27 "2003-12-22T23:54:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Dooku \*
> \*\*Don’t worry, they’ll get their just desserts. \*\*
I was going to visit the desert as part of my _world_-wind tour, but decide to take a diferent tact and visit the ocean instead.
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### Author:  [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/28 "2003-12-23T00:17:28Z")
Wow. I’ve never even heard of the word “tack” regaurding that usuage (or “tact” used in its place). I thought the thread was going to scold someone for being tactless.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/29 "2003-12-23T00:23:43Z")
I would just like to trump everyone here by pointing out that the OP says (and I quote):
“The word you want it tact…”
which should be
"The word you want IS tact … "
IS IS IS. Tat for tit, tit for tis, it for is! I can’t stand it anymore!
AAAAAAAARGH!
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### Author:  [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/30 "2003-12-23T00:45:51Z")
Damn you to the 11th toroid of hell, Evil Captor. This isn’t about _my_ errors, it’s strictly about other people and how much stupider there are than me.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/31 "2003-12-23T01:09:04Z")
your a fine one too talk, **Waverly** and your stupid youreself - poking fun at error’s that other’s make when their less worse then your’s.
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### Author:  [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/32 "2003-12-23T01:23:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by tdn \*
> **Tact: Tempo in which a conductor moves his baton from beat to beat.**
Dude, as a well-read orchestral musician I gotta ask for a cite on this one. What dictionary did you get that from?
Note: I am ready to believe you if you provide a good citation, but I’ve simply _never_ heard of this usage before.
Oh, and let’s not all forget about _tract_ homes versus _track_ homes, while we’re at it.
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### Author:  [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/33 "2003-12-23T01:31:53Z")
Okay, I retract my challenge, **tdn**.
[Here](http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/V7.HTM) is at least one online dictionary mentioning that usage (scroll down).
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/34 "2003-12-23T01:37:10Z")
Firstly, I peirced my tounge with a tact. After that I effected an affect, and life was good.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/35 "2003-12-23T01:56:06Z")
People who say “try a new tact” should go back from whence they came.
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### Author:  [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/36 "2003-12-23T02:18:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Dolores Reborn \*
> \*\*Anybody seen my thumb tacks? \*\*
It’s with the [duck](http://www.lawrencegoetz.com/zoo/birds/ulthm2.htm) tape.
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by John Mace \*
> \*\*I was going to visit the desert as part of my world-wind tour, but decide to take a diferent tact and visit the ocean instead. \*\*
That’s probably just as well. The desert can get pretty cold when you take into account the windshield factor.
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### Author:  [@Erroneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erroneous)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/37 "2003-12-23T02:59:31Z")
I remain unphased by such minor errors.
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### Author:  [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/38 "2003-12-23T10:33:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by John Mace \*
> \*\*I was going to visit the desert as part of my _world_-wind tour, but decide to take a diferent tact and visit the ocean instead. \*\*
Which ocean pacifically?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/39 "2003-12-23T10:35:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph \*
> **It’s with the [duck](http://www.lawrencegoetz.com/zoo/birds/ulthm2.htm) tape.**
[Quack](http://www.divernet.com/bubbling/pics/0800duck.jpg)
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-s-try-a-new-tact-on-this/220434/40 "2003-12-23T17:45:54Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jpeg Jones \*
> \*\*Dude, as a well-read orchestral musician I gotta ask for a cite on this one. What dictionary did you get that from?
>
> Note: I am ready to believe you if you provide a good citation, but I’ve simply _never_ heard of this usage before.
>
> Oh, and let’s not all forget about _tract_ homes versus _track_ homes, while we’re at it. \*\*
Thanks for providing a cite for me. I may as well link [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/sim-explorer/explore-items/-/0132514818/0/101/1/none/purchase/ref%3Dpd%5Fsxp%5Fr0/002-4268721-6024047) as my own cite.
Dude, as a well-read orchestral musician I gotta ask you – you live in the Boston area by any chance?
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