# "Let's name this thing what we already call that thing." English language stoopidity. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351 "2019-07-20T14:52:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/61 "2019-07-21T19:16:10Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Okay, thanks! > > Of course there are a ton of other examples of color names/objects. Violets, lavender, ivory, cherry, pinks, gold, silver, on and on and on. Pinks are an interesting example - the colour _is_ named after the flower. It’s most probable the flower is named after the fabric decoration technique (cutting [small holes all over](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2d/3a/33/2d3a33eb6c71dff675de6c206f06d62d.jpg) or making a frayed fringe was called “pinking”, and the [pinks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus#/media/File:Dianthus_caryophyllus_L_(Clove_pink).JPG) has a ragged edge to their petals) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/62 "2019-07-21T19:31:02Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > ^ If you have more than one of those, do you have “mice” or “mouses”? > > Dr. Seuss is smiling in the Great Beyond. > [@carnut](#): > > There is a language that many engineers and technical writers use called “Simplified Technical English”. The reason for this version of English is precisely because it is a tricky language, therefore it’s incredibly confusing for those who speak it as a second or third language. In STE, a language of about 30,000 words, one word has only a single meaning. It can only mean that specific definition. It was created by NASA and is used by air traffic controllers around the world, rather than rely on colloquial English to prevent confusion and mid-air collisions. > [@Darren Garrison](#): > > 30,000 words? [That is far too many](https://xkcd.com/simplewriter/). Of course, “The Cat in the Hat” was Seuss’ successful response to a challenge to write a story with a 50-word vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/63 "2019-07-21T19:36:00Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > We already have a perfectly good word that means _ **“figuratively”** _, I don’t see why we also use a different word to mean the same thing. And of all the words we could choose, why did we go with\*\*\* “literally”\*\*\*? > > … Because it is stronger sounding. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/64 "2019-07-22T20:30:12Z")
**Darren** , am I right in saying you choose to monitor your monitor in case a monitor monitors your monitor? 😃 Or, you watch your screen to see if the supervisor is supervising your lizard? Or do you need anew monitor, and if so which one? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/65 "2019-07-24T14:09:58Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > **Darren** , am I right in saying you choose to monitor your monitor in case a monitor monitors your monitor? Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo! (Reference [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo).) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/66 "2019-07-24T14:11:28Z")
Someone give **Cadfael** a shove, he’s stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/67 "2019-07-24T14:14:27Z")
One that makes me a bit dizzy: the wheel is that thing you turn in order to make the wheels turn. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/68 "2019-07-24T16:16:39Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I’d just like to mention that the mandoline is the most dangerous piece of kitchen equipment ever invented. I love my mandoline but despite being extremely careful when using it, I’ve cut myself a couple of times. A friend of mine once cut himself fairly badly while using a mandoline, _while he was explaining_ how careful you need to be when using one. Truth. I lost a finger while looking at them on Amazon! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/69 "2019-07-24T16:36:26Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > Or someone is demanding to see your hallway pass. > [@running\_coach](#): > > That would be **manhattan.** For those of you young’uns who don’t get the joke, read this [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=2744860#post2744860) 17 years later, and I still crack up. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/70 "2019-07-24T18:36:57Z")
“banhattan” hahahaha! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/71 "2019-07-24T19:23:05Z")
I dreamed that I had an electric sheep and was having problems installing a memory upgrade–I had to ram the RAM into the ram. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/72 "2019-07-24T19:37:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I had to ram the RAM into the ram. Just don’t put it in the sink, it might sink ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/73 "2019-07-24T21:19:36Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Although I did learn today that “playing the mandolin” is French slang for female masturbation, so this thread isn’t a _total_ loss. According to [this _Dictionary of Modern Colloquial French_](https://studylib.net/doc/8731262/dictionary-of-modern-colloquial-french), the exact phrase has to do with a mandolin solo. (Bottom of page 334.) ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/74 "2019-07-24T21:53:56Z")
My recent favorite is the word - “sanction” Means two opposite things. Does not even have the courtesy to be pronounced differently. 1 threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule 2 official permission or approval for an action So in effect you can be sanctioned for doing something you did get a sanction for! ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/75 "2019-07-24T22:17:13Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Ok, that was funny. > mmm Funny ha ha or funny peculiar? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/76 "2019-07-24T22:18:51Z")
Quick–what does bimonthly mean? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/77 "2019-07-24T22:20:41Z")
> [@ashtayk](#): > > My recent favorite is the word - “sanction” > > Means two opposite things. Does not even have the courtesy to be pronounced differently. Cleave is another common one, though cleave meaning to cling together is pretty antiquated nowadays. Not everyone goes with me on this, but I consider with a contranym. “France fought with Britain” France fought with Britain against Germany" Same word but in one sentence it means against and in another it means in conjunction. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/78 "2019-07-24T22:51:03Z")
Ravel and unravel mean the same, at least in Shakespeare’s time. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/79 "2019-07-24T23:46:24Z")
It’s all moot. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351/80 "2019-07-25T01:15:18Z")
Handicap: a disadvantage that interferes with fairness, or an advantage that is designed to achieve fairness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351.md?page=5)