Plus and Minus Words*
Posted by affluenteffluence on 28 July 2008
* Words that are cool, and words that aren’t. Just a few. My opinion. Obviously.
Plus Words
- Damage: Sounds as harsh as what it means.
- Prehensile: As in, prehensile tail. Because it would be fun to have one.
- Jackhole: Name-calling without cursing. Sweet.
- Wisdom: Such a positive-sounding word. And more people should have it.
- Doofus: Because I am one.
- Blather: A funny-sounding word that describes what I do entirely too often.
Minus Words
- Teem (or any variation): Because it sounds…gross.
- Gross: Because it’s flagrant.
- Utilize: Don’t be uppity. Just use “use.”
- Penny-wise: Unfortunately, I think It put me off this word permanently. That dude was freaky. And I’m afraid of clowns, mimes, and people dressed in animal costumes anyway.
- Behemoth: Because I have yet to meet someone who can pronounce this. And it looks ugly in print, anyway.
- Natch: Ew. Just…ew.
And your plus and minus words are…?
– AE
Shay-Shay said
You know, I actually have a memo in my Palm of favorite/least favorite words. Here are a few:
Favorites:
heliotrope
claptrap
willy-nilly
Least favorites:
lifestyle (this word is EVERYwhere. EVERYthing is a “lifestyle” these days. I especially hate the phrase “luxury lifestyle”)
toothsome–just a nasty word
medication (like your “utilize”–what’s wrong with “medicine?”)
the word “investment” when used to describe a smart purchase. INVESTMENTS MAKE YOU MONEY, PURCHASES DON’T.
Shay-Shay said
Oooh, another uppity word–the use of “myself” when “me” will do. It’s just wrong, actually.
Your “penny-wise” also reminded me that I hate the phrase “purse strings” and the word “pocketbook.”
I bet I think of more.
Jo Bless said
I really can’t say because then folks will use them against me, or I worry that they will. I associate many words and people’s names with colors, food, and smells, though. It’s weird and I don’t know why I do it. Do any of you do that? I’ll try to think of some examples and comment later, because it’s that fascinating. But right now, I can’t think. I have PMS. I can tell because I was crying to the end of the Dixie Chicks “Traveling Soldier” in the car this morning. Midol take me away.
Jo Bless said
What I’m trying to say is that I will GNAW on it for a while and try to come up with examples. HAHAHAHA! koff
affluenteffluence said
@Jo Bless: Don’t you mean NOSH on it? I HATE that word! It’ll be added to the next list.
Tiny Shay said
That reminds me, I hate the phrase “dish” when used in place of “gossip.”
Tiny Shay said
phrase = word
Jo Bless said
Nope, AE. It was “gnaw.” Trust me. I don’t think I have the email anymore but it was “gnaw” because the context was “I am so hungry, I’m about to gnaw my arm off. P.S. I hate the word ‘gnaw.’”
In TS’s defense, I frequently use the phrase “Dish.” I feel no need to surround it with other words, so it’s my favorite phrase. It’s okay!
Jo Bless said
I mean to say “natch that ya hate ‘dish.’” (Seriously, I agree on how both of those are just ooky.)
I have to quit commenting because I keep double quoting and I’m not sure of convention for that and it’s too hot to look it up. :)”"”"””’,”"”"”"”. ” :0
Jo Bless said
Oh CRAP. I made a mistake. To, too. Please fix that, AE or, for god’s sake, delete the comment!!!
affluenteffluence said
@ Jo Bless: Fixed, insane in the membrane.
Tiny Shay said
You know, I’ve dwelled on this (as we tend to in our family), and have decided to take back what I said about the word “medication.” As much as I want to dislike that word, I’m not sure it’s entirely synonymous with “medicine”–at least not in my head. When I hear “medicine,” I think of something that’s either over-the-counter, taken on a temporary basis, or as a word that’s used metaphorically (e.g. “That’s some tough medicine to swallow.”) “Medication,” however, sounds like something that’s taken on an ongoing basis, or for a chronic condition, available only by prescription, etc.
Since my original post, I’ve “swallowed my own medicine” and have tried to avoid the word medication in favor of the other, and it just doesn’t quite work.