The word "do-able"...
Discussion
God I hate this "word" and by extension anyone who uses it! 
Recently several newsreaders and even a Newsnight presenter have been added to my "Will meet a horrible end, come the Revolution" list solely on the back of muttering those mangled three syllables.
What is wrong with "possible", "available" or any other myriad of words that cover the required meaning without having to invent a bastardised excuse for an adjective?
I have my suspicions that it was coined by George W. "Couldn't find his arse with both hands" Bush during one of his customary bouts of verbal constipation and that pretty much sums it up for me.
Anyway, rant over. As you were...
In order to get the rant rating up: c
nt, bkcs, fkety, fk, fk, faroo
Recently several newsreaders and even a Newsnight presenter have been added to my "Will meet a horrible end, come the Revolution" list solely on the back of muttering those mangled three syllables.
What is wrong with "possible", "available" or any other myriad of words that cover the required meaning without having to invent a bastardised excuse for an adjective?
I have my suspicions that it was coined by George W. "Couldn't find his arse with both hands" Bush during one of his customary bouts of verbal constipation and that pretty much sums it up for me.
Anyway, rant over. As you were...
In order to get the rant rating up: c
nt, bkcs, fkety, fk, fk, faroo
youngsyr said:
Cupid Stunt said:
I like the word doable so you can go & throw st at yourself
Well, if you like "do-able" and are well-versed in playing with your own filth, perhaps you might be more comfortable just grunting and gesturing, rather than trying to use a more evolved form of langauge? t at yourself
Flintstone said:
Wouldn't Dubbyah have spewed this forth as the result of a bout of verbal diarrhoea rather than constipation?
Verbal diarrhoea-ee-hah-hey would imply that words flowed from his mouth, whereas every time I saw him attempt to open his mouth, it seemed like it was on a 56K connection to his brain.grumbledoak said:
It's not half as bad as 'proactive'. Meaning 'active'.
Or as funny as 'inflammable', which means exactly the same as 'flammable'.
Proactive means to act on a situation in advance, as opposed to reactive which is to react after the event.Or as funny as 'inflammable', which means exactly the same as 'flammable'.
Inflammable was the correct term for something now called 'flammable' and it was changed to avoid confusion. Not too successfully it seems.
Oh, and 'do-able' is 'practicable' but written in big letters for idiots.
Cupid Stunt said:
youngsyr said:
Cupid Stunt said:
I like the word doable so you can go & throw st at yourself
Well, if you like "do-able" and are well-versed in playing with your own filth, perhaps you might be more comfortable just grunting and gesturing, rather than trying to use a more evolved form of langauge? t at yourself
It doesn't mean that certain words don't grate when I hear them though, no matter how mundane that may be.
youngsyr said:
Flintstone said:
Wouldn't Dubbyah have spewed this forth as the result of a bout of verbal diarrhoea rather than constipation?
Verbal diarrhoea-ee-hah-hey would imply that words flowed from his mouth, whereas every time I saw him attempt to open his mouth, it seemed like it was on a 56K connection to his brain.2nd class post more like
Harry Flashman said:
"She is eminently do-able" works rather better than "she is eminently possible"
If you're going to make up a word, put some effort in: "fkable", "shagable", etc. etc."To do" is such a vague verb, it's just a lazy cop-out when you could express yourself much more vividly.
youngsyr said:
Harry Flashman said:
"She is eminently do-able" works rather better than "she is eminently possible"
If you're going to make up a word, put some effort in: "fkable", "shagable", etc. etc."To do" is such a vague verb, it's just a lazy cop-out when you could express yourself much more vividly.
kable" etc.To be fair, I was only really playing Devil's Advocate. I believe the correct word for the above use is actually "pokeable".
RDMcG said:
Language evolves. Its the vernacular of the people, not some sacred tome to be followed slavishly. How about "makeable", as in..."looks like TIger has a makeable putt here"?. Doable seems perfectly fine.
Yes, but as Darwin well knew, evolution does not always mean progress.The argument that langauge evolves so accept it is tantamount to saying that change is good for change's sake. Well, clearly in many cases, the old adage "if it isn't broken..." is very apt.
As for "makeable", again just seems like another banal statement coming from a sports commentator to fill the gap whilst they try to find something slightly interesting to say. If anything, commentators have even less of an excuse, as langauge is the tool of their trade.
youngsyr said:
God I hate this "word" and by extension anyone who uses it!
I have my suspicions that it was coined by George W. "Couldn't find his arse with both hands" Bush during one of his customary bouts of verbal constipation and that pretty much sums it up for me.
Certainly older than GWB - and far too unmangled for one of his malapropisms.I have my suspicions that it was coined by George W. "Couldn't find his arse with both hands" Bush during one of his customary bouts of verbal constipation and that pretty much sums it up for me.
Wikipedia said:
1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present ch. 3 - Manchester Insurrection
Amid all violent stupidity of speech, a right noble instinct of what is doable and what is not doable never forsakes them
Not the prettiest of words, but it has its place in vocabulary. Amid all violent stupidity of speech, a right noble instinct of what is doable and what is not doable never forsakes them
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