Bad misinterpretations

[steve_holmes_11]

The original post is the first time I'd seen the full quote.
I left thinking "Yes, that's how I've always interpreted the shorter form".

Which leaves me wondering what other people thought it meant.

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Like most things, these quotations tend to lose something in the retelling...
My most irksome mangled historical 'quotation' is the mis-use of the term "decimated".
Yes, it was the most serious punishment in the Roman Army since it was an arbitrary means of one man out of every ten being executed at the hands of his comrades while still retaining the military integrity of a unit.
In modern times though, rather than meaning 10%, it is popularly used to imply far higher fatalities, more in the context of 90%! Grrr!

I'm afraid my tactical eloquence does not extend much beyond repeatedly hitting a unit till it breaks... The knack is to find the unit that makes or breaks your opponent's army! I doff my hat to anyone with a Plan B, let alone a C or D or E...

[Colonel Kilgore]

I totally agree re. "decimation", Neil.

From my soapbox, I'd venture that its misuse displays a lack of both historical and linguistic knowledge 

Simon

[Sean Clark]

It's become a somewhat ubiquitous term For something very bad happening. Language evolves, alters and changes as the years pass by. A bit like the proper noun 'Hoover' becoming a verb, 'to hoover'.

[Colonel Kilgore]

It's become a somewhat ubiquitous term For something very bad happening. Language evolves, alters and changes as the years pass by. A bit like the proper noun 'Hoover' becoming a verb, 'to hoover'.

Hey Sean - we're having a good grumble here - please don't make excuses for the illiterate miscreants 

Simon

[Rittervonbek]

Person A : the traffic is chronic!
Person B: what, it lasted more than 2 weeks?
Person A: what?
Person B: never mind. 

Mike

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Next they'll be implying that 'kissing the gunner's daughter' is a good thing!

[Moggy]

Or polishing the golden rivet on a ship! - Blame my father (yes ex-REME). did his apprenticeship in Pompey Dockyards before being called up.


Derek

[Leman (Andy)]

'Sovereignty' appears to fit the bill quite nicely.

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

Or polishing the golden rivet on a ship! - Blame my father (yes ex-REME). did his apprenticeship in Pompey Dockyards before being called up. Derek

I like the 'fetch the breastplate stretcher' hazing in Game of Thrones!

[Leman (Andy)]

I don't remember that one. Could you please refresh my memory.

[Colonel Kilgore]

I don't remember that one. Could you please refresh my memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYnFok-7cP4

[Leman (Andy)]

Series 1, no wonder I couldn't remember. Very funny scene, reminiscent of the long stand apprentices used to be asked to fetch.

[Sean Clark]

And the left handed spanner.

[Colonel Kilgore]

And the left handed spanner.

I think you need one of those to adjust most sky hooks.

Simon