{"id":8296,"date":"2011-12-07T00:16:35","date_gmt":"2011-12-07T08:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.godammit.com\/?p=8296"},"modified":"2019-03-04T18:30:33","modified_gmt":"2019-03-05T02:30:33","slug":"underwear-and-word-usage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/godammit.com\/underwear-and-word-usage\/","title":{"rendered":"Underwear and Word Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

I just got this Hanky Panky Retro Thong<\/strong> in two colors, and I can’t overstate their perfection. They are the Holy Grail of underpants. Let me just quote Hanky Panky’s website<\/a>:<\/p>\n

A high-waisted panty with figure-flattering coverage everywhere you need it, and absolutely nowhere you don’t. This panty is designed with an extra-generous band of lace that hugs your midsection and tricks even thick tummies into feeling super svelte.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every word is true! But not every word is good.<\/p>\n

I can’t stand the word “panty.” “Can’t stand” isn’t strong enough to describe my feelings about panty or “panties.” It almost makes me sick. I’ve felt like this for most of my adult life. Sometimes, I’ll be reading a magazine and the phrase “sans panties” will almost give me a stroke.<\/p>\n

I asked my husband what he felt about “panties.” He isn’t nearly as reactive to words as I am, but he agrees on panties. He prefers “underpants,” which is my preference too. No wonder we stay together!<\/p>\n

I think it’s the infantile connotation with “panty” that makes me cringe. There may be more at a deeper subconscious level.<\/p>\n

I was pleased to find on a blog about language that lots of people hate “panties,” yet surprised to learn about a widespread aversion to the word “moist.” It cuts across both genders: No one likes moist.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, I am more likely to take offense at a word or phrase than anyone I know. Max was a pretty hardcore wordist but not as bad as I am. Any yet, I have no trouble with “moist.” Am I broken or something? “Moist” reminds me of moist cake. Or moist lipstick. Things should be moist, ideally, or else they’re too dry.<\/p>\n

Going back to the blog just now, I see that someone hates the word “suckle.” Eoow. Same here. It’s especially creepy when applied to humans.<\/p>\n

Have a look at Language Log<\/a> and get in on the word aversion.\u00a0 I like that they make a point to distinguish between word rage (like when you hear someone on the news say “grow the economy”) and word aversion (like panty.)<\/p>\n

Feel free to share your own personal aversions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"