A minor threadfuck in re baited or bated

[MM 6,562]

There are some of us who await the next installment with baited breath (whatever that means)

Well, not to be pedantic, but "baited breath" has no meaning unless you are fishing with your mouth.

"Bated breath" might be what you mean.

 

As one writer put it:

Sally, having swallowed cheese,

Directs down holes the scented breeze,

Enticing thus with baited breath

Nice mice to an untimely death.

 

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bai1.htm

 

I'm not picking on you, teelack, just having a bit of fun..and also attempting to illustrate that some of us yanks know the mother tongue to some extent ..a common complaint on this board.

[atlas2 4,329]

As long as you're not being 'pendantic' Martin... We'll let you off.

 

 

As is often the case we can turn to the ...........

 

 

writings of the Bard. The earliest known citation of the phrase is from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, 1596:

'Bated' is simply a shortened form of 'abated', meaning 'to bring down, lower or depress'. 'Abated breath' makes perfect sense and that's where the phrase comes from.

 

What should I say to you? Should I not say
'Hath a dog money? is it possible
A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this;
'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
You spurn'd me such a day; another time
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

Edited March 27, 2013 by atlas2

[MM 6,562]

Lol, I already knew that, but I thought the smaller quote illustrated the difference more succinctly.

Still, a quote from the Bard ) or Francis Bacon?) always raises the intellectual level on the board, so I am thankful for that!

 

[atlas2 4,329]

I only know 'cause I looked it up.

 

However, Shakespear offers a quote for all things and all human futures.

 

And "Hey Nonny nonny"......He even saw this thread coming.

 

No offence to anyone......There's some Falstaf in more than a few of us.

 

 

 

"Is it not strange that desire should so many years
outlive performance?"
2 Henry IV 2.4.247-8, Poins speaking to Hal about Falstaf

[jacko 8,822]

Lol, I already knew that, but I thought the smaller quote illustrated the difference more succinctly.

Still, a quote from the Bard ) or Francis Bacon?) always raises the intellectual level on the board, so I am thankful for that!

 

Is Francis Bacon banned in Pakistan?

[atlas2 4,329]

Is Francis Bacon banned in Pakistan?

Almost everywhere......

 

As Hitchins says ...."Heaven hates ham"

[teelack 9,646]

Well, not to be pedantic, but "baited breath" has no meaning unless you are fishing with your mouth.

"Bated breath" might be what you mean.

 

As one writer put it:

Sally, having swallowed cheese,

Directs down holes the scented breeze,

Enticing thus with baited breath

Nice mice to an untimely death.

 

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bai1.htm

 

I'm not picking on you, teelack, just having a bit of fun..and also attempting to illustrate that some of us yanks know the mother tongue to some extent ..a common complaint on this board.

 

See! These are the wonderous things that we find on this board and only underline its importance to some of us who are willing to keep on learning at any age.

 

As for Americans being able to handle the language I will quote my all time favorite, Bill Bryson who states:

 

Bait, Bate"Robins exploits were listened to with baited breath' (Mail on Sunday). Unless Robin's listeners were hoping to catch fish, their breath was bated. The word is a cousin of abated.

 

Its those pesky British rags that are getting me off track!

Edited March 27, 2013 by teelack

[jacko 8,822]

Bated mouth.....

Edited March 27, 2013 by jacko

[MM 6,562]

Your Mr Bryson was simply wrong, and baited is not a cousin of bated. It's just poor usage.

Lovely language, English.

 

[jacko 8,822]

Your Mr Bryson was simply wrong, and baited is not a cousin of bated. It's just poor usage.

Lovely language, English.

 

Sorry to go off topic but I keep seeing .

in your posts which perhaps aren't apparent on your device.

 

(so why am I pointing it out I wonder)..........

Edited March 27, 2013 by jacko

[teelack 9,646]

Your Mr Bryson was simply wrong, and baited is not a cousin of bated. It's just poor usage.

Lovely language, English.

 

Well he is an American after all.

[MM 6,562]

 

Your Mr Bryson was simply wrong, and baited is not a cousin of bated. It's just poor usage.

Lovely language, English.

 

Well he is an American after all.

 

 

 

An American journalist! Pshaw!

 

Anyway, apologies to the OP, ikkrang.

 

I will clean this bit of threadfuck up shortly.

 

It's been fun, guys. I started it. SORRY!

[teelack 9,646]

An American journalist! Pshaw!

 

Anyway, apologies to the OP, ikkrang.

 

I will clean this bit of threadfuck up shortly.

 

It's been fun, guys. I started it. SORRY!

Ikkrang has a sense of humour and will appreciate the diversion while he shags his brains out.

[MM 6,562]

Sorry to go off topic but I keep seeing .

in your posts which perhaps aren't apparent on your device.

 

(so why am I pointing it out I wonder)..........

It's a problem with Tapatalk, the android application I use to read the forum. It seems to do that if I edit a post...perhaps other times as well...not checked carefully. I sure hope they fix it.

[bigdelta 46]

bacon makes everything taste better......couldn't resist,but it's true.

Lol, I already knew that, but I thought the smaller quote illustrated the difference more succinctly.<br />Still, a quote from the Bard ) or Francis Bacon?) always raises the intellectual level on the board, so I am thankful for that!<br />

[bigdelta 46]

or auto correct.

It's a problem with Tapatalk, the android application I use to read the forum. It seems to do that if I edit a post...perhaps other times as well...not checked carefully. I sure hope they fix it.

 

[bigdelta 46]

Or another most here are familiar with at a busy corner on 2nd Road:

Drink driving as opposed to Drunk driving-semantics,yes or no?

(Is that billboard still there?)

Edited March 27, 2013 by bigdelta

[BigusDicus 9,883]

Is Francis Bacon banned in Pakistan?

Cannot say for sure. I will bet it is not Kosher......

[Siam Sam 964]

MM you should be highly commended for pointing this out and correcting the mistake, the bastardisation of our great language is something that really irritates me. It's a shame that many people across the pond don't appreciate the language as much as you do. However I do think the world would be much worse off without the contributions of American authors - many of my favourite books are written by Americans and the world of literature has much to be thankful for when it comes to American literature. As an American you should be very proud of the American contribution to literature, as I am with the English.

[teelack 9,646]

Your Mr Bryson was simply wrong, and baited is not a cousin of bated. It's just poor usage.

Lovely language, English.

 

 

Actually if you re-read Mr Byson again he does not say that baited is a cousin of abated be says that bated is a cousin and in this he is correct.

[bigdelta 46]

Or the Brit propensity to add the unnecessary "u" to many words.

[Siam Sam 964]

Or the Brit propensity to add the unnecessary "u" to many words.

 

 

If the word has a "u" in it according to the Oxford English Dictionary then that is the correct spelling I'm afraid.

Edited March 27, 2013 by Siam Sam

[bigdelta 46]

I'd be "afraid" too if you included it for no reason,which is my favoUrite pet peeve.You meant the Oxford British Dictionary.

If the word has a "u" in it according to the Oxford English Dictionary then that is the correct spelling I'm afraid.

[atlas2 4,329]

I'd be "afraid" too if you included it for no reason,which is my favoUrite pet peeve.You meant the Oxford British Dictionary.

 

 

"Afraid too" or 'A frayed knot' ........ He meant what he said.............. We share and enrich 'English'

 

Baited and Bated.....Simple homophones......as against homographs words like 'Bow' and 'Bow' same spelling different sounds.

 

Most of us get homophones confused sometimes. My advise or is it advice?........Don't be 'homophonbic'

[Siam Sam 964]

I'd be "afraid" too if you included it for no reason,which is my favoUrite pet peeve.You meant the Oxford British Dictionary.

 

 

 

No I didn't, I meant the Oxford English Dictionary which was why I posted that. I wasn't aware there was an Oxford British Dictionary as I didn't know there was a language called "British?"

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary

Edited March 27, 2013 by Siam Sam