British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

goldfish · Futures level

The weird & wonderful world of English grammar...

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

goldfish wrote:
On the BBC weather just now - its looking much more better

Not even remotely surprised.

Every time there's a flare-up of whooping cough cases anywhere in the country, I steel myself to hear the reporters/newsreaders pronounce that initial "w"! furious

christ · Challenger qualifying

On the upside they managed to avoid "betterer".

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

A curious new use of the verb "to tease" which I've just noticed:

Kensington Palace had teased the clip ahead of the programme with a video of Catherine and a then unknown person playing the piano captioned "a special duet...".

(extracted from this report)

Used again in:

Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 1: Which star teased her engagement on the red carpet?

It's so awkward & clumsy, not to mention lazy (I assume that, whoever first used it in that way, couldn't be bothered to add a couple more words to say it in a more rational manner), I'm not even sure I understand what it's actually meant to mean!

Brendan F · Intermediate Club Player

Stircrazy wrote:
A curious new use of the verb "to tease" which I've just noticed:
Kensington Palace had teased the clip ahead of the programme with a video of Catherine and a then unknown person playing the piano captioned "a special duet...".
(extracted from this report)
Used again in:
Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 1: Which star teased her engagement on the red carpet?
It's so awkward & clumsy, not to mention lazy (I assume that, whoever first used it in that way, couldn't be bothered to add a couple more words to say it in a more rational manner), I'm not even sure I understand what it's actually meant to mean!

It comes from teaser trailer, the clips they use to advertise new programmes

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Brendan F wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
A curious new use of the verb "to tease" which I've just noticed:
Kensington Palace had teased the clip ahead of the programme with a video of Catherine and a then unknown person playing the piano captioned "a special duet...".
(extracted from this report)
Used again in:
Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 1: Which star teased her engagement on the red carpet?
It's so awkward & clumsy, not to mention lazy (I assume that, whoever first used it in that way, couldn't be bothered to add a couple more words to say it in a more rational manner), I'm not even sure I understand what it's actually meant to mean!
It comes from teaser trailer, the clips they use to advertise new programmes

Thanks, Brendan

So, completely genuine here (don't pick me up on that one, SC ), for SC's quote above:

Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 1: Which star teased her engagement on the red carpet?

That means 'which star put out a little video clip of her engagement which took place on a red carpet?'

Is that it? (I've never seen the use before)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Brendan F wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
A curious new use of the verb "to tease" which I've just noticed:
Kensington Palace had teased the clip ahead of the programme with a video of Catherine and a then unknown person playing the piano captioned "a special duet...".
(extracted from this report)
Used again in:
Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 1: Which star teased her engagement on the red carpet?
It's so awkward & clumsy, not to mention lazy (I assume that, whoever first used it in that way, couldn't be bothered to add a couple more words to say it in a more rational manner), I'm not even sure I understand what it's actually meant to mean!
It comes from teaser trailer, the clips they use to advertise new programmes

Thanks, Brendan. Definitely lazy - & inelegant, to say the least, if (grudging concession) succinct! disbelief

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

The Beeb has now found a new meaning for the verb "to award":

George Clooney, wife Amal and their twins awarded French citizenship

(report)

I thought citizenship of a particular country was a privilege conferred on or granted to someone following a formal application, not a prize handed out at the end of a competition! I give up - again! disbelief