Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

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English is such a peach. (lemmy.ca)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/showerthoughts

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It's bullshit that the opposite of "impeachable" is "unimpeachable" instead of "peachable"

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[–] the_stat_man 20 points 8 months ago (5 children)

These are called orphaned negatives and English has loads of them. A great article about them is here: https://stephenliddell.co.uk/2021/03/17/a-gruntled-look-at-orphan-negatives/

As a slight tangent, a similar peculiarity in English (which I don't know of a name for) is where you can use the opposite words for similar actions, e.g. you can chop a tree down and then chop it up.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Great link! I love the little story in there.

I actually use "shevelled" alongside many other words which to my mind "should logically exist" - for example, at the weekend I dismantled and then remantled a wall in my garden.

[–] the_stat_man 3 points 8 months ago

Good one, and you now have a mantled wall!

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