ChatterBank1 min ago
Incredible issue !
34 Answers
When did 'incredible' become the popular intensifier that it now is ? It seems that everyone (apart from me!) now uses it, whether they are academics in TV documentaries, politicians or footballers, it is the favoured word for 'extremely' ,'very' and the rest.
And, similarly, when did the word 'issue' become the favoured word for 'question' and the like? Formerly, it was only common in the courts,where we spoke of 'pleading to the issue' and 'a triable issue'.
And, similarly, when did the word 'issue' become the favoured word for 'question' and the like? Formerly, it was only common in the courts,where we spoke of 'pleading to the issue' and 'a triable issue'.
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Given that incredible is an adjective, I'm not too clear on where it may replace extremely and very, both adverbs. Accordingly, I'm not sure whether I have even understood your question correctly, Fred.
From the OED...
"1482 Monk of Evesham 33 An inestymable and incredibulle swetenes of ioyfull conforte."
I don't really see that his "incredible sweetness" is so very different from "It was an incredible goal" despite the fact that it is over half a millennium old.
Re issue, I'd guess that the rest of us have simply taken up the legal concept in the sense of "the matter in QUESTION."
From the OED...
"1482 Monk of Evesham 33 An inestymable and incredibulle swetenes of ioyfull conforte."
I don't really see that his "incredible sweetness" is so very different from "It was an incredible goal" despite the fact that it is over half a millennium old.
Re issue, I'd guess that the rest of us have simply taken up the legal concept in the sense of "the matter in QUESTION."
You clearly have issues, FredPuli43.
I worked at one place where the use of the word 'problem' was frowned upon- we had to say 'challenges' or 'issues'.
Now I hear people at work saying about a colleague/pupil "oh, he/she had some issues..." and everyone nods knowingly as if that justifies the behaviour, whereas I am wondering what the issues were.
As for 'incredible' maybe it has replaced 'awesome'- for several years every performance on a football pitch or on X factor was 'awesome'. And every participant on X factor had been on a 'journey' or a 'rollercoaster ride'
I worked at one place where the use of the word 'problem' was frowned upon- we had to say 'challenges' or 'issues'.
Now I hear people at work saying about a colleague/pupil "oh, he/she had some issues..." and everyone nods knowingly as if that justifies the behaviour, whereas I am wondering what the issues were.
As for 'incredible' maybe it has replaced 'awesome'- for several years every performance on a football pitch or on X factor was 'awesome'. And every participant on X factor had been on a 'journey' or a 'rollercoaster ride'
I don't hear the word 'incredible' all that much. The word that really irritates me and seems to have replaced a simple 'yes' is 'absolutely'! Everyone from newsreaders, reporters, sports commentators and the ordinary person in the street seems to use this word indiscriminately.
It infuriates me so much I find myself shouting at the TV saying, "Just say YES!".
It infuriates me so much I find myself shouting at the TV saying, "Just say YES!".
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