March 24, 20179 yr I've never heard the phrase "mute point" or the usage that you describe for "moot point" I had to look it up to make sure I wasn't crazy. In the traditional definition, a moot point does mean open for debate or discussion, although I've never heard it used that way, and the term hasn't been commonly used that way in over a century. In modern use, a moot point is hypothetical or no importance. "Mute point" isn't a correct term and has no usage. The definition you give "mute point" is actually the current usage for "moot point". Moot vs. mute - Grammarist I know. That was my point. People say "moot point" whe they think something is pointless to discuss. Some people will use the phrase "mute point" when they intended to say "moot point." Oddly enough the word mute usually means silent so a mute point, which is a term that does not really exist, would be closer to what they are trying to say.
March 24, 20179 yr Author I've never heard the phrase "mute point" or the usage that you describe for "moot point" I had to look it up to make sure I wasn't crazy. In the traditional definition, a moot point does mean open for debate or discussion, although I've never heard it used that way, and the term hasn't been commonly used that way in over a century. In modern use, a moot point is hypothetical or no importance. "Mute point" isn't a correct term and has no usage. The definition you give "mute point" is actually the current usage for "moot point". Moot vs. mute - Grammarist I was a paralegal when I was younger...worked in and office of 30+ attorneys, and heard it used ALLLLLL the time there.
March 24, 20179 yr "Hold down the fort" What does that even mean? Is the fort going to float away if one of us doesn't hold it down? It's the same phrasing as a military unit needing to "hold the line". "Hold the fort". You don't need the extra word.
March 24, 20179 yr "Hold down the fort" What does that even mean? Is the fort going to float away if one of us doesn't hold it down? It's the same phrasing as a military unit needing to "hold the line". "Hold the fort". You don't need the extra word. You're holding the fort down because when your higher ranking officer leaves, you're now in charge incase of an attack. I used that phrase all the time.
March 24, 20179 yr You're holding the fort down because when your higher ranking officer leaves' date=' you're now in charge incase of an attack. I used that phrase all the time.[/quote'] No you're holding the fort. There's nothing to hold down. It's an extra word that makes the phrase basically nonsense.
March 24, 20179 yr No you're holding the fort. There's nothing to hold down. It's an extra word that makes the phrase basically nonsense. Hey go all British and just say "Hold Fort", they rarely if ever use "The" before a location...so we can just drop "The" too.
March 24, 20179 yr I know. That was my point. People say "moot point" whe they think something is pointless to discuss. Some people will use the phrase "mute point" when they intended to say "moot point." Oddly enough the word mute usually means silent so a mute point, which is a term that does not really exist, would be closer to what they are trying to say. I guess I'm still confused by what your saying. Saying "moot point" to mean a something is pointless to discuss is correct usage. The usage of "moot point" that you described in the earlier post, (that a point is worthy of discussion) while technically correct, hasn't been commonly used in a long time, and I've never heard it used that way. Anyway, it's probably a moot point, and not worth discussing.:lol2:
March 24, 20179 yr No you're holding the fort. There's nothing to hold down. It's an extra word that makes the phrase basically nonsense. If anything, wouldn't you be holding "the fort up"?
March 24, 20179 yr Indiana. Fo sho. Mrs. C1s Grandmother introduced me to Richmond, IN "lingo" twenty something years ago. Oil = Oar Earl Push = Poooosh Flustered meets Frustrated = Flustrated ( heard many a time in NKY as well ) When I hear about idioms I flash to " A Few Good Men " and the back and forth between the newstand guy and Tom Cruises character! ....A rolling stone gathers no moss!
March 24, 20179 yr My dad would screw this one up all the time. This is gonna hurt you a lot more than it's gonna hurt me!
March 24, 20179 yr Some say (I don't know why) "Ellinois" for "Illinois" and "libary" for "library." or Illinoise
March 26, 20179 yr Remember when the announcers decided that "Times-Out" was the correct usage instead "Time-Outs"? For about 2 weeks it was, "Buffalo has two times-out left after using one early in the fourth quarter." Then everyone got tired of hearing it.
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