Vort Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 Sadly, the answer is "no". (Or probably more like "Huh? What do you mean?") For years now, I have seen people use the phrase "far and few between" unironically. It's as if an entire generation of Americans was brought up not knowing how words work. Hey, Millennials and later, here's a pro tip: "Far and few between" doesn't make any sense, unless it's being used humorously or ironically. And in that case, it makes sense precisely because it doesn't make any sense. /old-guy-rant Midwest LDS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fether Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 1 minute ago, Vort said: Sadly, the answer is "no". (Or probably more like "Huh? What do you mean?") For years now, I have seen people use the phrase "far and few between" unironically. It's as if an entire generation of Americans was brought up not knowing how words work. Hey, Millennials and later, here's a pro tip: "Far and few between" doesn't make any sense, unless it's being used humorously or ironically. And in that case, it makes sense precisely because it doesn't make any sense. /old-guy-rant Funny... Maybe something happened on this forum where this wording was used (or perhaps I used it and forgot), but I have been contemplating this very saying off and on all week trying to make sense of it. Is the correct term “few and far between”? seashmore, Emmanuel Goldstein, Vort and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 Just now, Fether said: Is the correct term “few and far between”? That's a big 10-4, good buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fether Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 1 hour ago, Vort said: That's a big 10-4, good buddy. What will our generation do when yours dies out??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 1 minute ago, Fether said: What will our generation do when yours dies out??? All meaningful communication will cease as people spout random words at each other and stare in confusion when no one understands anyone else. askandanswer, Midwest LDS, MrShorty and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordorbund Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 23 minutes ago, Fether said: What will our generation do when yours dies out??? It does beg the question, doesn't it Vort 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just_A_Guy Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Vort said: All meaningful communication will cease as people spout random words at each other and stare in confusion when no one understands anyone else. Word, dude. Edited July 31, 2019 by Just_A_Guy Vort 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyg Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 28 minutes ago, Vort said: All meaningful communication will cease as people spout random words at each other and stare in confusion when no one understands anyone else. Midwest LDS and Vort 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mores Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 2 hours ago, Vort said: That's a big 10-4, good buddy. I once wrote an email response to a co-worker acknowledging his last statement. Quote 10-4 I failed to recognize that English was not his first language. He responded Quote 6? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordorbund Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 30 minutes ago, Mores said: I once wrote an email response to a co-worker acknowledging his last statement. I failed to recognize that English was not his first language. He responded 3! Vort 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mores Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, mordorbund said: 3! This, after the platonic friends comment... You, sir, are a genius... nay... a wizard -- a word wizard. Edited July 31, 2019 by Mores Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarginOfError Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 3 hours ago, Vort said: Sadly, the answer is "no". (Or probably more like "Huh? What do you mean?") For years now, I have seen people use the phrase "far and few between" unironically. It's as if an entire generation of Americans was brought up not knowing how words work. Hey, Millennials and later, here's a pro tip: "Far and few between" doesn't make any sense, unless it's being used humorously or ironically. And in that case, it makes sense precisely because it doesn't make any sense. /old-guy-rant You're really going to get upset about this? I could care less. Anddenex, beefche, Midwest LDS and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fether Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 1 hour ago, mordorbund said: 1 hour ago, Fether said: What will our generation do when yours dies out??? It does beg the question, doesn't it Speaking of missed used phrases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 54 minutes ago, mordorbund said: 3! Factorial or base 7? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anatess2 Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 Today, I had the car radio to a sports station and after 10 minutes, I had to turn the thing off. The sports commentator - and, of course, it has to be the one and only woman on the show - says "like" every 5 words or so. It was so bad, it physically hurt my ears. So yes, a PROFESSIONAL sports commentator talks like a 12 year old Beiber fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prisonchaplain Posted August 13, 2019 Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 I believe the phrase originated with us boomers, not the young. They may not even use it. Does it not mean you will only encounter such a thing a few times and those encounters will be far apart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fether Posted August 13, 2019 Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 Just now, prisonchaplain said: I believe the phrase originated with us boomers, not the young. They may not even use it. Does it not mean you will only encounter such a thing a few times and those encounters will be far apart? Day-a-nows, it means that you will encounter them far apart, and there will only be a few between those encounters. SilentOne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anddenex Posted August 13, 2019 Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 Not a Millennial here, but I think "few and far between" makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted August 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 6 minutes ago, Anddenex said: Not a Millennial here, but I think "few and far between" makes sense. You're not a Millennial, so you think "few and far between" makes sense. You're older than Millennials, so you didn't read the thread title right. You win some, you lose some. Anddenex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted August 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 (edited) 39 minutes ago, Vort said: You're not a Millennial, so you think "few and far between" makes sense. You're older than Millennials, so you didn't read the thread title right. You win some, you lose some. Now I feel like I have to clarify my tongue-in-cheek remark. You are right, of course, @Anddenex; "few and far between" makes perfect sense. But the thread is a jokey rant against the inversion (some might say perversion) "far and few between". So the fact that you are not a Millennial explains why you understand that "few and far between" makes sense, while the fact that you are older than Millennials (weaker eyesight, wandering mind, distractions galore) explains why you misread the thread title. Ha ha ha. What a riot. Well, of course it isn't funny when I try to EXPLAIN it! Edited August 13, 2019 by Vort Anddenex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anddenex Posted August 13, 2019 Report Share Posted August 13, 2019 13 minutes ago, Vort said: Now I feel like I have to clarify my tongue-in-cheek remark. You are right, of course, @Anddenex; "few and far between" makes perfect sense. But the thread is a jokey rant against the inversion (some might say perversion) "far and few between". So the fact that you are not a Millennial explains why you understand that "few and far between" makes sense, while the fact that you are older than Millennials explains why you misread the thread title. Ha ha ha. What a riot. Well, of course it isn't funny when I try to EXPLAIN it! Well, with the explanation, I now perfectly understand and find it humorous. It appears I misread the OP and your response. Doh! hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fether Posted August 14, 2019 Report Share Posted August 14, 2019 Listening to a conference by Jordan Belfort (The Real Wolf of Wallstreet) and he used the phrase "Far and Few Between"... guess it ain't just us Millenials!@ 59:45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.