The word pleonasm describes phrases that use more words than essential to get throughout a position. Occasionally a pleonasm is employed for effect. Other times it’s just redundant. Right here are some examples men and women use all the time. Include your personal in the feedback.

Neck image via Shutterstock

one. Nape of the neck. There’s only one particular nape, and it’s the back of your neck. It’s possible we get baffled by the “scruffs” of animals’ necks given that there are other scruffs out there. If you’re at any time conversing about a nape, though, you can drop “of the neck.”

two. Fake pretense. This is one particular we all should have known ahead of. Though pretense technically signifies any “claim or implication,” the vast greater part of the time, our use of “pretense” already suggests falsehood. For illustration: when’s the very last time you considered a thing was equally pretentious and authentic?

3. Frozen tundra. “Tundra” arrives from the Russian term for Arctic steppes, and tundra is typically characterised by permafrost, frozen subsoil. Technically, there is non-frozen Alpine tundra, so-referred to as from lack of vegetation, not temperature. Nevertheless, the huge greater part of tundra is frozen. So, whether or not you are speaking about northern Siberia or poking enjoyable at North Dakotan winters, this phrase is generally redundant.

4. Gnashing of teeth. This one is a image of stress and struggling. But “to gnash” previously indicates “to grind one’s teeth” and has meant that given that the fifteenth century. If the only factor you can gnash is teeth, this very little switch of phrase is pitch-ideal pleonasm.

5. Head honcho. “Honcho” is a comparatively new addition to English, coming to us from Japanese about the time of Globe War II. In Japanese, hancho means “group leader,” so American servicemen chosen the phrase up in regular discussion. Nevertheless, considering that “honcho” (with the anglicized spelling) currently implies boss or chief, incorporating the head is just excessive.

6. Bleary-eyed. Men and women wake up bleary-eyed every single early morning. Folks get bleary-eyed every single day and gasoline individuals 5-Hour Electricity commercials. “Bleary” presently indicates dulled or dimmed in vision. No other part of you can be bleary at all. Other factors can be bleary, like a foggy mirror, but if you’re bleary, you do not need to have to add the part about your eyes.

7. Veer off program. There’s no other area a particular person can veer. “Veer” signifies “to modify direction” or “to go off course” no matter what. In truth, it’s meant that because at least the 1580s. Since the prepositional phrase is unneeded, English speakers have most likely been overstating their veers for centuries.

8. Safe haven. “Haven” is an previous word. And a number of dictionaries even now list its literal that means initial: “harbor” or “port.” But given that the thirteenth century, English speakers have largely employed the figurative indicating: a place of basic safety and refuge. So, except you are telling a person about an specially non-threatening harbor, you can depart off the first component.

9. Ford a river. This one isn’t virtually as widespread as the other individuals. But from time to time, one particular hears about fording a river. “Ford” as a verb signifies “to cross a river or stream” coming from the noun “ford” for a shallow place in the water. In concept, a single could ford a lake, but no one particular ever says that.
* * *
Prepay in advance? Tired cliché? Give us your greatest pleonasms underneath.

A lot more from psychological_floss…

12 Actually Pressured Portmanteaux That Didn’t Catch On
*
19 Obscure Regional Words All People in america Must Adopt Quickly
*
14 Wonderful Phrases With No English Equivalent
*
eleven of the Very best Buyer Services Tales At any time
*
17 Vowel-Free of charge Phrases Satisfactory in Words With Close friends

CARCASSETTEPLAYER.ORG

Discover More Ipod Content articles