• Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Unrelated: did you know that the term “bog standard” comes from the term “box standard” which means, essentially, vanilla. No modifications or additions, just the basic version in the box. This used to be on the boxes for things people bought.

    Now it basically means the same thing but to a none native speaker bog standard would likely not make much sense, where box standard has the context in the term.

    • SabinStargem@lemmy.today
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      2 days ago

      BOG: “Board of Government”. Apparently the durability and other characteristics of toilet seats had to be standardized by a board, otherwise people would suffer accidents while on the throne. Thus, we got the BOG Standard.

      At least, that I what I heard anecdotally.

    • sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      I genuinely did not know that.

      Makes complete sense though!

      … and yes, English is a ridiculous nonsense language, we can and routinely do things like verb(ify) nouns, we have tons of idioms and slang that well… barely even make sense to many native speakers… we have tons of homophones like threw through, their there they’re… etc…