Is it the sound of the word? The meaning? Or is it some association with an experience you had or a person who said it? What is it about that word that sets your teeth on edge?
Seems like everybody has a word that gets on their last nerve—and that points to a pitfall in our efforts to communicate with each other.
I don’t know what your can’t-stand-it word is; for a lot of women, “panties” is the word that gets on their last nerve.
It was exciting to find myself quoted in the Chicago Tribune the other day. Answer Angel Ellen responds to questions about clothing and cosmetics and shopping; readers sometimes contribute advice.
“For Deb S., who complained of her underpants riding up, Catherine J. says, ‘Three words: Soma Vanishing Edge…’”
My note to writer Ellen Warren actually said, “Three words: Soma Vanishing Edge. Well, there are really four words, but the fourth one is ‘panties’ so I’ll skip that.” The Answer Angel is on record as loathing the word “panties.”
She has plenty of company! But then, what are we supposed to call them instead?
A few observations from my friends:
“Panties”—I hate that word.” – Karen
“Panties” are disgusting! – Faye
“Panties” is like nails on a chalkboard. – Carol
I think “panties” sounds salacious. – Judi
Skivvies? Definitely not panties! – Liz
My totally unscientific poll of Facebook friends found some people aren’t that crazy about calling them underpants, either.
Peggy said, “I hate the word underpants. I use underwear instead.” Trisha doesn’t mind it, but she said, “Underpants sounds like what you wore in Girl Scouts or at camp.” On the other hand, Bam is all for it. “Underpants,” she said, “for under pants.”
The vast majority of people with a preference use “underwear” to refer to what goes under pants. Or a skirt. Or anything else. Underwear outpolled every other label by far.
But boy, do some people get creative!
Jan suggested, “How about rear gear?” Sima goes with “underoos.” Kristina: “If I’m feeling classy, lingerie.”
We got a lot of votes for Spanx. But then there was Lynn, who referred to them as her “sausage casing.” And Cindy called them “a torture device.”
A few people went right to “thong” to refer to what’s underneath. A few others (me included) reacted to that idea with a big “Ewwwww.”
Valerie says it’s enough to say “underwear,” or even “panties.” She doesn’t want to know about the specifics.
Some people get very specific. Like Rebecca: “Granny panties- before when I was married. Delicates- in dating life!”
Some are cute. Sue: “Our very young granddaughter would say—underwears.” And Kurt said he refers to them all as “superfluous.”
Some go for classy. Or at least French. Molly referred to the entire category as sous–vêtements. And Tom calls ‘em culottes. I think of culottes as a split-skirt sort of thing. But there it is in Wikipedia: “The French word culotte is (a pair of) panties…”
The British word is “knickers”—I heard from a few Anglophones.
And Nancy made some fine distinctions. “I tend toward panties when I mean filmy, fancy, lacy things. Cotton, full coverage?? Underwear or underpants. Can’t believe I’m writing this down!! I’m blushing!”
One thing stood out: the men leaned toward old-fashioned language for ladies’ well, whatever-you-call-them. ”Unmentionables.” “Delicates.” Guys were even using words like “drawers,” “bloomers,” and (get this) “pantaloons.” I’m not sure if they were yanking my chain or if discomfort drives them to dated lingo.
What it all drove home, though, was this. Words have meaning to each of us that goes way beyond what the dictionary says.
No wonder we so often have trouble communicating. We assume a shared understanding, as if everybody speaks our language. But in truth, your words have layers of meaning that may be very different from mine.
This is worth pondering when you’re writing—or speaking. What connotation do you give a word or phrase? What import does it have for someone else? And how can we possibly find common ground?
We differ so vastly on the label for lingerie—imagine the chasms between us when the subject is “justice.” Or “progress.” Or “diversity.” Or any other abstract concept.
The map really is NOT the territory. Alford Korzybski wrote that in Science and Sanity in 1933. We’d best keep the distinction top-of-mind now, when so many of our conversations are fraught with misunderstanding, distrust, and division.
Otherwise, we’ll constantly have our panties in a bunch. Our knickers in a knot. Our undies in a bundle.
You have some thoughts about the way we use words? As always, share your words below.
Catherine,
When I read your subject line–The word you can’t stand–I assumed the word is NO.
I love Ellen Warren too. The single best thing in the Sunday Trib.
-d
Well, “No” is a tough one too, Diana, especially for those of us doing business development. I’ve been an Ellen Warren fan since her long ago “Inc” days. And I always read The Answer Angel.
“The map is not the territory.” I haven’t heard that since Semantics class at Valpo! What a great reminder! Thank you. (And underwear is a good basic term.)
It’s such a good thing to keep in mind, Sue, that the map is not the territory. I think I’m going to explore it further in another article. In my NLP training, I heard another phrase for the same idea that might be even better: You can’t eat the menu.
I’m with you on “underwear.” Says it all, and it’s not icky.
I would like to add another word to the long list: Anything. I will give you an example: My husband would ask when I was wearing a skirt … “Are you wearing anything under that?”
Birgitte, I’m just guessing your answer might have been, “No.” 😉
You are correct!
Thanks for asking! A word I despise is “expecting,” in the sense of a 1950’s-vintage, pseudo-prim-and-proper euphemism for “pregnant.” As a kid back in the 1950s, I was already finding this usage detestable. And now that it appears to be having a resurgence, it’s still — to me — enormously loathsome, unnecessarily puritanical, and bordering on sanctimonious. Fingernails on chalkboard, indeed!
Interesting, Diane. I had no idea “expecting” was making a comeback. It is sort of coy and cutesy, isn’t it? What’s next, “with child?”
Where are we on “moist”? Ewww!!
Yes, I hate “moist,” Cindy. In fact, just recently my buddy Rick Kaempfer brought up my “moist”-resistance on the podcast he does with Dave Stern, Minutia Men. And dig this. Rick also mentioned that he remembered me not liking “panties.” Some things don’t change.