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Re: Receipts

From Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com>
Newsgroups alt.usage.english, alt.english.usage
Subject Re: Receipts
Date 2026-06-30 19:40 -0700
Organization Dis One
Message-ID <mn.e2a67ea602f1d15c.127094@snitoo> (permalink)
References (2 earlier) <111no5r$12afu$1@dont-email.me> <lfpv3ltg5v5brql4489a2dpb49kf6r5f57@4ax.com> <111p602$i3jg$1@artemis.inf.ed.ac.uk> <111qgln$3eu94$1@dont-email.me> <naccbnFd0bvU1@mid.individual.net>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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With a quizzical look, Hibou observed:
> Le 28/06/2026 à 07:57, Ross Clark a écrit :
>> 
>> I don't think I'd ever heard it before, but I was in no doubt about its 
>> meaning and origin when I saw it here. "Receipts" are such a common and 
>> crucial type of evidence in cases where someone is accused of receiving 
>> stolen goods, misappropriation of public funds, etc. A proper receipt will 
>> show not only that you bought it, but when, where, for how much, and from 
>> whom. [...]
>
>
> The meaning was deducible from context, but the choice of word looked like an 
> error. Better the mot juste, in this case 'evidence'; better plain English 
> than a limping attempt at decoration.

Much of the choice has to do with the impact you desire.  Sometimes 
plain English does that best, sometimes it doesn't.

There is also the impact the phrase has had on the speaker ... if a 
bunch of recent usages has moved the phrase to the front, it might have 
displaced the plain English, and seem clearer to the speaker.

And there was a time when "evidence" and "proof" weren't plain English. 
 Language evolves despite curmudgeons best efforts.

[Proof is interesting, because some of the meanings that aren't 
applicable in the discussed context are still around.  Maybe we should 
test that idea again.]

> Anyway, when buying a new metaphor it's wise to keep the receipt. Then if it 
> doesn't suit, you can return it for a refund.

Most return policies have a time limit.  But one of occam's favored 
streamers has collaborated on a stream about English words that have 
been lost but would be useful if brought back.

/dps

-- 
I have always been glad we weren't killed that night.  I do not know 
any particular reason, but I have always been glad.
  _Roughing It_, Mark Twain

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Thread

Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-26 17:00 +0200
  Re: Receipts athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-06-26 15:01 +0000
    Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-26 19:17 +0100
      Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-27 05:02 +0200
        Re: Receipts The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 06:10 -0400
          Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 03:29 +0200
          Re: Receipts Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2026-06-29 02:17 -0300
      Re: Receipts Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-27 15:47 +1000
        Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-27 11:15 +0100
          Re: Receipts nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-27 13:25 +0200
          Re: Receipts Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net> - 2026-06-28 08:29 +0100
            Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 17:09 +0200
        Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-27 13:49 +0200
        Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 11:30 -0400
          Re: Receipts richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-27 18:49 +0000
            Re: Receipts liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-06-27 21:58 +0100
            Re: Receipts Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-28 11:21 +1000
              Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-28 05:51 +0100
            Re: Receipts Ross Clark <benlizro@ihug.co.nz> - 2026-06-28 18:57 +1200
              Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-28 11:46 +0100
                Re: Receipts Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 19:40 -0700
                Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-01 07:19 +0100
                Re: Receipts Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-01 03:21 -0700
                Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-01 11:49 +0100
                Re: Receipts Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-01 21:16 +1000
                Re: Receipts athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-07-01 12:57 +0000
                Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-01 15:40 +0100
                Re: Receipts Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 09:44 +1000
                Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-02 05:16 +0200
                Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-02 06:11 +0100
                Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-03 08:28 +0200
      Re: Receipts occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-06-27 14:22 +0200
        Re: Receipts Phil <phil@anonymous.invalid> - 2026-06-27 18:18 +0100
          Re: Receipts ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-06-27 18:35 +0000
            Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 15:05 -0400
    Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-27 04:44 +0200
      Re: Receipts nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-27 13:25 +0200
        Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 03:39 +0200
          Re: Receipts nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-28 11:01 +0200
            Re: Receipts Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-28 21:21 +1000
            Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-28 15:48 +0200
              Re: Receipts nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-28 21:32 +0200
                Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-29 17:45 +0200
          Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-28 15:42 +0200
  Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-26 18:13 +0200
    Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-26 12:57 -0400
      Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-27 13:40 +0200
        Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 11:01 -0400
          Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 03:53 +0200
            Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 23:26 -0400
        Re: Receipts Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-28 11:37 +1000
          Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-28 05:51 +0100
          Re: Receipts nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-28 11:01 +0200
    Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-26 19:24 +0100
      Re: Receipts liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-06-27 12:23 +0100
      Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-27 13:41 +0200
        Re: Receipts Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-27 13:39 +0100
    Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-27 05:04 +0200
  Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-26 12:46 -0400
    Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-27 05:25 +0200
      Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 00:31 -0400
        Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-27 19:00 +0200
          Re: Receipts The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 13:16 -0400
            Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-27 19:33 +0200
            Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 04:09 +0200
              Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 23:25 -0400
          Re: Receipts Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 14:51 -0400
      Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-27 13:58 +0200
        Re: Receipts Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 04:16 +0200
          Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-28 10:16 +0200
    Re: Receipts "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-27 13:31 +0200
  Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 12:10 +0800
    Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-27 19:05 +0200
      Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 15:01 -0400
        Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 12:54 +0800
      Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-27 23:10 +0200
        Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 04:21 +0200
          Re: Receipts ... ignore threads? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 12:53 +0800
          Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-06-28 09:35 +0200
            Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 18:19 +0800
              Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-28 21:28 +1000
                Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-06-29 08:16 +0200
                Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-06-29 19:18 +0800
          Re: Receipts <-- mis-dictation? cursed? nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-28 11:01 +0200
        Re: Receipts ... forcing delta updates to old NNTP servers? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 12:46 +0800
  Re: Receipts vs Magical Talisman??? "Mr. Man-wai Chang" <toylet.toylet@gmail.com> - 2026-07-01 14:42 +0800

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