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Re: Receipts - But a new slant

From Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid>
Newsgroups alt.usage.english
Subject Re: Receipts - But a new slant
Date 2026-06-29 06:27 +0100
Message-ID <naee1gFn5kgU1@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References <mqa24ltljg7qpg1h3tn7a9lilv3gj10qd9@4ax.com>

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Le 28/06/2026 à 15:34, Tony Cooper a écrit :
> 
> The meaning and the subject of "Who uses it"? has been covered, but
> what has not been covered is "Why use it?".
> 
> That question is more interesting to me.
> 
> When someone says/writes "I have the receipts", to indicate that they
> have proof or evidence of a situation or crime, why do they say that
> instead of the simpler and more understandable "I have proof of this"
> or "I have the evidence that proves this."?
> 
> It seems that people pick up on new phrases or word usage just because
> others have, and not because it expresses the thought better.
> 
> Most here who are not Americans seem to think that "receipts" in this
> context is an Americanism, a mistake, and an inappropropriate usage.
> 
> However, my bottom dollar would be bet on the belief that if some -
> say, British or even South African - popular writer would use
> "receipts" in this context that it would spread.  Some other writer
> would use it, and then another, and finally it would no longer be an
> Americanism but recognized as common usage in that sphere.
> 
> There are quite a few "Americanisms" or "Britishisms" that are now
> used commonly in writings and speech in places that are not the US or
> the UK.
> 
> Consider, for example, "sticky wicket".  Most Americans have no real
> conception of what a wicket is, and only a vague idea that it has
> something to do with cricket. Yet, they'll say/write that this is a
> sticky wicket instead of the simpler and more understandable "This is
> a difficult situation".  American readers/hearers will not consider
> this a Britishism; they'll consider it part of our language.
> 
> No question here.  Just an observation.


I think that's right. People learn language from those around them (and 
have done since we lived in caves), and don't usually analyse or 
question what they learn. Expressions that have what it takes to spread 
do so; they are 'memes' in Dawkins' original sense. People express 
themselves by assembling building blocks, and don't stop to look inside 
them, to question 'road map', or 'lowest common denominator', or (chez 
vous Over There) 'I could care less'.

There is a difference between cultures, I think. The French are often 
scared to play with language, because of the Académie and all it stands 
for. They will ask "Is this allowed?" I think this question would make 
Americans scoff; they are at the opposite end; they treat language as a 
plaything. Why do they do this? Perhaps because of 'status anxiety' and 
the need to impress others. We British are somewhere in between.

My guess is it's American playfulness that means so many expressions 
originate there. Unfortunately, the inventors aren't always skilled or 
logical - or don't prioritise logic - whence, perhaps, 'horseback 
riding' for horse riding. (This could be a reminder to put the saddle on 
its back and not its head.)

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Receipts - But a new slant Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 10:34 -0400
  Re: Receipts - But a new slant Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-28 17:36 +0200
  Re: Receipts - But a new slant richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-28 17:03 +0000
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-29 06:04 +0200
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-06-29 20:26 +0100
  Re: Receipts - But a new slant Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-29 06:27 +0100
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-07-01 17:33 -0700
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-02 10:38 +1000
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-02 05:37 +0200
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-07-02 19:33 +0100
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-07-02 05:36 +0200
  Re: Receipts - But a new slant Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2026-06-29 02:33 -0300
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-06-29 16:51 +0200
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2026-06-30 01:59 -0300
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-06-30 07:25 +0200
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-30 10:32 +0200
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 19:40 -0700
  Re: Receipts - But a new slant "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> - 2026-06-29 17:53 +0200
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-29 12:26 -0400
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-06-29 20:30 +0100
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-29 21:54 +0200
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-29 20:38 +0000
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-30 10:12 +1000
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-29 23:00 -0400
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-06-30 09:26 +0100
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 19:40 -0700
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 20:26 -0700
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2026-06-30 02:12 -0300
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-06-30 08:34 +0200
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-06-30 10:36 +0200
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 19:40 -0700
    Re: Receipts - But a new slant athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-06-29 16:59 +0000
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-29 19:17 +0000
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-30 07:03 +0100
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> - 2026-06-30 07:46 +0000
      Re: Receipts - But a new slant Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-29 16:36 -0400
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-30 07:03 +0100
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-06-30 08:44 +0200
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-30 09:13 +0000
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-06-30 10:16 +0100
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-30 09:36 +0000
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-06-30 11:44 +0200
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-06-30 11:13 +0100
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-30 14:46 +0200
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-06-30 11:43 +0200
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Radey Shouman <shouman@comcast.net> - 2026-06-30 11:07 -0400
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) - 2026-06-30 16:34 +0000
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Radey Shouman <shouman@comcast.net> - 2026-06-30 13:59 -0400
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Ross Clark <benlizro@ihug.co.nz> - 2026-07-01 09:01 +1200
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 18:20 -0400
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-01 08:51 +0200
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Ross Clark <benlizro@ihug.co.nz> - 2026-07-01 22:09 +1200
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-30 16:50 +1000
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-30 08:17 +0100
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-06-30 17:55 +1000
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-06-30 14:43 +0100
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-07-03 08:13 +0200
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-07-03 11:30 +0100
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 17:15 +1000
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-05 10:36 +0200
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-06-30 09:30 +0200
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Rich Ulrich <rich.ulrich@comcast.net> - 2026-06-30 08:41 -0400
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-06-30 14:48 +0200
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Rich Ulrich <rich.ulrich@comcast.net> - 2026-06-30 14:11 -0400
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-06-30 20:17 +0100
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-06-30 09:26 +0100
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-06-30 11:52 +0000
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-07-04 09:38 +0000
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Rich Ulrich <rich.ulrich@comcast.net> - 2026-07-04 21:13 -0400
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-07-05 09:22 +0200
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> - 2026-06-30 13:53 -0400
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2026-07-02 18:35 -0300
            Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-03 10:21 +1000
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> - 2026-07-03 02:05 -0300
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Bertel Lund Hansen <rundtosset@lundhansen.dk> - 2026-07-03 12:08 +0200
              Re: Receipts - But a new slant Rich Ulrich <rich.ulrich@comcast.net> - 2026-07-03 10:13 -0400
                Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-05 17:25 +1000
        Re: Receipts - But a new slant Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-06-30 20:07 +0100
          Re: Receipts - But a new slant Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-07-01 10:16 +1000

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