Stop trying to be a smart arse all the time. You're like one of those pull-out string dolls. I am fully aware that his TV personality is to be as anal as possible, but I thought his soapbox thing was supposed to be his actual opinions on things.

I was forgetting the most stupid, ignorant Americanism.

Invariably when they're trying to quote something, they'll say "quote, unquote" and THEN say what they were supposed to be quoting - this means nothing was actually quoted and they could say whatever they liked.

FFS, it's "quote" - whatever they're quoting - "unquote"! Not difficult, is it? It identifies the start of the quotation and the end of it, simple!

I've noticed a lot of people doing that, not just Americans.

A lot of people get these common phrases wrong because they just go on autopilot and don't actually think about what it is they are writing/saying. If the did they would realise it makes no sense; eg someone not a million miles away from this forum thinks some information "came alight" - now wtf is that supposed to mean?

Probably a corruption of "came to light", from "light of day".

Obviously it's supposed to be "came to light" but what was actually written doesn't make any sense.

came alight.... as in, ignited?

Ah, now I understand, to bring it into the light and out of the dark, they set fire to it to produce the light - sometimes I'm so stupid I should dye my hair blonde http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/blush1.gif

Yes, I am taking the p*ss...