fox: linguistics-related IPA (linguistics)
fox ([personal profile] fox) wrote2010-05-17 04:29 pm

also, while we're on the subject

Let's say you want to accomplish a task that most people would normally believe requires going to a particular location. Getting a rockin' hairdo, for example, might necessitate going to a salon. Collecting the mail might be impossible without going outside, if that's where your mailbox is.

If you manage to accomplish this task without going to the presumably-required place, you have done so "without stepping [wherever]" or "without setting foot [wherever]". Please, please, PLEASE stop saying you've done things "without *stepping foot [wherever]" RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

Thank you.
cinco: Spock looking doubtful: "O RLY?" (Default)

[personal profile] cinco 2010-05-17 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh boy, no. I think it files under not grammatically incorrect, but certainly a misinterpretation of the intended idiom. I haven't seen it before--or have I just not noticed it? Horrors.