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If you loathe something, you are disgusted and repulsed by it. If you are loath to admit something, you are reluctant or unwilling to admit it. For example, you may be loath to admit that you loathe someone, or that you do not know the difference between loath and loathe.
(The above is quite like the breath/breathe situation as far as pronunciation goes. Loath rhymes with both. It's shorter and sharper than loathe. Loathe rhymes with clothe. It's more languorous and ends less sharply.)
And while I'm at it, one drinks ESpresso--not expresso. While there may be something intuitively appealing about the "ex" version, (as it reminds one that the vicious stuff is like a hit of cheap crank) it's really quite incorrect. And while you're at it, leave the X out of the pronunciation, as well. If I hear anyone order an expresso, I am likely to have a Falling Down moment.
And while we're on the subject of pronunciation, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty and grace that is the word picture. Let's just *look* at it. Picture. Pic-ture. Note the fluid perfection of the way the TWO syllables blend so elegantly. TWO syllables. It's picture--not pic-it-ure. And, as with espresso/EXpresso before it, one cannot help but notice the complete and total absence of an X in this charming little word. So please, for the love of god, don't ask, "Oh, say, could you take our piXture?" It's the equivalent of Shrub belching out "New-cue-lar" during the 2005 SotU. "New-cue-lar," he said. And we all know it's nuclear, right? Of course it is.
And as long as we're asking questions, we're ASKing--not aXing. What the hell is up with this fucking floating X, anyway? Is it just so uncommon in everyday speech and taking up so much valuable space in our alphabet that we want to get our money's worth?
This X must be stopped.
Oh, and don't give me the "regionalism" or, "It's an accent," response to the new-cue-lar/nuclear thing. Look at the word. There's NO SECOND "U" in it. It's just not there.
Same goes for the phantom X. If there is no fucking X, there IS NO FUCKING X. Do not pronounce the nonexistent X.
* * *
I am now going outside to see if there is a sheep in my yard. I keep hearing these sheepish noises... ;-)
re: icon choice
It's a quote from Black Books. In that particular scene, Bernard was trying to antagonize a group of skinheads into beating him up.
While I am not *seeking* a beating, I'm probably courting one. So be it.
Comments
And asked pronounced 'aksed'.
Finally, I cringe at people pronouncing Acme 'Ac-a-me'!
Some days I really hate Jersey.
/grammar nazi
Having said that, you are right on in everything you say. Proper pronunciation has nothing to do with regional accents. I strive to speak properly and, as such, people tell me that I have no southern accent even though I certainly do. Proper pronunciation alone will add 10 points to your perceived IQ. So will not wearing a damned ball cap but that is another rant for another time!
And finally, with regard to the nuclear/nu-cue-lar issue. One of my favorite singers from the late 60's, Biff Rose, said it best. "The only difference in Nuclear and Unclear is how you use the U.N."
But, of course, I can't resist giving you my support.
While I knew loath/loathe, the pronunciation difference was new to me. Thank you for preventing me from making an arse of myself in the future.
There is no fucking X. There's a randy Y around somewhere, though. That's probably what you were hearing.
I think that if you're going to have command of one of the largest nuclear arsenals on Earth; you should at least be able to pronounce it (in your own language, of course). I've heard that Republicans pronounce it incorrectly, and everybody else gets it right. It is far too trite to be true, but, so far, all observed data points are consistent.
I don't want to dance, but I'll watch the other "bitches" do it.