[the invisib1e hand]

whatever. it started showing up on the pseudo-intellectual catholic blogs that were being posted here a year or so ago (idunno, check the last time I objected to it, that should nail down the date).

Anyway, last time I checked, this was the USA and we had so many of our own colloquialisms we didn't need to lift the prissy ones from across the pond to sound cosmopolitan.

It's a little like using the word "shedjewel" or maybe just dropping a little latin into your sentences as though it was something all the homeys do.

NO STOMACH for pretentious anything, esp. writing.

peace out.

[Vanders9]

Last time I looked, this was an article about Britain, and the author was quoting British people and opinion, so using British colloquialisms is very reasonable.

And there is NOTHING "prissy" about "gobsmacked". It's a very working class term.

There is a difference between expressing oneself clearly and pretention.