Well-ish
Marius Hancu
Is "well-ish" frequently heard in the UK?
---
Q. How much do you think your lack of matches affected the way you
played today, the six-week layoff?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, the one thing that's been a problem for me since
I came back was, you know, I played, you know, well-ish first set of
the matches. Then when the adrenaline wears off, I don't know, there's
not quite the same spark, you know, in the legs that there was at the
start of the year.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=60542
---
--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu
Skitt
Well, you know, it depends, you know, on what comes to mind, you know.
--
Skitt (AmE)
HVS
> Hello:
>
> Is "well-ish" frequently heard in the UK?
I don't know about frequently, but it's entirely idiomatic, as adding
"-ish" as a qualifier is extremely common.
That said, my guess is that "well-ish" is less common than "good-
ish" or "fair-ish".
--
Cheers, Harvey
CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed
Ray O'Hara
"Marius Hancu" <marius...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:b6b0ccfe-28bc-495f...@o10g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello:
>
> Is "well-ish" frequently heard in the UK?
>
Ish as an ending is common on both sides of the pond and probably
everywhere in the English speaking world.
It means "almost, but not quite"
John Dean
'ish' is used as a stand-alone meaning 'not entirely', 'after a fashion'
So
"Are you OK?" "Ish" ie "I'm not 100%
"Have you finished that task?" "Ish" ie "It's over nut it could have been
done better"
"Did you play well?" "Ish" ie "I played OK but I've played better"
Maybe Andy is joining the stand-alone 'ish' to 'well'.
Just something to consider alongside the more conventional interpretation. A
lot depends IMHO on which syllable was stressed.
--
John Dean
Oxford
Ray O'Hara
"John Dean" <john...@fraglineone.net> wrote in message
news:7n606kF...@mid.individual.net...
Brits use "ish" as a stand alone word?
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
Yes, but only when the word to which it is attached is elided, as in an
answer to a question or a response to a statement.
A: That was a great tune.
B: Ish. (Meaning "great-ish")
A: You were taken ill a few days ago. Are you fit now?
B: Ish. (Meaning "fit-ish")
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
Marius Hancu
wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:19:51 -0500, "Ray O'Hara"
>
>
>
>
> >"John Dean" <john-d...@fraglineone.net> wrote in message
That's quite interesting.
Thank you all.
Marius Hancu
John Dean
Ish
>
> A: That was a great tune.
> B: Ish. (Meaning "great-ish")
>
> A: You were taken ill a few days ago. Are you fit now?
> B: Ish. (Meaning "fit-ish")
A So, Robbie Williams is a top-notch singer?
B. Ish
A. I believe Gordon Brown has solved the banking crisis
B. Ish
A As you yourself well know
B. Ish
--
John Dean
Oxford
Mike Lyle
[...]
>
> 'ish' is used as a stand-alone meaning 'not entirely', 'after a
> fashion' So
>
> "Are you OK?" "Ish" ie "I'm not 100%
> "Have you finished that task?" "Ish" ie "It's over nut it could have
> been done better"
> "Did you play well?" "Ish" ie "I played OK but I've played better"
The stand-alone "ish" is even sometimes used in Welsh: I heard it on an
S4C cookery prog only last week. (I should mention that it was part of
the fraction that I actually understood: but I was riveted by the midget
signer, whose facial expressions seemed to indicate utter disgust
throughout.)
--
Mike.
Peter Moylan
> Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote:
>> A: That was a great tune.
>> B: Ish. (Meaning "great-ish")
>>
>> A: You were taken ill a few days ago. Are you fit now?
>> B: Ish. (Meaning "fit-ish")
>
> A So, Robbie Williams is a top-notch singer?
> B. Ish
>
> A. I believe Gordon Brown has solved the banking crisis
> B. Ish
>
> A As you yourself well know
> B. Ish
<applause>
--
Peter Moylan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. http://www.pmoylan.org
For an e-mail address, see my web page.
Peter Duncanson (BrE)
wrote:
>John Dean wrote:
>> Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote:
>
>>> A: That was a great tune.
>>> B: Ish. (Meaning "great-ish")
>>>
>>> A: You were taken ill a few days ago. Are you fit now?
>>> B: Ish. (Meaning "fit-ish")
>>
>> A So, Robbie Williams is a top-notch singer?
>> B. Ish
>>
>> A. I believe Gordon Brown has solved the banking crisis
>> B. Ish
>>
>> A As you yourself well know
>> B. Ish
>
><applause>
Under other circumstances I might respond "Ish" but here the applause is
deserved.
Robert Bannister
Doesn't everyone?
--
Rob Bannister
Donna Richoux
> Ray O'Hara wrote:
> > "John Dean" <john...@fraglineone.net> wrote in message
> >> "Are you OK?" "Ish" ie "I'm not 100%
> >> "Have you finished that task?" "Ish" ie "It's over nut it could have been
> >> done better"
> >> "Did you play well?" "Ish" ie "I played OK but I've played better"
> >>
> >> Maybe Andy is joining the stand-alone 'ish' to 'well'.
> >> Just something to consider alongside the more conventional interpretation.
> >> A lot depends IMHO on which syllable was stressed.
> >> --
> >> John Dean
> >> Oxford
> >>
> >
> > Brits use "ish" as a stand alone word?
> >
>
> Doesn't everyone?
I don't think so. I certainly feel free (under normal friendly
conditions) to add "ish" as a suffix onto any adjective or condition,
to mean "somewhat" or "partially" or "like," but I'm pretty sure I
would always repeat the root word as well. "Yellow?" "Yellowish."
This use John describes -- any idea how old it is?
--
Best -- Donna Richoux
An American living in the Netherlands
aquachimp
wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:19:51 -0500, "Ray O'Hara"
>
>
>
>
> >"John Dean" <john-d...@fraglineone.net> wrote in message
I keep thinking of a drink, not strictlt in English usage of course,
yellowish in colour and pronounced ISH-ka-baa-ha (as near as I can
get to how to witting Uisce Beatha)
Robert Bannister
I've certainly done it since I was in my teens, so that's in the 50s.
--
Rob Bannister
Ray O'Hara
"Robert Bannister" <rob...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:7n8mbfF...@mid.individual.net...
No, as an ending it's common. I've never heard anyone just say "ish".
Pat Durkin
news:heu93j$l4e$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
I think that, as children, we used "Ish" and "Ishie" to express "Ick"
and
"Icky"-- feelings that are now expressed as "Eww", if not "Eewwie".
>
>