pejoration of "stuff?"

[Jonathan Lighter]

"Stuff happens" is a recognized euphemism of the proverbial bumper-sticker, "Shit Happens."

JL

Charles Doyle <cdoyle at UGA.EDU> wrote: ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender:       American Dialect Society
Poster:       Charles Doyle
Subject:      Re: pejoration of "stuff?"
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We might also take note of the (proverbial?) expression "It's just stuff" (or "It's all just stuff"), often uttered, for example, to console someone (or oneself) over the loss of material property in a fire or storm. To call the property "stuff" is to devalue it.

--Charlie

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