"=?windows-1252?Q?=85_most_=5Ffavorite=5F_nation_clause_=85=22_?=[NT]

[Victor Steinbok]

Just to be clear--"tie X over" is in the Eggcorn Database, although its
use is still on the rise. Michael Quinion is quoted, "In some slight
defence of _to tie one over_, it is becoming more common, but it is a
folk etymology (read 'error' if you prefer) that has grown up because
the word _tide_ here seems to make no sense."I'm wondering if there
isn't another factor lurking here--where would one try to look it up in
a dictionary? It's not that easy--just check out OED tide v.2.

     VS-)

On 4/15/2012 10:12 PM, Victor Steinbok wrote:
> Again, "most _favored_ nation status" is fairly standard for
> international law. I suppose, there is a difference between "favored"
> and "favorite", but I would not see much to squawk about if that was
> all there was, as long as the context was OK. Over the past couple of
> days, I have seen it applied very badly to the Apple e-books
> case--with the idea being that Apple got privileged treatment from
> e-book publishers. _That_ I find to be wrong--but, again, because it's
> an incorrect interpretation of the international law phrase (MFN
> status within the WTO regime does not single out countries for
> privileges--quite the opposite, it's the normal status when penalties
> don't apply). So the issue even here is the context, not the
> favored/favorite distinction. I mean, it's certainly wrong, but not
> something that would get much "passive"-style peeving.
>
> "Tide over", on the other hand...
>
>     VS-)
>
> On 4/15/2012 7:40 PM, Wilson Gray wrote:
>> email
>>
>> --
>> -Wilson
>

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