How do you say "this", without actually saying "this". (I understand "^^this" upsets somebody, but anyway this is exactly how I feel)
There is: Agreed..! I agree with you. 100% agree. I am in complete and total accord with the statement you have just vouchsafed [don't blame me, that's The Goon Show, for you]. ... and many more..! Including, unfortunately This. I think I could cheerfully punch the person who first wrote the particular contraction down as a sign of agreement. Perhaps it was the same person who suggested that every chosen striker should henceforth play up top. What has suddenly gone wrong with up front..?
Ah, so it was you who objects to the use of the word "this" in this context! I certainly don't want to upset anyone by being annoyingly hackneyed! Oh no, not I, sir! In future, I shall try to avoid winding you up with it, and use , "I agree" or one of the other excellent suggestions which you made. Simples!
Actually, I think it's -Dan who really objects to This, because he suggests the poster who merely agrees to some compendious tome, has been lazy. I am a mere bandwagon-jumper-on-er, compared to him.
Ok, the question about up-top vs up-front. Two theories; First, when they are discussing tactics, perhaps the use of certain white-boards has led to the physical area at the top being used for the forward players, and the expression refers to those players "up-top." Secondly, knowing how young men have a fixation with young women, it maybe that the expression "up-top" just sounded more interesting when accidently used, and as a favoured "mutation" spread through the population of football players. This would happen very quickly as most footballers only have a couple of dozen other expressions with which the mutant form would have to compete anyway. Another example might be the mutation, " wear your baseball cap round the wrong way" which was quite successful for a while, thankfully now reducing in frequency. Or it's something else. so that's 3 possible reasons, really.
I am delighted to observe there are many people other than myself who are Murdoch media free. In a world of growing cynicism Murdoch epitomises all that is wrong with 'competitive' free markets.
