Does anyone else here cringe at the words "manis" and "pedis"?

[Silent3]

Especially when used together?

It's not like I'm totally against the idea of manicures and pedicures. As a man I don't have much use for them myself, nor is the appearance of fingernails and toenails incredibly high on any list of attributes of female beauty to me, but I don't begrudge women (or any men who might happen to be into such things) their beauty rituals and their occasional indulgences.

But when those two words are shortened to "manis" and "pedis" -- gaaaccckk!! Earlier this evening I overheard someone on a home design show pointing out poolside furniture, musing about how the the girls in the family could lounge by the pool getting "manis and pedis" -- it was like nails on a chalkboard to hear.

Those words are too cutesy. They're too cloying. They reek of shallowless and overindulgence. I think of those sickening Bratz dolls, air-headed teenage girls who chief concerns in life are fashion and popularity, and adult women who haven't grown out of that. I think of women being sucked into turning what used to be an occasional indulgence into a de riguer routine regimen of consumerism, and girls being indoctrinated into this culture younger and younger. I think of people who expect to be pampered as a matter of course.

Yeah, yeah... I'm sure a bunch of you are ready to tell me how I'm overreacting. Probably mostly people who use those words themselves. :) But I doubt I'm the only one here who has the same visceral negative reaction. Even my wife, who had turned the design show on in the first place, groaned a little when she heard the "manis and pedis" bit.

[Skittles]

1. you're the first person I have seen / heard use those words

scheduling Silent3 for an ass-kicking for putting them into my mind

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. They grate on me -

right up there with "veggies" as abominations of language, used by people too cute or too lazy to use the whole, correct word............

[Silent3]

5. That's funny, because "veggie" doesn't bother me any more.

It used to strike me as baby talk, but that particular short form has grown on me over the years.

If I were to try to explain the difference in my reactions to these different words (the reactions are visceral, and explanations of such things tend to be post facto rationalizations, amateur self psychoanalysis), I'd have to say that shortening a word implies greater familiarity with a thing, more habitual use of a thing, consideration of a thing as commonplace, basic or essential, and that kind of attitude toward vegetables, even if one is using baby talk, at least has connotations of good health and dietary practices, whereas that kind of overly familiar embrace of manicures and pedicures implies (to me) overindulgence and excessive pampering.

[bluesbassman]

3. While I begrudge no one their indulgences, I too despise those words.

I believe they were borne of the laziness created by an overindulged and pampered society. Pretty sad if one is so worn out from shopping and pilates that the words manicure and pedicure are just too damn long and difficult to pronounce that they must be shortened to manis and pedis to save energy.
:puke:

[Danger Mouse]

4. Just another example of the gradual perversion of the English language.

There are other phrases and abbreviation that irritate me much, much more.

[Deep13]

6. I generally cringe at any cutesy bastardized word ending...

...in an "ee" sound. Or really any trendy shortened word. I realize it takes hours to pronounce "vacation," so shortening it to "vacay" may be necessary.

It just sounds really kiddish. I blame the British for this.

[driver8]

7. I cringe when I hear these "words".

Just like I cringe when someone says "B-B-Q" instead of barbeque. "Vacay" also bugs the shit out of me.

[Silent3]

8. As a written abbreviation, I'm OK with BBQ...

...but I don't think I've run into anyone yet saying BBQ aloud as if they were spelling out the letters, "bee bee cue".

That would be annoying.

[driver8]

9. OMG -- my wife and I were in a store one day and two couples

were having a conversation. One of the women was inviting the other couple to their house and must have said "bee bee cue" at least four times!!

My wife and I still laugh about it.

[Pharlo]

10. Those two particular idiomatic euphemisms don't bother me as

much as the 'designer dog' labels.

Yorkie-Poo
Goldendoodle

They're MUTTS!

Someone thinks they can stick a fancy label on them and charge more for a mutt pup than a purebreed pup.

They're MUTTS!

A Yorkshire Terrier - Poodle Mix
A Golden Retriever - Poodle Mix

Mutts!

You go to look in the paper for a mutt, you have to know every variation of POSSIBLE combinations of 'designer names' for various dog breeds that any idiot can come up with in order to find what you're looking for. Why can't they just say 'x breed' mixed with 'y breed'?

[Silent3]

11. Of course, misuse of the work "euphemism" also bothers me.

:evilgrin:

I can't think of exactly the right terminology for slang like "pedi" (perhaps it's a variety of diminutive), but it's not a euphemism (a nicer or less shocking way of saying a bad or indelicate thing).

[crim son]

12. Yes.

I've been given spa treatments as gifts which have included both but I've never purchased either for myself. I hate the words and the whole idea of beautifying one's hands and feet beyond basic care is sorta icky. And "manis" and "pedis" are ICKY words.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

13. Hey dude!!

I hate "mani" and "pedi" too!!

but, dude, GO GET YOUR FEET SANDED and your NAILS TRIMMED!! You'll feel better! :D