• Mr_Blott@feddit.ukEnglish
    38·
    1 month ago

    I take umbrage with “couple bits of toast”

    Surely it should be “couple bits toast”?

    You can’t lazily leave out one “of” and not the other

    • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      101·
      1 month ago

      Except couple bits toast doesn’t roll off the tongue nearly as well as couple bits of toast.

      Edit: that being said, I’m not a caveman - they’re fucking slices of toast. You want me to make some toast and tear off a couple bits for you?

      • RogueBananaEnglish
        1·
        1 month ago

        Or just make me a couple toasts. Feels easier as a non native speaker.

        • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          1·
          1 month ago

          I can understand why it might make more sense, but that just isn’t how it’s used in common parlance.

          You can say that, if it is easier for you to communicate that way. Just understand that you might throw some people off.

          Edit: I would like to clarify, I’m not at liberty to give anyone permission to use any word. I meant that it’s perfectly acceptable usage.

    • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      1 month ago

      it took me like 30 seconds to figure out what other “of” you were talking about, “couple of bits of toast” looks so clunky to me

      granted, i pronounce it as “cup’la bit’sa toast”