"Jive" for "Jibe"

[jhunter1163]

Is it also majiscule?

Indeed, if the reasoning is pronunciation, it's presumably 'minite' as well, at least for the unit of time.

I would think "maxiscule".

And, when singing "O Holy Night", the word is "dih-vine", not "deeeeee-vine".

 

[caniswalensis]

I mentioned this thread to my wife. She says the expression is "jive with" and anybody that doesn't know that is just stupid.

Sorry, I'm just the messenger.

OK, more survey results, this time from my graduate student daughter.

It's "jives with". Gibes are insults. She agrees with her mother, people that say "gibes with" are stupid.

On the "couldn't care less" controversy, she explained that language evolves and expressions can sometimes lose the logic of the initial expression as they evolve. Could care less is an example of that in her view and "could care less" is the normal form of the expression. So her American view seems to be consistent with LondonJohn's observation on this.

By the way does anybody have any thoughts on the origin of "jibes with" as an expression indicating correlation.

I'm sorry, are you making a joke of some kind?

You yourself posted this:

jibe
witionary - insult, nautical, agreement (tends to be US)
dictionary.com - nautical, agreement
merriam-webster.com - nautical

The expression is most certainly "jibes with" which would mean "agrees with"

When someone says "jives with" they are saying "lies with' It is almost nonsensical.

SImply google "jibes with" if you do not want to take my word for it. Here is one of the first sites that comes up: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/jibe+with

I will not indulge in name-calling, like your wife and daughter did here. In large part because I do not believe people that get things like this wrong are stupid at all. it is just a little mistake and we all make them from time to time.

 

[caniswalensis]

No, there are stupid people everywhere.

Which brings me to why you posted this in this forum.

Honestly, if that's the worst spoken gaffe you're encountering, your "circle of people" are ahead of the curve.

I disagree that people who make little mistakes like this are stupid. Everyone does it, and I know some very intelligent people that mis-speak from time to time. Why does everything in this forum, which is supposed to be a place to encourage critical thinking, have to come down to name-calling?

Are you trying to be funny, implying that I am also stupid for creating this thread? It's unappreciated, I assure you. If you don't like the topic, don't waste your time posting in it. You may think you are doing me a big favor, but you are not.

I never said this was the worst mistake I have encountered either. I just find it interesting, and the whole purpose of this thread was to ask if anyone else has heard the same thing. I do not know why people can't just answer that simple question, but only a handful pf people even address it. The rest, like yourself, seem intent on coming in and posting jokes or off-topic stuff like their own pet peeves. I really do not mind that, but why can't you people be troubled to also answer my question? That, and having this thread moved to the community forum are very frustrating to me.

 

[davefoc]

I got around to looking it up, turns out that it's a mishearing of "chime" became standardised during the Regency period, which makes this thread pretty amusing.

Ah yes, the regency period. We watch the UK version of Antique Road Show and it's great the way the people talk about periods of time with UK specific expressions, like anybody else in the world knows what the Regency Period is. OK, I'm going to look it up so the next time it comes up on the Antique Road show I can impress my wife with my knowledge of weird UK language.

OK, apparently somebody else besides UKians know when the Regency Period was. From the site of the Oregon (as in a state of the US) Regency society:

The English Regency period occurred roughly between 1790 and 1820 (although some people will debate that--saying the true Regency period was between 1810 and 1820). It took place between two rather distinctive periods; the Georgian Era, which dominated the 17th and 18th centuries, and the Romantic Period, which harkened the arrival of the Victorian age.

So do you debate that the Regency period was between 1790 and 1820 or 1810 and 1820 brodski?

I'm sorry, are you making a joke of some kind?

...

I was just the messenger bringing the results of my research on usage to this thread. I did mention to my daughter that the expression evolved from "chimes with" initially. She said "Exactly, jives with has to do with music and chimes with has to do with music. I think her point is that the "jibes with" folks are wrong it just has taken a really long time for people to figure it out.

 

[caniswalensis]

I was just the messenger bringing the results of my research on usage to this thread. I did mention to my daughter that the expression evolved from "chimes with" initially. She said "Exactly, jives with has to do with music and chimes with has to do with music. I think her point is that the "jibes with" folks are wrong it just has taken a really long time for people to figure it out.

Nice theory, but I don't think it holds water.

From Merriam-Webster online:

Origin of JIBE
origin unknown
First Known Use: 1813


Origin of JIVE
origin unknown
First Known Use: 1928

Jibe has been used to express agreement since 1813, while jive has never been used in that way and only came into being 1928. far later than the regency period.

I am skeptical of the "Chimes with" etymology. It is not universally accepted, and I understand it is really more like a guess. Most dictionaries simple say "origin unknown." Etymology is not an exact science, and it is rife with undependable peculation. I don't usually trust the stories I hear.

More on that:
http://etymonline.com/?term=jibe
http://www.vocabulary.com/articles/chooseyourwords/2748/

I realize you are just repeating what you are hearing, but if your wife and daughter call me any more names, please leave that part out. I find it unecessary and offensive.

Thanks, Canis

 

[davefoc]

I realize you are just repeating what you are hearing, but if your wife and daughter call me any more names, please leave that part out. I find it unecessary and offensive.

Thanks, Canis

Believe me, they meant no offense and I meant no offense. It was intended as a bit of self parity I think making a joke at their expense about close mindedness. My sincere apologies, it isn't always obvious from the written word that people are smiling when they say something.

ETA: Thanks for the info on "jibes with".

 

[caniswalensis]

Believe me, they meant no offense and I meant no offense. It was intended as a bit of self parity I think making a joke at their expense about close mindedness. My sincere apologies, it isn't always obvious from the written word that people are smiling when they say something.

ETA: Thanks for the info on "jibes with".

You are most welcome.

It's Ok, I just have a thing about civility, and I try to keep things friendly, like I am chatting with friends in our living room.

Print is easy to misread the intended tone of. I am sure that if we had all been drinking coffee in the same room, I would not have been put out in the least.

 

[Rat]

Believe me, they meant no offense and I meant no offense. It was intended as a bit of self parity I think making a joke at their expense about close mindedness.

I find the idea of self parity a little too self-referential for my liking. It makes me want to burst into "I am what I am", which is not my style.

 

[CelticRose]

Ah yes, the regency period. We watch the UK version of Antique Road Show and it's great the way the people talk about periods of time with UK specific expressions, like anybody else in the world knows what the Regency Period is. OK, I'm going to look it up so the next time it comes up on the Antique Road show I can impress my wife with my knowledge of weird UK language.

Why wouldn't a UK show aimed at a UK audience use UK specific expressions? Also, if someone's talking about English furniture, it makes perfect sense to talk about the English historical period it dates from.

As you noted, there are people outside of England who are familiar with the Regency. For example, in the U.S. there is a major subgenre of romance novels that are set in that period.

Besides we do the same thing. Americans have been known to talk about the American Civil War like it was the only one.

American: The Civil War.
Person from other country: Which one?

 

[Akhenaten]

I find the idea of self parity a little too self-referential for my liking. It makes me want to burst into "I am what I am", which is not my style.

You've just got to try and learn to go that extra bit.

 

[Rougarou]

For example from this very thread:

Yes, it is pervasive. I say "couldn't care less" and "might as well," but only because I make a special effort to use the correct forms.

 

[slingblade]

But I'm sure I could care less. Things like this come down the pipe all the time.

Come down the pike (American):
to happen or appear

Usage notes: Pike is short for 'turnpike' in American English and means a large, main road.
Malnourished children are liable to catch any disease that comes down the pike.


The use of "pipe" appears to be drift. "Turnpike," and thus "pike," don't appear to be in common usage as they once were.

 

[Accidental Martyr]

I'm an American, from Alabama, and the use of "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less" really annoys me.

 

[brodski]

I'm an American, from Alabama, and the use of "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less" really annoys me.

Which is actually evidence that it is a US standard phrase (if not the standard phrase), we are annoyed by things which we come across. I bet you've never been annoyed by the phrase "I couldn't care fewer".
In UK versions of English "I could care less" is not used, so any irritation caused is subsumed into the general irritation about American polution of Pure English.

 

[TjW]

Etymology is not an exact science, and it is rife with undependable peculation. I don't usually trust the stories I hear.

I'm curious as how one embezzles while researching the origins of words and phrases.

 

[calebprime]

Nice Quarkyism, in the animal depression thread:

"It's not my cross to bare."

 

[bigred]

I've come into contact with many US residents both in the US and elsewhere (I'm English,

I'm American and have come into contact with far more than you. This is not an "American thing" per se. Bad grammar is, however. In fact, if you do a search on this site about grammatical pet peeves, you'll mind many which are nauseatingly common here. That said, I have encountered my share of Brits who are similar. so pfffft.

OK, more survey results, this time from my graduate student daughter.

It's "jives with". Gibes are insults. She agrees with her mother, people that say "gibes with" are stupid.

Ironic, given that she doesn't know what the word "jive" means.

PS we are talking about the word jibe, not gibe.

On the "couldn't care less" controversy, she explained that language evolves and expressions can sometimes lose the logic of the initial expression as they evolve.

That is true.

Could care less is an example of that in her view and "could care less" is the normal form of the expression.

That is not, at least not my experience. I have heard it both ways many times.

 

[brodski]

Bad grammar is, however. In fact, if you do a search on this site about grammatical pet peeves, you'll mind many which are nauseatingly common here.

If you want to moan about grammar, wouldn't it help to learn what it is?
Even if you accept "I could care less" as wrong (by whatever metric you wish to use), it is perfectly grammatical.

 

[bigred]

I disagree that people who make little mistakes like this are stupid.

Me either. I do think mixing up the two is pretty stupid though. So? We've all made dumb mistakes like this, me included.

Are you trying to be funny, implying that I am also stupid for creating this thread? It's unappreciated, I assure you.

I was teasing you about putting it in the wrong forum. Look, a little winky smiley and everything. Please don't cry.

The rest, like yourself, seem intent on coming in and posting jokes or off-topic stuff like their own pet peeves. I really do not mind that, but why can't you people be troubled to also answer my question? That, and having this thread moved to the community forum are very frustrating to me.

I did answer the question, as have many others. Sorry that you find it frustrating to have a thread moved to where it belongs.

 

[davefoc]

I wonder if the start of the expression jibes with originated with the nautical sense of the words.

If two ships are jibing together they are probably on the same sailing point and each time one turns the other turns. In sailboat racing I think jibing with your opponent is a strategy to stay behind him and block some of the wind driving him so that near the finish line you can sail past him driven by unblocked air.