You said you loved me, or were you just being kind?

[venta]

On my desk at work, I have a calendar of Lost Language. Technically, for long and boring reasons, it's a 2011 calendar, which means I'm in danger of thinking today is Tuesday.

Every so often, the word of the day turns out to be a word I use all the time. Well, fair enough, I have a somewhat rapacious and eclectic approach to words. Gems from this week include "ruriculous", "gloppened" and "sevous" (none of which I knew).

Today's word (which is actually a phrase):

To be in a huff: to have a fit of petulance or offended dignity.

Is there any meaningful sense in which that particular bit of language is lost?

Comments

[lnr]

Definitely not lost to me: one tends to go off in a huff even more than just being in one, but still. Now I am imagining a huff as some old-fashioned sort of one-person taxi carriage, only ever called when you were in too much of a sulk to share one :)

Tell me that our true love hasn't died?

[venta.livejournal.com]

Going off in a huff in Brougham?

Oh, except Wikipedia tells me that isn't pronounced "Bruffam", which spoils the effect.

It sounds like your lyric is from You Were Always On My Mind, in which case no kudo for you.

[zotz]

Or, if you're very posh, a High Dudgeon.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I'm not posh enough, I'll have to remain in Nether Dudgeon.

[sammason.livejournal.com]

I'm even posher. When you've really gone beyond the pale I might be a little bit miffed. But that's bordering on the unnecessary so let's whisper Noblesse Oblige and enjoy a nice cup of tea.

[lnr]

Yes, I see my mind has rather misled me on that one!

[hjalfi.livejournal.com]

For some reason I am now visualising a huff as being a close relative of the alot.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html