5 ms·
I know that decimate is a colloquialism nowadays but I feel like a publication should know better. Unless Google asked for ten percent of the proceeds or someth
by selectodude 6y ago
I know that decimate is a colloquialism nowadays but I feel like a publication should know better. Unless Google asked for ten percent of the proceeds or something, as a headline it makes absolutely no sense.
- hprotagonist 6y ago"to kill, destroy, or remove large parts of" is the modern usage. the usage is hyperbolic; it is not nonsensical.
- selectodude 6y agoI know it's hyperbolic, I just consider it on the same tier as "x person DESTROYS y person".
- ineedasername 6y agoNot quite as bad as "that is LITERALLY the worst thing ever"
- peteretep 6y agoEnglish obscures it a little, but note that verbs in your sentence apply to "large parts of"; differently stated: "to destroy a great number or proportion of". Decimate means quite specifically to remove or destroy a _portion_ of something, rather than simply to destroy something, even in most modern usage.
- ineedasername 6y agoIt would be pretty interesting if all Google had asked was to reduce the apk size by 10%.
- ivalm 6y agoOmg, user story “decimate the binary by next release”
- jessaustin 6y agoAs part of our TOS, we will triple-decimate your app fees.
- treve 6y agoIt's not a colloquialism, it's its modern definition. The meaning of a reduction of 10% is just historical. Meanings do change, and this one has a long time ago.
- ffdjjjffjj 6y agoI have only ever seen this usage by people pointing out that this is what it “actually” means.
- crazygringo 6y agoLooks like you're completely incorrect. It's not a "colloquialism", it's just a standard modern meaning of the word. From Merriam-Webster [1]: > 3a: to reduce drastically especially in number > cholera decimated the population > Kamieniecki's return comes at a crucial time for a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries. — Jason Diamos > b: to cause great destruction or harm to > firebombs decimated the city > an industry decimated by recession [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate
- edflsafoiewq 6y agoTo "decimate" a deal still just sounds bizarre. I don't know, maybe it's because "deal" isn't countable or collective.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- BLKNSLVR 6y agoGoogle triple-decimated Epic's earning potential.