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Does your date pick their nose, wear a sweatshirt, or spit in their beer? It’s not just gross or awkward anymore – it’s ’ick,’ writes linguist Marianne Rathje in this column.

Linguist: English expression is pushing "ad" and "bvadr" aside

In the old days, you would have said "ad" or "bvadr" if someone was picking their nose. Today, you say "ick!" Foto: Finn Frandsen
In the old days, you would have said "ad" or "bvadr" if someone was picking their nose. Today, you say "ick!" Foto: Finn Frandsen
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»She gets the lick really quickly, you know.«

That’s what my 19-year-old daughter says as we sit on the terrace in the sun, discussing the status of her and her friends’ dating lives.

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