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Comments by NelC


1. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #148752 by NelC on March 23, 2008 at 7:47 pm

Ongauleiter as an insult (which is really a trivial thing, I'm embarrassed to continue this sub-thread): the word has been used in British English since at least the Second World War, if not before, for the kind of officiousness that's mentioned here, as a direct and conscious reference to the Nazi officials. In fact the last time I recall reading the word was in a piece about British air raid wardens, the kind who would caution someone for lighting a cigarette for fear that the German bombers would use the light to navigate by. As such, its introduction into British English predates any knowledge of the Nazi atrocities, except possibly the Blitz itself.

If I could apologise on behalf of the English language to anyone made uncomfortable by the etymology of its English usage, I would, but it's an accepted part of the language now, though perhaps a little old-fashioned.