Is "behooves" the ugliest *sounding* word in the English language, especially when said by smug southern republicans?

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For I suspect so. Can someone explain to me why such people use this word *incessantly*? I reckon it would rank highly as one of the most frequently heard words on Fox News (behind the obv. "fair", "balanced" etc.).

Plus there's rather unpleasant overtones of false humility to it. Like the republican is saying "I will conform to general convention" but he's meaning "you all should pay attention to how well I conform to my own idea of what general convention should be!"

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 2 January 2004 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Ugh, yes. Esp when they pronounce it as "beh-huves".

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 2 January 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Exactly!!!!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 2 January 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I just want to snatch them up by their American-flag-bepinned lapels and say "two fucking 'o's in a row, you jingo!"

After all, wouldn't it behOOve them to get it right, as the word would only appeal to the wealthy, educated upper classes?

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 2 January 2004 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I have now found the perfect word to complete my George H.W. Bush impression.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 2 January 2004 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

"beehovement"

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 2 January 2004 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i think i'm gonna try to reclaim this word.

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Friday, 2 January 2004 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It behooves me now to incorporate behooves into my personal everyday vernacular. I feel that it behooves me to fulfill this duty that has now been revealed to me.

;)

― Tenacious Dee (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 2 January 2004 08:43 (twenty-two years ago)

When 'behooves' is combined with 'womb', you've got yourself a pretty awful sounding sentence.

― andy, Friday, 2 January 2004 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Abortion by horse?

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 2 January 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Which almost sounds like it could be the title of a Butthole Surfer "Best of" collection.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 3 January 2004 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

This is maybe the best example of those words that high-school vice-principals use to try and sound more like they have magical reservoirs of daunting adult experience (especially so in this case since the context of the word usually indicates that you'll be doing yourself a favor if you follow the speaker's advice). The line between high-school vice-principals and politicians is so faint as to be invisible, especially in the South - I half-expect Tom DeLay to start reprimanding Democrats who don't ask his permission to use the bathroom. Great call Tim.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 4 January 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

The UK equivalent, I think, is the phrase "woe betide", which no one under the age of 40, even Kate in full on historical mode, ever uses.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 4 January 2004 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I sort of like this word, but I can see your point(s). anyway, it's not a word I use a lot, though it is good to drop in every so often.

― M Matos (M Matos), Sunday, 4 January 2004 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey Matos, happy New Year!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 4 January 2004 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

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