Why is the word "treacherous" only used to describe road conditions?

veryangryman · 16-12-2022 10:50AM #1

I'm getting old (we all are I know) but i've never understood why we whip this word out during cold snaps, before quietly pocketing it for another 5 years till the next one.

Why can't people be treacherous? Or climbing ladders? Or skydiving?

Akrasia · 16-12-2022 10:56AM

Well, we build roads to make travelling safer, and if the roads become littered with patches of invisible death zones, then they betray their original purpose

If your ladder had some kind of mechanism where a random rung just collapsed when you stand on it, It would qualify as treacherous too

Treacherous is a good word, too good of a word to use in ordinary vernacular, so people want to use it whenever it doesn't make them sound like a lunatic or a knob, so deadly icy roads of death are a good time to practice it's use and keep it alive.

odyssey06 · 16-12-2022 11:01AM

I think I have heard the phrase used as a combo... treacherous little ****.

They can't really use that in a news bulletin. Unless it's The Day Today.

It would be helpful OP if you could provide examples of individuals treacherous behaviour you feel warranted such a description.

~~So we can all have a good laugh.~~

So we can assess the merits of your argument.

asdfg22 · 16-12-2022 11:06AM

Another good word is "standard" more than a word but a way of life, i reckon likely the most misused word... standards?

lordleitrim · 16-12-2022 11:09AM

Eh no...often used for unsafe swimming /boating conditions too... the sea was treacherous

Furze99 · 16-12-2022 11:21AM

My current favourite word that is trotted out regularly now is 'learnings'

Seems that everyone takes 'learnings' now when they screw up, instead of resigning or retiring or demotion with a pay cut.

Great wee word is the 'learnings', like a magic plaster from yer Mammy, all is smoothed over and forgotten.

Donald Trump · 16-12-2022 11:23AM

I've used used it in other contexts. e.g.

"Mike Pence's actions in certifying the Sleepy lads election were treacherous"

Although I also said "covfefe"......so maybe don't quote from that sourse

Donald Trump · 16-12-2022 11:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002615#Comment_120002615

That'll learn ya

sonofenoch · 16-12-2022 11:28AM

There be treachery on the road ................aar arrrhhh Jim lad

whisky_galore · 16-12-2022 11:55AM

Journalistic copy/paste.

All small villages and towns are 'close knit'.

After a tragedy everyone is 'coming to terms with...'

Everything environmental is 'sustainable'.

Every loyalist area is 'staunch'.

Scumbags are often 'known to Gardai'.

The Continental Op · 16-12-2022 12:11PM

Its the perfect word, it in part means deceptive which is often the case when road conditions are poor.

A quick google gave one definition as - marked by hidden dangers, hazards, or perils, which is just perfect description.

But another definition - likely to betray trust, is a somewhat different use of the word and its this use which we aren't making much use of.

Its as if the use of the word treacherous is slowly changing from being used to describe the attributes of a person to the attributes of road, weather and sea conditions.

Akrasia · 16-12-2022 01:32PM

All atheists who mention that they don't believe in god are 'Strident'

Allinall · 16-12-2022 01:38PM

Sky diving is one of the safest activities one could undertake.

You May as well ask why isn’t treacherous used in conjunction with knitting.

looksee · 16-12-2022 01:44PM

Excellent explanation of treacherous Akrasia.

The phrase that grates with me is (the community is) 'bracing themselves' for a storm or even being beaten in a football game, no they are not, they are just getting on with life hoping things will work out.

Another one is 'one of the only'. 'The hotel is one of the only hotels in Dublin to...' Either it is the only hotel to do something, or its 'one of the few'. One of the only doesn't mean anything at all.

DownByTheGarden · 16-12-2022 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058276004/why-is-the-word-treacherous-only-used-to-describe-road-conditions

Thats not true

bb1234567 · 16-12-2022 02:07PM

Usually that's the case, but I've heard it quite often used to describe somebody who is very deceitful and untrustworthy to a dangerous degree, in old timey spy movies and stuff like that.