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March 7, 2005
Bolton Tabbed

I could be wrong, but isn't the phrase "tapped" and not "tabbed"?

bolton tabbed

I only point this out because it's the Washington Times, and they suck. Of course, if it turns out that the phrase is indeed "tabbed," I'll look pretty stupid.

Okay, I looked it up...

A Google search for "nominee tabbed" actually turns up quite a few instances of this usage, though I can't find a reference to it in the dictionary. The entry for tapped, however, does list "To select, as for membership in an organization; designate." as a definition.

Strange.

Anyone?

Posted by ahecht at March 7, 2005 11:20 PM
Comments

Previous Comments

hehe,
i can speak from extensive experience with reading terrible periodicals (esp. the Anchorage Daily News of late). Just because a linguistic error occurs frequently, that does not make it any less incorrect. tapped is the correct word. why do we care? personally, i've always hated this turn of phrase, that's why i felt the need to comment on it. perhaps we should change the saying to: Bush dogshit-slapped Bolton. wouldn't that be more colorful?

Posted by: Zach at March 7, 2005 11:57 PM

Tab
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): tabbed; tab·bing
1 : to furnish or ornament with tabs
2 : to single out : DESIGNATE
3 : TABULATE

Tapped is an alternative, not the only choice. Sometimes Googling is not the best place to look when looking something up. Maybe next time you should try a dictionary, even online ones work. I like this one but i am not adverse to trying others. www.merriam-webster.com

Posted by: Mike at March 8, 2005 8:20 AM

Maybe in preparation for his nomination hearings, he did a tab of LSD, and hence the headline...

Posted by: Luke at March 8, 2005 8:34 AM

Man, some people are so condescending. What's up with that?

FYI, Mike, I did look it up in a dictionary, hence the phrase, "... I can't find a reference to it in the dictionary."

Sheesh.

Luke, I think your interpretation is the most likely..

Posted by: Anthony at March 8, 2005 9:35 AM

People have said that before about me, but I think they are wrong and generally FUBAR. I don't thinkthat is in the dictionary either.

Posted by: Mike at March 8, 2005 10:41 AM