OP
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
Are you not familiar with "alight" used in that context then? Or just commenting on its deprecation in modern usage (as part of the general dumbing down)?
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Assume v. Presume
- Thread starter Black Hole
- Start date
EEPhil
Number 28
Very familiar with its use. Just wonder why it is used in transport situations when it isn't in normal conversation. I wouldn't even call it dumbing down. Possibly "dumbing up" (if there is such a concept). "Get off" is probably dumber than "alight".
prpr
Well-Known Member
Most people would say "gerroff" in the location you are talking about.
But are they (or should they be) hyphenated or not?
EEPhil
Number 28
The minimal research I've done gave deplane and detrain. That was probably* an American dictionary, so perhaps the hyphen should be there!
(* The first dictionary I came to with a DuckDuckGo search-it said Cambridge, but I'm not convinced it is our Cambridge)
Very true! Well, North of the Trent. South maybe less so.
Wildebeest
Member
Disembark?
EEPhil
Number 28
Preferable to detrain, deplane and alight (IMHO).
Luke
Well-Knwοn Мember
That sometimes depends on the context.
If passengers had to be removed from a train, "detrain" could be used but not "disembark".
Someone might "alight" from a horse, but to describe that as disembarking sounds wrong.
EEPhil
Number 28
Dismount?
OP
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
Most things you would alight from are in a transport situation, although I have been known to alight on an answer.
I can't get on board with any of those (
), they're American jargon for when they are trying to sound cleverer than they look. I mean, "momentarily" when they actually mean "soon" and not "momentarily" at all. The world is full of idiots using words they don't understand simply because they think it makes them look good. "Rapid unscheduled disassembly" indeed!
OP
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
What's wrong with "evacuate"? It hardly matters where they are evacuating from.
Disembarkation should refer to substantial (international) journeys, ie ship or plane, and perhaps Eurostar* would qualify.
* Presuming Eurostar is running.
EEPhil
Number 28
Okay, I've never heard of this - is it a bomb?
EEPhil
Number 28
Oh not another meaning for alight! Yes I did know it - just didn't make the connection. Probably the result of reading too many articles in local newspapers where the fire brigade refer to something being "well alight".
prpr
Well-Known Member
An explosion. Like Musk's fireworks.