Is it just possible that people ( in the olden days) used to say "it's the Most that I could do"

that would be telling the recipient that ,if they could do more they would.

but it would also tell the recipient about their
social or financial standing.

I use that expression as Aeteocles explained it.

In some situations when I wish to inject a little (alleged) humor, I'll add "And never let it be said that I didn't do the least I could do" implying that I made the absolute minimum effort I could, which is the way the OP interprets the idiom.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
In some situations when I wish to inject a little (alleged) humor, I'll add "And never let it be said that I didn't do the least I could do" implying that I made the absolute minimum effort I could, which is the way the OP interprets the idiom.

I also try to use that phrase when I get the chance.

There was on old episode of MASH where Margaret says to Hawkeye: The least you could do is help change the tire.

To which Hawkeye replies: Never let it be said I didn't do the least I could do.

I have used the phrase “striving for the minimum”.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate

1: to select by lot and kill every tenth man of;
decimate a regiment
2: to exact a tax of 10 percent from;
poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden
3a: to reduce drastically especially in number;
cholera decimated the population
b: to cause great destruction or harm to;
firebombs decimated the city

"In its extended uses decimate strayed from its "tenth" meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers."

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate

1: to select by lot and kill every tenth man of;
decimate a regiment
2: to exact a tax of 10 percent from;
poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden
3a: to reduce drastically especially in number;
cholera decimated the population
b: to cause great destruction or harm to;
firebombs decimated the city

"In its extended uses decimate strayed from its "tenth" meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers."

And that is the fault of uneducated people who don't know what the word actually means. Educated people should not follow their errors.

flashguy

I agree that the use of "least" is correct. What mildly irritates me is using the phrase "I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less."

quote:

Originally posted by BMR:
I agree that the use of "least" is correct. What mildly irritates me is using the phrase "I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less."

Speaking of this, is it bold faced or bald face lie? /thread drift.

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate

1: to select by lot and kill every tenth man of;
decimate a regiment
2: to exact a tax of 10 percent from;
poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden
3a: to reduce drastically especially in number;
cholera decimated the population
b: to cause great destruction or harm to;
firebombs decimated the city

"In its extended uses decimate strayed from its "tenth" meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers."

Correct. Decimate can mean killing/destruction 20% of trees, people, buildings, or whatever. Or it could mean 9% or 17% or even 63%.

Deci...it's pretty much right there in the prefix.

However, if we accept Webster as an authority I guess there are other interpretations that we picky few must suffer with.

Fuckers.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
Deci...it's pretty much right there in the prefix.

However, if we accept Webster as an authority I guess there are other interpretations that we picky few must suffer with.

Fuckers.

Same could be said about annihilate.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate

1: to select by lot and kill every tenth man of;
decimate a regiment
2: to exact a tax of 10 percent from;
poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden
3a: to reduce drastically especially in number;
cholera decimated the population
b: to cause great destruction or harm to;
firebombs decimated the city

"In its extended uses decimate strayed from its "tenth" meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers."

And that is the fault of uneducated people who don't know what the word actually means. Educated people should not follow their errors.

flashguy

But a dictionary's job is to be descriptive, not prescriptive.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
Deci...it's pretty much right there in the prefix.

However, if we accept Webster as an authority I guess there are other interpretations that we picky few must suffer with.

Fuckers.

I choose not to go along with it.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
But a dictionary's job is to be descriptive, not prescriptive.

Just because a dictionary says that some people erroneously use a word one way does not mean that educated people should follow suit. If enough people use it right, eventually the bad usage might go away.

flashguy

When Roman soldiers failed their Captains, the Captain would often put them in ranks and kill every tenth one. The enemy was never decimated. It was officers culling their own herd.

My motto: Never let it be said I didn't do the very least I could.

My pet peeve in this arena is when people say "we are the penultimate whatever". Penultimate means second from last. It's a big word but if you must use it try to use it correctly. Do they really mean to say "we're not the worst but we're almost there"?

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
When Roman soldiers failed their Captains, the Captain would often put them in ranks and kill every tenth one. The enemy was never decimated. It was officers culling their own herd.

.

Eh? I thought it was an imperialism strategy. Conquer some barbarians. Let them keep their languages and parts of their religion. Let their local warlords stay in power but subject to a regional governor. Decimate their army as a slap on the wrist to not start shit again, but for the most part letting everyone go home to be productive minions.

I figured the Romans were more merit based. Punish the captains that failed, promote the loyal. Makes no sense to punish at random.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
My pet peeve in this arena is when people say "we are the penultimate whatever". Penultimate means second from last. It's a big word but if you must use it try to use it correctly. Do they really mean to say "we're not the worst but we're almost there"?

To be fair, it does mean second from the last. But, it's the second to last in a series, not second to last in rank.

Thus, penultimate doesn't mean almost the worst, it means almost the best--at least in the context of serial comparisons where winning is the final outcome.