Disappointed in the use of the word "off" in this sentence.

Oh, come on. It's a blog post, written in colloquial language.

Elmore Leonard: "If proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go."

"From eBay" is stuffier.

You might some Elmore Leonard in hopes of curing your stuffybutt approach to word use. Swag is my favorite, but I just reread and loved 52 Pickup.

And PS, here's an opinion that you're wrong:

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/103336/take-it-off-him-meaning-take-it-from-him-is-incorrect-but-what-is-the-gram

Notwithstanding the excellent points made about this not being a grammatical issue, off is not even "wrong" in any aspect. It may not be a word you would use in an elevated register, but it is certainly used to express a nuance in slang that from doesn't handle or for which it seems too formal or "correct" a statement.

Simply put, off is often used with take (or get or any verb of acquisition) to suggest a forceful or cavalier (and probably illegitimate or even illegal) removal of an item from someone else, who has probably been victimized in the process.

My grandfather took this knife off a German soldier he killed in WWII.

The pickpocket got the Rolex off some dumb out-of-towner in Times Square.

Where did I get the candy bar? I took it off Alice during recess.

Especially in the latter two examples, the use of from would seem too formal and would probably at least give the impression that the transaction might have been in some sense legitimate.

answered Feb 7 '13 at 13:27

Robusto

Oh and regarding the "legitimate" remark above, $10 for this little handmade dress was a steal.

More disappointed now! Is Robusto your editor? All this time I thought you were a writer with a blog, not a blogger with books. Seriously, it makes you sound colloquial.

"Seriously, it makes you sound colloquial."

And just what's wrong with sounding colloquial?

Was Samuel Clemens too "colloquial" when he wrote about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn?

Back on topic; yes, Amy, your pooch (or is that too much of a slang term for a dog?) looks quite adorable in that home-made sweater.

And $10 is quite the steal for that; especially when you consider the federal minimum wage, cost of materials, and time involved in making it. I wouldn't have made and sold it for less than $40.

" . . . clinging like a rat on driftwood to Strunk and White."

Yep, your love of language shows and that's why I read your writing!

Regarding the word "off". Me thinks somebody needs to get-off. Maybe then she can relax a little. Looking at you, Lisa.

Aida looks awesome Amy.

Huck Finn remains my favorite novel of all time. It was called the greatest American novel by Melville. At the time people found it incredibly offensive -no not because of the n word. But because it was written in the manner that a person would speak and think and act. My favorite part is when some old biddy is reading the Bible to Huck and he is fascinated until he finds out that the people in the story are dead and "he takes no stock in dead people."

I love love Elmore's writing too. Don't get me wrong I'm a Bronte Jane Austen kinda gal too.

I think this is why I like Amy's columns so much. I've been reading them since I was a teen and have laughed out loud more than once.

I think that "off" is just fine. You have a style, and you rock it.

Thomas Jefferson(?): "I have nothing but contempt for anyone who can spell a word only one way."

I'd give you a pass for "Me, too" which is short for "(What you said) is true for me, too"; although to be pedantic the speaker means also, not too. But "M, T" rolls off (sorry, "from") the tongue.

Some time ago I was volunteering at a several-Saturdays "Academy" where we would read, do math, and do simple science experiments with inner-city elementary school kids. I found myself cringing at the Ebonics and after some reflection decided I should get over it. If I'm visiting someone, I'll use my English; if I find myself in a different community, I'll try to use theirs.

Yes, I'm a white-collar American male.

Hi! Has someone made time to ridicule Lisa?

OK then.

Carry on.

I was wondering if Lisa was marking tests while reading the blog and got confused ;-)

I just hope each of us has a "switch" we can flick when we are engaging in topics that require precision.
One becomes horribly inept when discussing legal matters, or the physical sciences while trying to use colloquial meanings.