Do people really say "Double Crap?"

1. 76

   Kara Skinnerposted 10 years ago

   Do people really say "Double Crap?"
   
   I'm reading a book where the protagonist, who is an adult and not adverse to swearing , says "Double crap!"
   This has also shown up in another book I've read before. Do people actually say this or is it just bad writing?

   report
2. 0

   Susan Mortonposted 10 years ago

   I do not know if anyone ever says that, but I have never heard it said around here. What book are you reading, if you don't mind my asking?

   report
   1. 76

      Kara Skinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The book I'm reading is called Denai Touch. I really enjoy this book aside from the use of that phrase. The other book I've seen it used in was Fifty Shades (that book I didn't enjoy that much. I couldn't even get through it).

      report
   2. 0

      Susan Mortonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ok, thanks for the prompt reply Kara Skinner. Have a great evening.

      report
3. 83

   Barbsbitsnpiecesposted 10 years ago

   I, for one, have never in my life (69 years) heard anyone say that; however, anything goes in fiction!

   report
   1. 59

      Wondering SLOposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is the truth!

      report
4. 59

   Wondering SLOposted 10 years ago

   Having never heard it I would say it is either bad writing or it could be from a different geographic.

   report
5. 60

   rlahaposted 10 years ago

   I have never read this in a book. However I have heard it said before. I can understand if someone says that as part of a real live conversation. However, I am not sure why someone would write that in a book. It doesn't seem to be good as a written expletive.

   report
   1. 76

      Kara Skinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It makes me a little annoyed, honestly, and how it was used made the scene feel a little cheap. But it's good to know people have said it in real life so it's not completely bad writing.

      report
   2. 60

      rlahaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'm sorry you had to encounter that in a written piece. Perhaps the author wanted to make the expletive more forceful.

      report
6. 60

   Zelkiiroposted 10 years ago

   That...just sounds like bad writing. If I were writing a book, I probably would include a "Drat! Drat and double drat!" as a reference to Dick Dastardly, or a "Damn! Damn damn!" as a reference to Doc Brown, but..."Double crap!" is a new one, and a dumb one at that.

   report
7. 82

   Electro-Denizenposted 10 years ago

   Never heard it, but why can't a character exclaim 'double crap!' over something? Perhaps the character is eccentric or original.
   
   We used to make up new phrases all the time at school. Language is always evolving...
   
   Double crap!! I  might use that myself from now, when just saying crap on it's own isn't enough... E.g. quick drive to the shops turns into a nightmare with a traffic jam. Double crap!
   
   And now they've actually closed the road!
   
   Triple crap!
   
   Or perhaps more eloquently: Threefold crap!

   report
8. 55

   DannoManposted 10 years ago

   Yes, I believe I have heard it, and frankly, I wouldn't be beyond saying it, myself. Of course, I have not read how it was used in your context, but it seems clear to me that it was (probably?) just another use of 'double' to emphasize, accentuate, or extend the meaning of some word. Some of these are common and fully accepted words and phrases in the language, such as double take, for example.
   
   'Double crap' would be quite informal and conversational, but you are reading fiction where conversation is frequent and informality is the norm. I would use it if I were extremely disappointed or angry about something, such as just after missing the bus, losing an expensive fishing lure, or spraining an ankle. "Well CRAP! DOUBLE CRAP!"
   
   It would probably seem more strange without the use of 'crap' preceding it, but I suppose it would fly that way, too. There is certainly nothing inherently ungrammatical about it, assuming it is used as I suggest here.

   report
9. 82

   grand old ladyposted 10 years ago

   When I was a kid, I heard my eldest sister say that a couple of times. She was quite humorous. She also taught me the word, dip____. Pardon my French.

   report