I am used to the advertising world massacring the language.

One that springs to mind [but only because I had to look it up] is “Let’s make possible“. Make what possible? I defy anyone to parse the syntax of that little gem.

The latest that is baffling me is the slogan they are using for the women’s World Cup.

Outbelieve.

What the fuck is that?

It’s not a word. I looked it up and the only reference is to the damned football. It is not a word. As far as I can ascertain it never was a word. Even splitting it into two words – out believe – makes no sense. You can outrun someone but you cannot outbelieve them

Naturally Irish television is regularly going on about the competition as there is an Irish team involved. Each time we get “outbelieve” thrown at us. They are using it as a “hashtag” for the event.

Just as an aside, typing this throws up the usual clatter of squiggly lines under my bad typing. Dear little spell checker. I clear out all my typing mistakes and afterwards I notice that “outbelieve” is the only word that spell checker queries. Even that horrible word “hashtag” passes the test but “outblieve” doesn’t. It doesn’t exist. It is deceased, no more, gone to it’s maker. It is a non-word.

Unless someone out there can enlighten me?