COVID-19 Eliminates Large Numbers

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We worship success and it comes in numbers. In these heady days of following strangers online, we follow people with impressive stats because they have no clothes on; people who sing in front of thousands, play sports or act in front of movie cameras but are watched by millions, via television and the internet.

People who are successful in life have numbers, quantity, size, capacity. Events are measured by how many people showed up. For COVID-19, the more the merrier. It increases the possibility of the virus hitching a ride on as many people as possible.

It is therefore time to tweak English, in fact all languages, and make them COVID-19 compliant, which means the following expressions must be thrown in the dinosaur bin.

1. The more the merrier.

2. It was standing room only.

3. The place is jumping.

4. It is a sold out concert.

5. It’s house full tonight.

6. It was wild man!

7. There were butts in every seat.

8. It was packed to the rafters.

9. We were packed like sardines.


By: Nonqaba waka Msimang. 

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