Don't shop for it...

[GMH]

Are you fed up with proper nouns becoming verbs in advertising slogans? For example:

"Don't shop for it - Argos it".

That's all very well, but the word Argos isn't a verb is it? When I visit my local Argos catalogue shop, I like to go shopping, not Argosing.

Many years ago it was also "You can do it if you can B&Q it".

Anyone have any opinions on this?

[nocturnal1]

Argos - a town in ancient Greece

Argus - Fabulous person with 100 eyes

Looks like the "oh so clever marketing person" misplaced a letter....

HA HA

and no Argos is not a verb, it's a noun but let's not get political

[SaxyJag]

Language changes, though, and advertising agencies are paid to come up with new and innovative ways of using it.

How many times do you hear people say they're going to text or instant-message someone? We hear sound-bites, we google stuff and watch podcasts.

Although the examples you state are cringeworthy, I wish I was the person who'd come up with them.

[mushroom25]

anyway, shouldn't you pronounce Argos as "Argoes"? After all, you don't say "Tescoss", do you?

[THECORBYLOON]

mushroom there's a difference because the supermarket is Tesco so it's Tesco's and not Tescos.

[THECORBYLOON]

GMH do you vacuum or do you hoover? Hoover is a trademark but it has come to be used as a verb.