Mind the gap

Language evolves we are told so there’s no point in complaining about misuse of a word or phrase. If enough people use and understand it in a certain way then that way becomes correct no matter what some old dictionary might say. It may be frustrating to those of us who like things to be neat and make sense, but you know what? Fair play to language for moving with the times and being flexible.

The details of jokes and idioms also change meaning. For example, there’s a common expression that Londoners consider everything “North of Watford” to be the actual north. Most people think this is funny because Watford is actually on the edge of London, pretty much where the M1 makes a serious attempt to reach escape velocity and climb out of London’s gravity well.

However I remember the expression being “North of Watford Gap” in the 1980s and 1990s which made a bit more sense as that’s a service station 65 miles further up the M1 which feels more like the gateway between the North and South.

The service station is named after a valley between two hills near the village of Watford through which roads, railways and canals all pass.

However (according to Wikipedia) people who believe this refers to the Watford near London which used to have a Bakerloo line terminus (and still has one on the Metropolitan line) are making a bid to claim the expression back. Apparently the saying used to be “north of Watford Junction”. Not something I ever heard, but fair enough. Watford Gap makes more logical sense as where the North begins, but I guess Watford inside the M25 is better for comic effect.