The English language is rich. Its store of words is huge. Why then is it necessary to describe anything that is faintly well-known as 'iconic'? The zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road studio in London, to pick a recent example, is not iconic. It is famous. Apparently it is now Grade 2 listed. But it is still just a zebra crossing that once appeared on a record cover. The Battersea Power Station is not iconic either. It is a landmark. It is a striking building. It is very memorable. That doesn't make it iconic.
This is iconic - in fact, it's an icon. Funny that.
(And while were on the subject, there are some really iconic phrases here.)
If you really want to be seriously dispirited, then I recommend this link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nationaltrustqld.org/qldicons.htm
If everyone in your family is receiving gifts as cheering as that, there is going to be weeping and gnashing of teeth chez vous this year, I think. But thank you (she said, remembering her mannners and choking back a sob of despair.)
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