“Now that we’re allowed to host small groups outside, those of us lucky enough to have a garden or outdoor space may be shaking out our picnic rugs and buffing our barbeque tongs in anticipation of a summer of al fresco entertaining.” – Debrett’s promotion, June 2020.
Here’s a measure of the extent to which popular culture dictates “correct” culture – dumbing-down, as we used to call it, when we were conscious of such distinctions. I’ve no quarrel with picnic-rugs and al fresco dining. It’s those “barbeque tongs” that worry me. No, not “barbecue”, but “barbeque”.
