Trevor Wilson wrote:
"Eiron" wrote in message
...
David Looser wrote:
"Don Pearce" wrote
And as for the "we saved you" nonsense, no, that won't do at all.
That's part of the "American myth", the idea that the USA was the cavalry
rushing in to save Europe from the Nazis. It is, of course, bunkum.

The
USA joined both wars on its own terms, and for its own reasons.
"Saving" us was not one of them.
To be fair I think it was *one* of them. But principally the USA joined
WW2 (almost 2 years late!) because it was, itself, under attack.
And finally, it is Australian usage, not American that is under
discussion here.

Maybe the Americans also say "service" when they mean "repair"? Come to
that what's wrong with the good old-fashioned word "mend"?
The OED says that 'service' in this context is an American term.

**Not according to the Oxford English Dictionary:

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/service?view=uk

Nor the (Australian) Macquarie Dictionary (not available free on line).

So Arny should have the last word on the subject.

**Or you could understand the correct usage of the term 'service' in the
context implied in all the dictionary definitions supplied to you.

From the *real* version of the Oxford English Dictionary:

"2. To perform routine maintenance or repair work on (a motor vehicle or
other piece of equipment). orig. U.S.
1926 Amer. Speech II. 112/2 The automobile dealer says: ‘Run the new car
five hundred miles at twenty or less an hour, then have it thoroughly
serviced with grease and oil.’ 1930 Bookman Dec. 398 Probably the
greatest cost in Television will be that expended for servicing the
equipment. 1935 A. P. HERBERT in Punch 27 Feb. 236/1, I denounce,
Comrades, the foul new verb ‘to service’, an invention, I believe, of
someone in the motor-trade. 1949 ‘G. ORWELL’ Nineteen Eighty-Four II.
131 She enjoyed her work, which consisted chiefly in running and
servicing a powerful but tricky electric motor. 1958 Listener 23 Oct.
655/2 Vehicles{em}whether moving, parked, unloading or being
serviced{em}have already taken charge of the present ground level. 1978
R. LEWIS Uncertain Sound vi. 154 Your car was serviced on the Thursday."

--
Eiron.