[Vocabulary] diagonalise

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nyota

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A quick question - can I say, "I have a double bed which I like to diagonalise," meaning 'I like to sleep diagonally' rather than along one of the sides?
 
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I am not a teacher.

I would call that a nonce word, which would make it legitimate, but I would understand it to mean that you like to place the bed at an angle to the wall, not that you lie on it diagonally.
 
Gnome

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I'm not a teacher. Using that word in that way is probably incorrect since no one would really know what you're talking about unless you explain that sentence or elaborate on it. This is what diagonalise means.

You can just say that you like to sleep on your side.
 
nyota

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Only the point was I don't have my side, I sleep diagonally ;)
 
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DarkLightA

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ICH NICHT BEIN EIN TEACHER

Even if it were correct I wouldn't use it as no one would know what you meant.

I'd say "I have a bed in which I usually sleep diagonally" instead.
 
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bhaisahab

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nyota said:
No, not as such..
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You have sides, you don't have a side of the bed because you sleep diagonally across it.
If "diagonalise" exists at all, it would, as Coolfootluke suggested, most likely mean that you position your bed diagonally in the room.
 
nyota

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Yes I do know I have sides, I was implicitly referring to the bed, thanks.
 
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susiedqq

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Are you placing the bed diagonally in the room

or

Are you sleeping diagonally in the bed.
 
nyota

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The context was clear (however I didn't put it all in here) so the other person wouldn't have doubts as to what I meant. I was just thinking about the form. From all your answers it seems 'diagonalise' brings some confusion, so it's better to specify what I want to say exactly.
 
5jj

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nyota said:
The context was clear (however I didn't put it all in here) so the other person wouldn't have doubts as to what I meant. I was just thinking about the form. From all your answers it seems 'diagonalise' brings some confusion, so it's better to specify what I want to say exactly.
Click to expand...
Indeed.
 
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