Do you put your kids 'on restriction'?

[Skrej]

I encountered an expression today when using a textbook produced by Cambridge University Press, and I'm curious if it's just a BrE expression that slipped past AmE editors, or if it's used in AmE and I've just somehow never heard of it.

The term is 'on restriction', in regards to disciplining a child. As punishment, the child is not allowed to leave the house except when strictly necessary (such as school) and may loose other privileges such a phone, internet, and TV access, socializing with friends during free time, and any other restrictions a parent deems fit.

This is what I'd refer to as 'grounded', 'grounding', or 'being grounded'. It's clear from context however that that's exactly how 'on restriction' is being used, so I'm curious is this is used in BrE, or if any AmE speakers have heard/use this.

I have found several other blatant errors in the books (such as a list of irregular past participles containing the simple past form instead and other clear typos), so I'm curious on where regionally this term is used. It's used repeatedly throughout the unit, so it's deliberate and not some one-off error.

Do BrE speakers 'ground' their kids, put them 'on restriction', or something else? Any AmE (or other variants) speakers use this?

 

[jutfrank]

I've never heard 'on restriction' before.

We don't really have our own word for this so we use 'grounded' like you do. Even though to a middle-aged man like me 'grounded' sounds American, it's been in common use here for so long now (since the 80s, I think) that I guess to younger British parents it feels perfectly natural.

Out of curiosity—which textbook was it?

 

[emsr2d2]

I've never heard it in BrE. I know Reddit isn't the most reliable source, but THIS thread on there suggests it might have a military basis. Someone suggested that connection, then the only person who remembers being put "on restriction" as a child says their mother was in the military. (I believe that person is American.)

 

[Skrej]

Hard to tell where some of those Reddit posters are from, but a surprising number (a few clearly identifiable as American) seemed to have at least heard of 'on restriction'. I haven't heard the other term mentioned a few times there either - 'on punishment'.

Out of curiosity—which textbook was it?

Ventures, Book 4

I just told my students to ignore it and use the term 'grounded'. Fortunately it was just a minor side note anyway.

 

[Tarheel]

I've heard of being put on restriction. I don't think it's used as much as the other one.

 

[jutfrank]

Ventures, Book 4

Ah. I'm pretty sure the authors are Americans, and that this book is primarily aimed at the US market.

 

[probus]

Yes. The Cambridge University Press page offering the book for sale specifically says it is about American English.

 

[Skrej]

Seems odd to me that they'd choose a phrase so little used. I've never written a textbook, but if I did, I'd try to pick the more widely used phrases when faced with synonymous terms.

So far, I'm not very impressed with this text. I wasn't given a choice in its selection, unfortunately.

I'm just finding so many typos and clear errors that I wouldn't expect to see from a reputable publisher.

For example, in the accompanying video for a lesson, they erroneously list the past forms instead of the past participles, although they did get it corrected in the printed book. Top image is the video, bottom from the book.

What's worse is that we've only worked through the first three units. Who knows what else we'll find.