Why can't they speak the Queen's English? Especially when she's visiting their country.

While on the phone to a bank in Australia earlier today, the guy on the other ended asked "Can I grab your account number?"

Well frankly, cobber, no. To grab means to seize hold of something - usually forcefully. It's bad enough when Aussies, Kiwis and Americans say that they are going to grab a coffee. At least in that instance there is a physical object involved. Although they usually don't have it near to hand when they ask for it and have to wait for it to be prepared.

Where has all this misuse of the English language come from? These people's forebears set off from England with a perfectly good language and, no doubt, a copy of Dr Johnson's dictionary.

The first thing the Americans did was remove the letter 'u' from various words. (I wonder do they call the Irish rock band featuring Bonio and The Edge just 2?)

I think maybe the culture of greed that grew up in the 1980s has left its mark with this usage of "grab". Oh, just to hear someone say "I think I'll get myself a coffee" or "May I have a coffee please".