Does groping in the dark have negative (sexual) connotations?





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I am writing a blog tentatively titled "Particle Filters: Groping in the Dark for Robots". It struck me that groping has a strong sexual connotation too, so I researched if the idiom groping in the dark also has a negative connotation too. I asked an editor friend and she suggested changing the title because non-native speakers who are more familiar with groping (in the sexual sense) and may not be familiar with the other meaning of cluelessnes may take offence to the title.



I would like to understand if there are any such connotations in modern usage and whether using the title has even the slightest chance of being offensive.






idioms connotation







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  • 5





    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something, literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the argot to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks please convert your comment to an answer, I will accept it.

    – farhanhubble
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks Or more?

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago


















1















I am writing a blog tentatively titled "Particle Filters: Groping in the Dark for Robots". It struck me that groping has a strong sexual connotation too, so I researched if the idiom groping in the dark also has a negative connotation too. I asked an editor friend and she suggested changing the title because non-native speakers who are more familiar with groping (in the sexual sense) and may not be familiar with the other meaning of cluelessnes may take offence to the title.



I would like to understand if there are any such connotations in modern usage and whether using the title has even the slightest chance of being offensive.






idioms connotation







share|improve this question


















  • 5





    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something, literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the argot to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks please convert your comment to an answer, I will accept it.

    – farhanhubble
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks Or more?

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago














1












1








1








I am writing a blog tentatively titled "Particle Filters: Groping in the Dark for Robots". It struck me that groping has a strong sexual connotation too, so I researched if the idiom groping in the dark also has a negative connotation too. I asked an editor friend and she suggested changing the title because non-native speakers who are more familiar with groping (in the sexual sense) and may not be familiar with the other meaning of cluelessnes may take offence to the title.



I would like to understand if there are any such connotations in modern usage and whether using the title has even the slightest chance of being offensive.






idioms connotation







share|improve this question














I am writing a blog tentatively titled "Particle Filters: Groping in the Dark for Robots". It struck me that groping has a strong sexual connotation too, so I researched if the idiom groping in the dark also has a negative connotation too. I asked an editor friend and she suggested changing the title because non-native speakers who are more familiar with groping (in the sexual sense) and may not be familiar with the other meaning of cluelessnes may take offence to the title.



I would like to understand if there are any such connotations in modern usage and whether using the title has even the slightest chance of being offensive.






idioms connotation




idioms connotation






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 2 days ago









farhanhubblefarhanhubble

1284




1284








  • 5





    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something, literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the argot to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks please convert your comment to an answer, I will accept it.

    – farhanhubble
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks Or more?

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago














  • 5





    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something, literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the argot to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks please convert your comment to an answer, I will accept it.

    – farhanhubble
    2 days ago











  • @HotLicks Or more?

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago








5




5





"Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something, literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the argot to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.

– Hot Licks
2 days ago





"Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something, literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the argot to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.

– Hot Licks
2 days ago













@HotLicks please convert your comment to an answer, I will accept it.

– farhanhubble
2 days ago





@HotLicks please convert your comment to an answer, I will accept it.

– farhanhubble
2 days ago













@HotLicks Or more?

– Tuffy
2 days ago





@HotLicks Or more?

– Tuffy
2 days ago










2 Answers
2






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4














"Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something", literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the vernacular to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.






share|improve this answer
























  • Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago











  • @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago











  • For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago



















2














Groping someone (no preposition) can have a sexual meaning; it generally implies unwanted sexual touching. However, we can innocently grope, in literal or figurative darkness, for a sought thing, solution, answer, pathway, etc.






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    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something", literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the vernacular to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.






    share|improve this answer
























    • Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago











    • @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

      – Hot Licks
      2 days ago











    • For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago
















    4














    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something", literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the vernacular to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.






    share|improve this answer
























    • Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago











    • @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

      – Hot Licks
      2 days ago











    • For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago














    4












    4








    4







    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something", literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the vernacular to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.






    share|improve this answer













    "Groping in the dark" is a long-established idiom for "aimlessly grasping for something", literally or figuratively. It could be used (with a wink) to imply something sexual, or it could be misinterpreted by someone not familiar with the vernacular to imply something sexual, but it is not (in the US, at least) a term one must avoid in general writing or speaking, where context might not imply a sexual meaning. After all, probably about 20% of English words might be used with a sexual connotation.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 2 days ago









    Hot LicksHot Licks

    19.5k23777




    19.5k23777













    • Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago











    • @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

      – Hot Licks
      2 days ago











    • For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago



















    • Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago











    • @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

      – Hot Licks
      2 days ago











    • For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

      – Tuffy
      2 days ago

















    Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago





    Yes, but are you sure the groper is grasping for something ‘aimlessly? Perhaps ‘feeling your way in the dark’, gets the point without the unwanted potential for misunderstanding. Now ‘groping in broad daylight’ might really give the wrong impression!

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago













    @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago





    @Tuffy - While in the literal sense the groper may be moving methodically, the sense of the idiom is "aimlessly". When you lose something the floor of your car while driving and you reach for it, the idiom does not apply until you can't find it in the obvious places.

    – Hot Licks
    2 days ago













    For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago





    For the car floor groping, I should say ‘blindly’ - the police officer who scrapes my car off the central reservation might say ‘recklessly’!

    – Tuffy
    2 days ago













    2














    Groping someone (no preposition) can have a sexual meaning; it generally implies unwanted sexual touching. However, we can innocently grope, in literal or figurative darkness, for a sought thing, solution, answer, pathway, etc.






    share|improve this answer




























      2














      Groping someone (no preposition) can have a sexual meaning; it generally implies unwanted sexual touching. However, we can innocently grope, in literal or figurative darkness, for a sought thing, solution, answer, pathway, etc.






      share|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2







        Groping someone (no preposition) can have a sexual meaning; it generally implies unwanted sexual touching. However, we can innocently grope, in literal or figurative darkness, for a sought thing, solution, answer, pathway, etc.






        share|improve this answer













        Groping someone (no preposition) can have a sexual meaning; it generally implies unwanted sexual touching. However, we can innocently grope, in literal or figurative darkness, for a sought thing, solution, answer, pathway, etc.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 days ago









        Michael HarveyMichael Harvey

        6,66511120




        6,66511120






























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