Author Topic: Phrases that people get wrong (Read 46480 times)

Gobias Industries · « **on:** July 22, 2011, 12:18:28 am »

Someone in the Liverpool board used the phrase "So far so could" earlier. Got me thinking of how we all have or have known someone who has gotten phrases wrong, sometimes completely changing the meaning of what they are saying without realising it.

When I was a bit younger I thought the phrase "As far as the eye can see" was actually "As far as the Ikan Sea" and that there was an especially wide area of water named the Ikan Sea that all distances were measured against. I remember how I found out that I was wrong as well. I was talking to my mate about how fast Sonic the Hedgehog was and how he could jump great distances. I told him, "He could probably jump all the way across the Ikan Sea." My mum informed me of my mistake later.

Sometimes you might here someone admonishing an especially high maintenance person by suggesting they stop being a "Pre Madonna".

There are so many of these that you hear in every day life and just think "What the actual fuck?"

Prelude no.5 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2011, 12:54:15 am »

Calling a high maintenance person a "Pre Madonna" is good though, at least from the pronunciation aspect. The word comes from the Italian "Prima Donna" meaning 'first lady' hence the meaning you depicted is correct.

RedRabbit · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:05:12 am »

My sister thought "Moot point" was "Mute point", as in you should just shut up about it. Although Joey in Friends one is better: "It's a moo point, like a cow's opinion. It doesn't mean anything. It's moo."

The one that annoys me is when people say something like: "I did a complete 360 and and got out of there/changed my life". Fucking idiots.

quinny · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:11:42 am »

Intents and purposes becoming intensive purposes.

Paul-LFC · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:15:03 am »

The one that annoys me most is people saying "I could care less" when what they mean to say is couldn't. Mostly Americans seem to do this and I haven't go a clue why.

Crimson_Tank · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2011, 01:35:32 am »

Sky Sports understands that (player X) is in talks with (club y).

this commonly gets confused with club y has signed player x

-Nay- · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:01:40 am »

I'm terrible for these! $:-\$

Aido LFC · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:46:25 am »

Holy shit Gobias I never knew your avatar was a gif until now.

mildale · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:47:58 am »

Ones that I've heard...

Curled up in the feeble position (fetal)
Eardropping on a conversation (eavesdropping)
I'm soaping wet (soaking)

Crimson_Tank · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:49:33 am »

Quote from: Aido LFC on July 22, 2011, 02:46:25 am

Holy shit Gobias I never knew your avatar was a gif until now.

No Freaking Way.

bakstabba · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:02:19 am »

Quote from: Crimson_Tank on July 22, 2011, 02:49:33 am

No Freaking Way.

I never noticed.

Gobias Industries · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:10:23 am »

That's why I chose it

Barneylfc∗ · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:16:03 am »

Not really a phrase I got wrong but a word. Albeit. Every time I read this word, until recently, I thought it was 'allbite'

kismet · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:28:15 am »

I get confused with this one: "All that glitters is not gold"

Usually turns into "all that gold is not glitter" or "all that glitter is not gold"

Dr. Beaker · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:10:39 am »

Pacific instead of specific.

Tomaldinho · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:10:43 am »

Quote from: Paul-LFC on July 22, 2011, 01:15:03 am

The one that annoys me most is people saying "I could care less" when what they mean to say is couldn't. Mostly Americans seem to do this and I haven't go a clue why.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw

Came in here to post that one. In the states at the moment and making myself look a right twat by correcting people

Rusty · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:25:39 am »

"You've got another think coming" being incorrectly replaced with "You've got another thing coming".

Really fucking irks me for some reason.

kavah · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:29:51 am »

my arl fella had me in bulk before when he told me he went to the Dista pensioners fancy dress party with me ma as Bob Marley and the coconuts

Manav · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:33:00 am »

I don't know if it really counts as a phrase, but a lot of people I know (and on here too) say "could of" or "should of" which is annoying.

Raul! · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:49:44 am »

I'm worse. I get irritated even when there is a slight deviation from the original.

"The proof of the pudding is in eating it", for example, sucks all the rhythm and music out of "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

I did however believe thatbthe band Hall & Oates was called Hollow Notes, which, you'll have to admit isn't a bad name for a band.

.adam · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2011, 06:57:44 am »

My boss ALWAYS uses the word pacific instead of specific. Winds me up to no end.

lfcgeez · « **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:03:09 am »

In meetings with customers my boss tries to impress them with the latin phrase "Quid pro quo" (meaning - something given in return for something of equivalent value / you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours)..

For some reason he really tries to emphasise it in a sentence but always gets it wrong, never once heard him pronounce it right - he's tried "Quip Cro Pro", "Kid Crow Pro", "Quid Quorn Pro", etc.

Matt8Pie · « **Reply #22 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:06:55 am »

When a film is nothing but eye candy instead of having to use your brain, I say it's eye candy. My mate says "chewing gum for the eyes" and that phrase really annoys me for some reason. Does it make sense?

KERRYKOP · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:07:07 am »

Quote from: Raul. on July 22, 2011, 05:49:44 am

I did however believe thatbthe band Hall & Oates was called Hollow Notes, which, you'll have to admit isn't a bad name for a band.

Our the solo artist Holland Oates

Ecuared · « **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:16:23 am »

Kahuna{=}Berger · « **Reply #25 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:42:26 am »

Quote from: Ecuared on July 22, 2011, 07:16:23 am

Exactly what first went through my mind.

Matt8Pie · « **Reply #26 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:52:05 am »

Paul Merson - "Luis Swarver-ez"

or

"That is totally wrong" only to be disproved.

Geppvindh's · « **Reply #27 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:59:55 am »

A lot of people on RAWK use 'where' instead of 'were' and vice versa.

Prelude no.5 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:11:26 am »

Quote from: Gerrvindh on July 22, 2011, 07:59:55 am

A lot of people on RAWK use 'where' instead of 'were' and vice versa.

You can add the confusion between 'their' and 'there', and 'your' & you're to that too. it's very common indeed.

redbyrdz · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:33:44 am »

Quote from: Gerrvindh on July 22, 2011, 07:59:55 am

A lot of people on RAWK use 'where' instead of 'were' and vice versa.

Quote from: Prelude no.5 on July 22, 2011, 08:11:26 am

You can add the confusion between 'their' and 'there', and 'your' & you're to that too. it's very common indeed.

Thats more bad spelling/grammar though, not really misunderstood phrases.

Thought for a long time "shed load" was "shit load" and wondered why it was ok swearing when saying that.

Redman0151 · « **Reply #30 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:34:18 am »

"I could care less" pisses me off immensely, Americans seem to be the main culprits.

red_lfc_costello · « **Reply #31 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:36:13 am »

Cant be asked > Isnt it, cant be arsed?! thats how ive always known it.

See lots of fella on here saying 'stupid get' etc, i thought it was 'git' maybe a difference in regional dialect!

Derzyjudek · « **Reply #32 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:41:27 am »

Quote from: Raul. on July 22, 2011, 05:49:44 am

I'm worse. I get irritated even when there is a slight deviation from the original.

"The proof of the pudding is in eating it", for example, sucks all the rhythm and music out of "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".

I did however believe thatbthe band Hall & Oates was called Hollow Notes, which, you'll have to admit isn't a bad name for a band.

I have heard alot of people say "the proof is in the pudding".

tbonejones · « **Reply #33 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:43:21 am »

My mate piped up with "I'm gain" the other day, meaning he was up for something (I'm game). Genuinely didn't realise what he was saying was wrong.

Not a phrase, but for years I thought chimneys were actually called chimleys.

leroy · « **Reply #34 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:59:04 am »

Quote from: redbyrdz on July 22, 2011, 08:33:44 am

Thats more bad spelling/grammar though, not really misunderstood phrases.

Thought for a long time "shed load" was "shit load" and wondered why it was ok swearing when saying that.

True. But just to get it off my chest... mixing up new & knew gives me a twitch.

boots · « **Reply #35 on:** July 22, 2011, 09:06:05 am »

my boss always says interpretate instead of interpret.

Raul! · « **Reply #36 on:** July 22, 2011, 09:49:50 am »

Quote from: Derzyjudek on July 22, 2011, 08:41:27 am

I have heard alot of people say "the proof is in the pudding".

Ha, that's funny. Images of people poking their fingers into a trifle trying to fish something out of it.

binge · « **Reply #37 on:** July 22, 2011, 12:00:13 pm »

Its not rocket surgery

Alan_X · « **Reply #38 on:** July 22, 2011, 12:03:18 pm »

Quote from: kismet on July 22, 2011, 03:28:15 am

I get confused with this one: "All that glitters is not gold"

Usually turns into "all that gold is not glitter" or "all that glitter is not gold"

It's "all that glisters is not gold".

Merchant of Venice (II,vii)

Chinbits · « **Reply #39 on:** July 22, 2011, 12:04:28 pm »

I used to think Jimmy Saville was called Jim'll Saville after Jim'll fix It