Did you know that you might have been using well-known sayings wrong?
Over time, each language evolves. We are so used to using slang words and sayings that we actually don’t realize that we might have been saying or using them incorrectly.
One reason is that we often hear these sayings being used by everyone; that is why we’re using them too, but did you know that some of them don’t even make sense?
Once you understand what the real saying is, that’s when you truly understand its meaning.
It’s time to correct these mistakes!
Here are 30 sayings that most people don’t know they’re using incorrectly. Don’t forget to tell us which one shocked you the most!
1) “For all intensive purposes”
Example:
“For all intents and purposes, it looks like the train station is open.”
2) “Extract Revenge”
Before you do, you will need to be corrected first. It’s not to “extract revenge,” because the word extract means to remove or to take out. It doesn’t make sense, right?
The correct saying should be to ‘exact revenge,’
Example:
“It’s time to exact revenge on the person who has done me wrong.”
3) “I could care less”
Now, the correct saying should be, ‘I couldn’t care less,’ which means that you can’t care less about something or someone.
Example:
“I couldn’t care less about your made-up stories.”
4) “Chock it up”
The correct saying is ‘to chalk it up,’ which means that you need to tell or explain something. Chalk is used because it’s used for writing.
Example:
“That seems interesting! You have to chalk it up.”
5) “Free reign”
The correct saying is actually ‘free rein‘, which means having the freedom of movement or choice.
Example:
“You have free rein to run the play like how you want it.”
6) “Slight of hand”
When we say ‘slight of hand,’ you are referring to a slight movement of the hand. Now, what you really mean is ‘sleight of hand,’ which means this person has fine motor skills or has dexterity.
Example:
“I’m telling you the truth! No hidden agenda, no sleight of hand.”
7) “Butt naked”
It’s actually buck and not butt. So, we should start correcting ourselves from now on.
Example:
“They were goofing outside buck naked.”
8) “Shoe-in”
The correct phrase is “shoo-in” and yes, it’s the word ‘shoo’. The history behind this is because it was derived from horse jockeys that wanted to make their horse run faster.
Example:
“That newcomer is definitely a shoo-in for the management position.”
9) “Worse-case scenario”
What’s the difference?
‘Worst-case scenario’ with a “t” means that you are ready when things/situations get overwhelmingly bad.
Example:
“I can’t help myself. I keep on thinking of the worst-case scenarios before I let myself expect.”
10) “On Accident”
The correct one should be ‘by accident’ and not ‘on accident’. You see, you simply can’t do anything ‘on’ accident, but you can do something ‘by‘ accident. Makes sense, right?
Example:
“She didn’t mean to do it. It all happened too fast and the fire happened by accident.”
11) “Do diligence”
When you say ‘do‘ diligence, it means you need to act on being diligent. Now, the correct one is ‘due‘ diligence, where the word ‘due’ means a person’s right or something that is owed to someone.
Example:
“I already did my part. I was able to finish my due diligence for the project.”
12) “Each one worse than the next”
If you’re a time traveler or someone who can see the future, then you can use it. However, the correct one should be ‘each one worse than the last,’ where you are comparing something worse than the previous one.
Example:
“Each series they make is just worse than the last”
13) “Change tact”
Now, what you want to say is ‘change tack,’ which means change direction or course of the ship.
Example:
“The captain wanted us to change tack.”
14) “I’m giving you leadway”
Now, the correct word that you’re looking for is actually ‘leeway,’ which means the amount of freedom to move or act.
Example:
“Have some consideration, give us a little leeway.”
15) “Hunger pains”
The correct word should be ‘pangs,’ which means a sharp emotion or pain. So now we can start using the correct term when we’re hungry.
Example:
“Please, let’s go and eat. I’m getting serious hunger pangs.”
16) “Brother-in-laws”
It should be ‘brothers-in-law‘ or ‘sisters-in-law‘ because they are more than one.
Example:
“Mike and Austin are my brothers-in-law.”
17) “Don’t phase me”
The word ‘phase’ means stages or a specific period in a series of events. Now, if you say ‘don’t phase me,’ then it doesn’t make any sense.
The word that we’re looking for is ‘faze’ which means to disturb. Now, that makes sense.
Example:
“Go out or dinner if you want, it doesn’t faze me.”
18) “Ex-patriot”
But did you know that we’re using the wrong word? The actual word to use is ‘expatriate,’ which means to reside outside their native country.
Example:
“The family had to expatriate from their home.”
19) “Peak my interest”
The correct word is actually ‘pique,’ which translates to something that has stimulated your interest.
Example:
“You have piqued my interest in that movie.”
20) “Sneak Peak”
The correct word for this saying is ‘peek‘ which means to take a look quickly.
Example:
“The theater gave everyone a sneak peek of the new horror movie.”
21) “I made a complete 360 degree change in my life”
Someone would say that they made a 360-degree change in their lives, but if you think about it, if you do that, you would be back in the same exact place where you started, right?
Now, the correct phrase should be a ‘complete 180-degree change’, which means that you have turned your life around and you’re in the exact opposite of where you started.
Example:
“I have no regrets because that decision helped me to make a complete 180-degree change in my life.”
22) “Deep seeded”
However, this is not even the right word. It should be ‘seated‘ and not ‘seeded.’ The word seated means that you are describing something that has been secured or well-hidden.
Example:
“She harbored a deep-seated hatred for the people who mistreated her when she was young. ”
23) “First come, first serve”
What we should say is ‘first come, first served“, which means whichever guest is first will be the one to receive service first.
Example:
“The five-star restaurant’s policy is first come, first served.”
24) “Momento”
What you need to look for is a ‘memento‘ or souvenir.
Example:
“I’m going to give my boyfriend that cute memento.”
25) “Expresso”
While it might sound correct, it’s not. The drink that you are actually looking for is called an ‘espresso,’ and that’s a fun fact.
Example:
“Please, can you get me an espresso?”
26) “Nip it in the butt”
The correct phrase is ‘nip it in the bud,’ which means that you will stop something from growing right as it starts.
Example:
“It’s time to nip it in the bud before it’s too late.”
27) “One in the same”
Example:
“Maybe they’re one and the same, that’s why I can’t solve the case.”
28) “Piece of mind”
Example:
“I just want to have peace of mind”.
29) “Baited Breath”
The correct way of saying it is ‘bated breath’, where the word ‘bated’ means to hold your breath.
Example:
“Nervous, all of us anxiously waited with bated breath.”
30) “Scott free”
Example:
“That was a close call! Good thing he got out of there scot free.”
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