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No one was born perfect when it comes to language. We say one thing when we mean entirely another. We mix up words, add endings, and pretend it’s all fine. Well, not quite.
You see, even though some phrases roll off the tip of the tongue as if they were almost identical, it doesn’t mean they are. From hunger pains to hunger pangs and sleight of hand to slight of hand, there are too many common phrases that are way more confusing than they really should be.
So this time, we’re gonna look at the most common mistakes we make when using these phrases, and hopefully, learn something that would have made our English teachers proud.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Yeah, you heard 5 years ago
This is an Americanism. I've literally never heard anyone say it here in the UK.
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We all have that one phrase or two (or too many) that pop into the conversations we have with people. These go-to expressions surely add some style to whatever we’re saying unless they’re used the wrong way.
But the more we use them, the more unaware we become of these repetitive language slip-ups. And honestly, our interlocutors are often unaware of the fact as well. Think of how many times you've heard someone say “I could care less.” In fact, this means the exact opposite as meant by the right usage “I couldn’t care less.”
Other common phrases people confuse very often are “tongue and cheek” (should be tongue in cheek), “for all intensive purposes” (should be “for all intents and purposes”), “another thing coming” (the right way is “another think coming.”)
#5
Dennis Michael 5 years ago
The word "buck" refers to a male native american indian. The phrase "buck naked" comes from the fact that back in the early days (pre 1900) male indians would be seen riding their horses to a river or stream to bathe or do what ever, and would be totally naked on the horse. White people would see them and thus the phrase "Buck naked" was born.
Cecilia 5 years ago
@ Dennis, I'm an English teacher, and I'm so glad someone else knows the back story for this phrase.
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Marnie 5 years ago
I don't see this as being incorrect, since neither one has any concrete meaning and neither one actually means something different from the intent (like "I could care less" does). The two words together are understood to mean something. Language changes over time. "Butt naked" is perfectly valid in casual conversation.
Ken Murray 5 years ago
Buck refers to aa word commonly used for an Indian brave - the y wore little clothing in the summers - hence the term buck naked - but since it can be seen as racist let's just change it to butt naked
Erik Steckler 5 years ago
Buck is a racist term for native american and the term buck naked should be avoided.
Colbi Schrover 5 years ago
I'd first heard "butt naked" by some girl friends to refer to how Dean and Jessie met in the movie "Youngblood", where he was literally"butt" naked out in the hallway. And so they recommended the movie LOL. I don't know "buck naked". I always thought the braves wore some kind of loincloths or something.
Brian Rolfe 1 year ago
I've been using the wrong one since a child in London UK in the 50s. Never heard of Buck Naked in the UK ever.
Rhiannon Asher 4 years ago
How about just saying "naked"? Buck naked sounds racist and butt naked is kind of redundant. Naked is naked.
Kate Warren 4 years ago
I am in total agreement but it’s reference to strong black men on the slave block means neither should be used.
Tuesdays Child 5 years ago
Correct or not, Imma use "butt naked" because I have a butt, but I don't have a buck.
Mshauri Mazuri 5 years ago
I know I know it's not correct. But if you see a butt and it's naked, what's the first thing you gonna say? Buck naked or butt naked? Haha
Alex Bailey 5 years ago
Could just say naked - means exactly the same thing and is a wee bit less effort. Butt naked is such an obvious americanism though.
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Ren Karlej 5 years ago
It just simply has never been the phrase and makes little sense over and above any other naked body part..
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JessG 5 years ago
They both make sense, it’s just “buck naked” came first. It has been miss-pronounced so many times that most people say “butt”
Load More Replies... #6
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Finally. Thank you. AMEN. English isn't my family's first language on one side, and I've spent a lifetime explaining these things. I feel so happy I'm not alone....
Even though the misused phrases may be annoying to some sharp-eared listeners, they are never harmful or intentional.
But there are some common phrases that can never work in any conversation and they can definitely turn your encounter sour. For example, saying “you look good for your age,” “this might sound stupid, but…” or “you’re so…” this and that, can be interpreted in a bad way.
So in the end, it’s never really about language and grammar, but rather the content and the way you say it that really matters in a fruitful and pleasant conversation.
#7
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Ever see my mom after an espresso? EXpresso ain't a bad description...
#9
Lance d'Boyle 5 years ago
The term has nothing to do with the Scotts. It comes from old Scandinavian 'skatt fri', which means 'tax free'.
#10
#13
Robert Thornburrow 5 years ago
We tend to refer to people as Expats, as expatriate sounds more like the action of doing it, as in repatriate, meaning to take someone back to their homeland.
#14
Katrina B. 5 years ago
This one is misleading though because they are pronounced the same way. If you're saying them at least.
#17
Robert Thornburrow 5 years ago
Gets confusing when you get possessive. My brother-in-law's car is the car belonging to my brother-in-law, but what would you say for all the cars belonging to multiple brothers-in-law? My brothers-in-law's cars?
#20
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
A lot of people online seem to be unable to correctly use superlatives.
#22
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Pangs is archaic, but yes, that's the conventional usage. Frankly, I've been hungry enough to hurt. It is not a pang. It was pain.
#25
Luke N 5 years ago
Actually the Lee side of a sailboat is the downwind side. Opposite of windward. Depending on the boat and its keel and the exact angle of the wind, it will crab or be pushed sideways a bit, especially when close-hauled. So you need to aim a bit to windward to allow for leeway in order to go straight. Especially important when going toward another boat or around a headland that is on a lee shore. Even more important if your boat doesn't tack well or sail to windward, eg. A square rigger caught between 2 headlands. Extra leeway is required to prevent being wrecked.
#29
troufaki13 5 years ago
In Greece we say "one is worse than the other" when everything is bad and you can't tell which is worse
#30
Julie C Rose 5 years ago
I once got a book out the library where the editor hadn’t caught this mistake and one of the people who had the book before me crossed out “phase” and wrote “faze”.
#31
Jane Shead 5 years ago
No it doesn't. The OED says: 1. Originally in Law, of a case, issue, etc.: proposed for discussion at a moot (moot n.1 4). Later also gen.: open to argument, debatable; uncertain, doubtful; unable to be firmly resolved. Frequently in moot case, moot point.
#32
Robert Thornburrow 5 years ago
This is part of the phrase "make do and mend", meaning things are used in their current state or you mend them only sufficiently to make them work, nothing is replaced by new - usually used in reference to being poor.
#34
Robert Thornburrow 5 years ago
And the hooks on a tenter are literally tenterhooks. There don't seem to be any phrases for teasels, but they are the seedheads of plant that were used to tease the wool. Together they form the coat of arms for Kendal, which is a town in Northern England which once had a thriving wool trade.
#39
స్టీఫెన్ ఆండ్రూ 5 years ago
'Spitting image' is in the Oxford Dictionary. It's correct even if 'spit and image' is the original usage.
#41
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Who in the name of all that's holy ever said "Pass mustard" except at a cookout?
#42
#45
Emily Ducat 5 years ago
People I would like to introduce you to the google ngram search for "escape goat" https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=escape+goat&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=26&smoothing=3&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cescape%20goat%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2Cescape%20goat%3B%2Cc1 proving that "escape goat" appears in a disturbingly high number of published works particularly around the 2013-2014 mark the implication being that it is used a lot more widely than you might think
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What do you think ?
Remi Flynne 5 years ago
It being used instead of sympathy when people don't understand but are sorry for the person's plight.
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Terry Farnell 5 years ago
'Fine-toothed comb' is often used incorrectly as a 'fine tooth comb' or even as 'tooth comb'
Liam Walsh 5 years ago
Oh, yes. That one is irritating. I see it in published novels and wonder who the hell was editing. Grrrr 🤬
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Lynn Plouff 5 years ago
I love good grammar. Can’t help but cringe when words are used incorrectly.
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
I completely agree. https://photos.app.goo.gl/brzaVqwtnhEohecb6
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Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Somewhere, my English teachers are rejoicing. And scolding. And rejoicing.
Brian Leahy 5 years ago
A more subtle one that drives me nuts: when talking about someone facing a dilemma, people will say "He had to choose between (good thing) and (bad thing)." Um, that's not a dilemma - just choose the good thing!! For it to be a dilemma, the choice has to be between two good things (only one of which you can have) or two BAD things (only one of which you can avoid). For instance, some program I watched said "...he was forced to choose between defending his life's work and betraying his protege." That'd be an easy one - defend your life's work INSTEAD OF betraying your protege. What they MEANT was "he was forced to choose between defending his life's work and being loyal to his protege."
Colin Fairhurst 5 years ago
Another classic from {mostly} americans is 'voila', so many spell it like they try to pronounce it, Wa La, So wrong !
Natasha Chick 5 years ago
I used to Beta read fanfiction so I think I've seen all the incorrect versions of these at some point.
PjandBolt 5 years ago
I barely know the difference between week and weak so this rlly helped lol
PjandBolt 5 years ago
Why do people keep commenting "easy" on my comments? Can anyone else help me on that?
Load More Replies...
Aragorn II Elessar 5 years ago (edited)
This comments section passed the vibe check more than any other I’ve seen. Good job, y’all.
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago (edited)
Lol maybe for most, but anything I say is getting downvoted. Even my comment on "eat ur cake" it's a really bully mentality here. I might just quit this site I'm tired of bots posting and bullies downvoting those who disagree no matter how they try to defend themselves. Passed ur vibe check but the vibes I'm getting are telling me pandas want me gone. So bye y'all.
Load More Replies...
Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
I only found two I might have used the wrong version of, and english itsn't my first language. That being said, I rarely use ANY of there, correct or incorrect
Nia Loves Art 5 years ago
I imagine it’s easier to avoid making these mistakes if you were taught the correct way before picking up on the wrong way. Native speakers don’t get that.
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Podunkus 5 years ago
Apologies if someone already covered this, but... the one that makes me nuts is when someone refers to a modified car, for example, as “souped up.” WTF? You added chicken soup to it, did you now? You meant “suped up” as in rendered super-duper by virtue of the application of superior enhancements.
Thomas Hofmann 5 years ago (edited)
How about “show stopper” being used negatively, to imply that a project will be stopped, when the correct meaning of “show stopper” is actually positive, i.e. the highlight of the show. This may be peculiar to second language English European corporations.
Karen Barnes 5 years ago
Duck tape! Don’t know why they think it has something to do with ducks. It’s “duct” to wrap around joins and seal ducts.....
Laura Broad 5 years ago
That might be because there is a brand of duct tape called Duck Tape here in the UK.. it really adds to the confusion haha
Load More Replies...
Daria Z 5 years ago
As a Russian, I mostly use English in written form, so it was really interesting to know the incorrect versions too :)
Martin Kaine 5 years ago
My favorite is when people say a difficult action or scenario is a "tough road to hoe." It is actually, of course, "row to hoe," but it is technically HARDER to hoe a road than a row in a graden.
Bettye McKee 5 years ago
These are all good. Mock my words, I have seen them all. However, I was somewhat disappointed not to see strait-laced/strait jacket and camaraderie, not comradery.
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
If you liked this post, then you will also enjoy this list of 100 EGGCORNS (that was a new word for me) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2090909-eggcorns.html
Podunkus 5 years ago
That list was well worth the read. Thank you! And anyone who has read Winnie-the-Pooh knows that the word is “haycorns” and not eggcorns. 😉
Load More Replies...
Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
I cringe when I hear the comparative and superlative misused on BBC Radio 4... every day I hear at least an example or two. I think a lot of mistakes in the use of language is due to laziness and the promulgation of poor habits...
Molly Cule 5 years ago
I am honestly struggling to believe that somehow, the more prevalent misunderstanding between the antonyms entitled and self-entitled does not appear on this list.
artzyfartzy 1 year ago
Resting B***h Face is WRONG. It should be B****y Resting Face. Your face with no expression is your resting face.
Jay Weigel 5 years ago
"Sooner than later" is the one that drives me nuts. It's "sooner *rather* than later"!
Croline Lason 5 years ago
This maybe goes to show that people don't read as much anymore, so the words get passed orally, hence the mistakes (mostly similar phonetically). I learned English as a foreign language from the age of 15, so mainly in books and grammars, so I actually knew most of the correct answers here (not to brag ;) just to prove my point of "oral" vs "written" learning)
Vivienne Bristow 5 years ago
People who say ‘third world problems’ instead of ‘first world problems’.
Roadkill The Brave 5 years ago
He cut off his nose to spite his face is one I use a lot to describe people who are passive aggressive...because it's an excellent description of passive aggression. Most people have no idea what I'm saying, and one friend thought I meant Despite instead of 'to spite'. A lot of the confusion comes from years of being miss heard, also from learning disorders like dyslexia. 1 in 5 people are dyslexic, I'm one of them, so some of those I've messed up. I love things like this which help me correct my knowledge.
Laura Craig 5 years ago
It drives me nuts when I hear people say "whenever I came here" or "whenever I was 5". WHEN!!! It's "when I came here" and "when I was 5"
El Dee 5 years ago
Only number 12 for me, although it's a word I don't think I've ever used in full, referring instead to expats. And shoo-in is a word I've never used or heard used either..
Laura Broad 5 years ago
More stupider... that’s grammatically incorrect and stupider isn’t a word. Unless you’re being ironic?
Load More Replies... 
Rose the Cook 5 years ago
Many are the result of mishearing someone who didn't speak clearly. This can easily happen even with native speakers let alone those learning English as a second language.
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
It's actually often the other way around, since learners usually see things written first and then learn how to pronounce it and for native speakers it is the other way around.
Load More Replies... Pamela Richards 5 years ago
My pet peeve is when people use "draws" instead of "drawers" (like: 2nd hand IKEA drawers on sale...)
Emily Ducat 5 years ago (edited)
Dear fellow Panda's before making declarative statement about the existence of eggcorns based on ones own personal experience please consider doing a quick google books ngram search you may discover something unexpected... like the fact "Bored Panda" has not appeared anywhere in the google library or boring cocktail factoids like the word bored appeared in the text consistently more than the word panda until 1980.
Joey Marlin 5 years ago
Which are the ones that have changed over time? Not sure I saw any bar maybe the US buck/butt naked I suppose but us Brits don't use that (no Brit has a butt, we have bums or arses!). I think that there may be quite a few differences in usage depending on your country. I've never heard anyone in the UK say 'I could care less' instead of 'I couldn't care less'. That one seems to be a US tweak. Some I don't think would matter terribly - expresso/espresso. You'd still be asking for the same coffee, it's not like an expression where the actual meaning is altered completely.
Load More Replies...
Liam Walsh 5 years ago
Actually there are a lot of rules and words have to be used for either a long time or ian ntense amount to become established and the original still stays as accepted.
Load More Replies...
Liam Walsh 5 years ago
It means you can't eat a cake and continue to possess that cake once you've consumed it so I am afraid you have misunderstood the intent of the expression.
Load More Replies...
Remi Flynne 5 years ago
It being used instead of sympathy when people don't understand but are sorry for the person's plight.
Load More Replies... Terry Farnell 5 years ago
'Fine-toothed comb' is often used incorrectly as a 'fine tooth comb' or even as 'tooth comb'
Liam Walsh 5 years ago
Oh, yes. That one is irritating. I see it in published novels and wonder who the hell was editing. Grrrr 🤬
Load More Replies... Lynn Plouff 5 years ago
I love good grammar. Can’t help but cringe when words are used incorrectly.
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
I completely agree. https://photos.app.goo.gl/brzaVqwtnhEohecb6
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Somewhere, my English teachers are rejoicing. And scolding. And rejoicing.
Brian Leahy 5 years ago
A more subtle one that drives me nuts: when talking about someone facing a dilemma, people will say "He had to choose between (good thing) and (bad thing)." Um, that's not a dilemma - just choose the good thing!! For it to be a dilemma, the choice has to be between two good things (only one of which you can have) or two BAD things (only one of which you can avoid). For instance, some program I watched said "...he was forced to choose between defending his life's work and betraying his protege." That'd be an easy one - defend your life's work INSTEAD OF betraying your protege. What they MEANT was "he was forced to choose between defending his life's work and being loyal to his protege."
Colin Fairhurst 5 years ago
Another classic from {mostly} americans is 'voila', so many spell it like they try to pronounce it, Wa La, So wrong !
Natasha Chick 5 years ago
I used to Beta read fanfiction so I think I've seen all the incorrect versions of these at some point.
PjandBolt 5 years ago
I barely know the difference between week and weak so this rlly helped lol
PjandBolt 5 years ago
Why do people keep commenting "easy" on my comments? Can anyone else help me on that?
Load More Replies... Aragorn II Elessar 5 years ago (edited)
This comments section passed the vibe check more than any other I’ve seen. Good job, y’all.
Lauren Caswell 5 years ago (edited)
Lol maybe for most, but anything I say is getting downvoted. Even my comment on "eat ur cake" it's a really bully mentality here. I might just quit this site I'm tired of bots posting and bullies downvoting those who disagree no matter how they try to defend themselves. Passed ur vibe check but the vibes I'm getting are telling me pandas want me gone. So bye y'all.
Load More Replies... Astrid Nineor 5 years ago
I only found two I might have used the wrong version of, and english itsn't my first language. That being said, I rarely use ANY of there, correct or incorrect
Nia Loves Art 5 years ago
I imagine it’s easier to avoid making these mistakes if you were taught the correct way before picking up on the wrong way. Native speakers don’t get that.
Load More Replies... Podunkus 5 years ago
Apologies if someone already covered this, but... the one that makes me nuts is when someone refers to a modified car, for example, as “souped up.” WTF? You added chicken soup to it, did you now? You meant “suped up” as in rendered super-duper by virtue of the application of superior enhancements.
Thomas Hofmann 5 years ago (edited)
How about “show stopper” being used negatively, to imply that a project will be stopped, when the correct meaning of “show stopper” is actually positive, i.e. the highlight of the show. This may be peculiar to second language English European corporations.
Karen Barnes 5 years ago
Duck tape! Don’t know why they think it has something to do with ducks. It’s “duct” to wrap around joins and seal ducts.....
Laura Broad 5 years ago
That might be because there is a brand of duct tape called Duck Tape here in the UK.. it really adds to the confusion haha
Load More Replies... Daria Z 5 years ago
As a Russian, I mostly use English in written form, so it was really interesting to know the incorrect versions too :)
Martin Kaine 5 years ago
My favorite is when people say a difficult action or scenario is a "tough road to hoe." It is actually, of course, "row to hoe," but it is technically HARDER to hoe a road than a row in a graden.
Bettye McKee 5 years ago
These are all good. Mock my words, I have seen them all. However, I was somewhat disappointed not to see strait-laced/strait jacket and camaraderie, not comradery.
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
If you liked this post, then you will also enjoy this list of 100 EGGCORNS (that was a new word for me) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2090909-eggcorns.html
Podunkus 5 years ago
That list was well worth the read. Thank you! And anyone who has read Winnie-the-Pooh knows that the word is “haycorns” and not eggcorns. 😉
Load More Replies... Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
I cringe when I hear the comparative and superlative misused on BBC Radio 4... every day I hear at least an example or two. I think a lot of mistakes in the use of language is due to laziness and the promulgation of poor habits...
Molly Cule 5 years ago
I am honestly struggling to believe that somehow, the more prevalent misunderstanding between the antonyms entitled and self-entitled does not appear on this list.
artzyfartzy 1 year ago
Resting B***h Face is WRONG. It should be B****y Resting Face. Your face with no expression is your resting face.
Jay Weigel 5 years ago
"Sooner than later" is the one that drives me nuts. It's "sooner *rather* than later"!
Croline Lason 5 years ago
This maybe goes to show that people don't read as much anymore, so the words get passed orally, hence the mistakes (mostly similar phonetically). I learned English as a foreign language from the age of 15, so mainly in books and grammars, so I actually knew most of the correct answers here (not to brag ;) just to prove my point of "oral" vs "written" learning)
Vivienne Bristow 5 years ago
People who say ‘third world problems’ instead of ‘first world problems’.
Roadkill The Brave 5 years ago
He cut off his nose to spite his face is one I use a lot to describe people who are passive aggressive...because it's an excellent description of passive aggression. Most people have no idea what I'm saying, and one friend thought I meant Despite instead of 'to spite'. A lot of the confusion comes from years of being miss heard, also from learning disorders like dyslexia. 1 in 5 people are dyslexic, I'm one of them, so some of those I've messed up. I love things like this which help me correct my knowledge.
Laura Craig 5 years ago
It drives me nuts when I hear people say "whenever I came here" or "whenever I was 5". WHEN!!! It's "when I came here" and "when I was 5"
El Dee 5 years ago
Only number 12 for me, although it's a word I don't think I've ever used in full, referring instead to expats. And shoo-in is a word I've never used or heard used either..
Laura Broad 5 years ago
More stupider... that’s grammatically incorrect and stupider isn’t a word. Unless you’re being ironic?
Load More Replies... Rose the Cook 5 years ago
Many are the result of mishearing someone who didn't speak clearly. This can easily happen even with native speakers let alone those learning English as a second language.
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
It's actually often the other way around, since learners usually see things written first and then learn how to pronounce it and for native speakers it is the other way around.
Load More Replies... Pamela Richards 5 years ago
My pet peeve is when people use "draws" instead of "drawers" (like: 2nd hand IKEA drawers on sale...)
Emily Ducat 5 years ago (edited)
Dear fellow Panda's before making declarative statement about the existence of eggcorns based on ones own personal experience please consider doing a quick google books ngram search you may discover something unexpected... like the fact "Bored Panda" has not appeared anywhere in the google library or boring cocktail factoids like the word bored appeared in the text consistently more than the word panda until 1980.
Joey Marlin 5 years ago
Which are the ones that have changed over time? Not sure I saw any bar maybe the US buck/butt naked I suppose but us Brits don't use that (no Brit has a butt, we have bums or arses!). I think that there may be quite a few differences in usage depending on your country. I've never heard anyone in the UK say 'I could care less' instead of 'I couldn't care less'. That one seems to be a US tweak. Some I don't think would matter terribly - expresso/espresso. You'd still be asking for the same coffee, it's not like an expression where the actual meaning is altered completely.
Load More Replies... Liam Walsh 5 years ago
Actually there are a lot of rules and words have to be used for either a long time or ian ntense amount to become established and the original still stays as accepted.
Load More Replies... Liam Walsh 5 years ago
It means you can't eat a cake and continue to possess that cake once you've consumed it so I am afraid you have misunderstood the intent of the expression.
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