FEATURE: Misused and Abused Phrases

[traycer_]

That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means: Misused and Abused Phrases Language has a funny way of ingratiating itself on us. Just when you think you have grammar down pat, those sneaky misused and abused phrases pop up to muddy the water

Comments

[snailbones]

Butt load is a new one on me - I think I actually prefer it *g*

Fascinating stuff, thank you, and thanks also for the link to the essay.

[ariestess]

I've seen it changed to butt ton, too, which is what I tend to use when just yammering on. I'll use correct terminology when I'm writing or doing something formally, but if it's with friends? Nah... I get lazy then...

[snailbones]

*g* I love it. I was just thinking about the first time one of the kids said they "couldn't be arsed" to do something, and in the end I had to get them to spell the "arsed" to me because it sounded like "couldn't be asked", and that just didn't make sense...

[ariestess]

*nods* That's one of those phrases that my 9yo nephew will use [in correct context, no less] as a way to test his cursing boundaries. And he's known since he was like 6-7yo what he can say in a variety of settings. He's allowed much more leniency around the immediate family [ie. his mom, and us aunties] than in school, with his grandparents/extended family, and in mixed public company.

[haldoor]

Thank you! These are interesting examples, most of which must be American, I think, as I've always used most of the correct terms, but I do know there are others that people (including me!) use around here that are wrong, and it's only when you look at them properly like this that you realise. I will check out the essay too!

[traycer_]

You're welcome!

Yeah, I think these may be American examples, especially American slang. Sometimes it's ingrained in us to say what we hear, thinking that it's got to be right if others are saying it. I know I'm guilty of that especially when I say, "every once in awhile". I use that a lot!

Hope you enjoy that essay!

[sidlj]

I've always assumed when people say something like "Let's all try to think outside the box, to coin a phrase," that they're doing it deliberately, in a humorous way. Knowing that they're doing the opposite of what they're saying and knowing that their audience knows, too.

So either I've been giving people too much credit - or this is how the misuse began, with some members of such audiences not getting the joke!

[traycer_]

You could be right. It's hard to tell how our words and phrases got started in the first place, sometimes it's best to not even worry about where they began. :D It's like playing telephone. The original message gets mangled by the end of the line. Still this was an interesting topic to research!

[mistress_tien]

How about "towed the line" instead of "toed the line"? You are supposed to line up with your toes on the line; not drag along the line around.

[janedavitt]

I thought that was from when they used to pull barges through a tunnel using a rope; literally towing the line? It makes sense both ways in different ways :-) I agree that in a following the rules sense 'toeing' seems better though.

[traycer_]

I think this may be two different things, though I can see how it could be typed wrong. We have a whole section of homonyms in this community that try to help others avoid making those mistakes!

[traycer_]

I've seen that before and you're right about the meaning! I wondered if maybe that person missed a typo. :)

A point of diction

[diebirchen]

Actually, I think that for purposes of diction, I believe it would be, "Language has a funny way of ingratiating itself WITH[, not ON] us." Why? The only answer is "because." I went to New York BY train. Uh-huh. How about, I went to New York WITH train? Nope. Why not? Both are prepositions. Answer: because. Prepositions are one of the things that seem to trip up non-native speakers too. When I speak in German, I sometimes fail to pick the right one, but hey, not my mother tongue. I could, of course, be wrong on the "with not on" thing, but I think not.
FGoVU

Re: A point of diction

[lady_lirenel]

And that's why it would be easier to have a language like Latin and just shove the verb into the ablative case and not worry about prepositions at all. =D

Re: A point of diction

[diebirchen]

Oh, I so loathed Latin! About all I remember is the first line of Caesar's Gallic Wars. Weeeeell, there are some wonderful love poems by Catullus and Ovid, but I'd rather read 'em in English. I know all the reasons for studying Latin, but it wasn't for me. Even the College of Cardinals no longer expects its members to know the stuff. Give me a living language. My second language is German. The FGoVU stands for Fairy Godmother of Verbal Usage. The tiniest of errors, and I see/hear it. It's both a gift and a curse: the editorial ear that can't be turned off.
FGoVU

Re: A point of diction

[lady_lirenel]

Ah, see, Latin introduced me to the classics to the point that I was a classics major in undergrad. Beautiful language, though extremely hard to translate at times. Of course, then I became enamored with dead languages: Latin in high school and college, Ancient Greek in college, and Old English senior year of undergrad. In fact, I took German in high school because it was as close to Old English as I could get at the time. =D

Though I loved German for itself, too. Eh, I just love languages. Wish I were better at them.