Incorrect Idioms

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by Simon Hampel, 15th Sep, 2015.

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  1. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    What are the frequently confused (or abused!) idioms that really irk you.

    Something I've seen mis-used so much in the past 24 hours (in relation to the Liberal Party leadership spill) is the term "Tow the line". This has nothing to do with ski boats - there is no towing happening.

    The correct idiom is "Toe the line", which means to line up where you are expected to and do the right thing (as per roll call or some other task).

    Toe the line - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
    Last edited: 15th Sep, 2015
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  2. Perthguy

    Perthguy Well-Known Member

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    My brother-in-law says 'Sailing on thin ice'. Love it. I actually enjoy idiom abuse. :p
     
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  3. Blacky

    Blacky Well-Known Member

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    My favorite is "we will burn that bridge when we get to it".

    Its a mix of "dont burn your bridges" and "cross that bridge". It is rarely picked up as an 'error'.

    In my line of work we are good at shutting down viable alternatives purely because they are too hard to get approved - so its easier just to keep the status quo. Hence "burn the bridge when we get to it"

    Blacky
     
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  4. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    That might make sense in some Nordic countries.
     
  5. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    That is a classic - as mentioned, I think it could be put to quite good use.
     
  6. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Intensive purposes
    Just desserts
    Could care less
    Extract revenge
    Baited breath
    Peaked interest
     
  7. Peter_Tersteeg

    Peter_Tersteeg Mortgage Broker Business Member

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    Watch few episodes of "Cougar Town" and "Modern Family". They constantly redefine idioms.
     
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  8. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    Another one that really irks me is to "take a different tact".

    It's a sailing term - meaning to try and find some better wind by changing direction, which in sailing terms is to "tack".

    You take a different tack when you want to try something different.
     
  9. Perthguy

    Perthguy Well-Known Member

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    I am sure I seen "cut off their nose despite their face" on this forum? The correct idiom being "cut off their nose to spite their face".

    Hold the phone, it may have been SS. "Also, what I have noticed - buyers do not want cheap and tacky, too cheap IMO is not the way to go, its like cutting your nose despite your face."
     
  10. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    This one I can understand - it is not entirely obvious.

    From just deserts - Wiktionary: Deserts here is the plural of desert, meaning that which one deserves". "Desert" is now archaic and rarely used outside this phrase.

    I didn't actually know that! It's a tricky one.
     
  11. Perthguy

    Perthguy Well-Known Member

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    A take on the old "literally dying" was the ex PM claiming that red and green tape was "literally killing people". I literally died when I read that. This post is being typed by my ghost.
    http://www.news.com.au/finance/econ...-property-ladder/story-fnu2pwk8-1227392710384
     
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  12. THX

    THX Well-Known Member

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    I hole-hardedly agree, but allow me to play doubles advocate here for a moment. For all intensive purposes I think you are wrong.

    In an age where false morals are a diamond dozen, true virtues are a blessing in the skies. We often put our false morality on a petal stool like a bunch of pre-Madonnas, but you all seem to be taking something very valuable for granite.

    So I ask of you to mustard up all the strength you can because it is a doggy dog world out there. Although there is some merit to what you are saying it seems like you have a huge ship on your shoulder.

    In your argument you seem to throw everything in but the kids Nsync, and even though you are having a feel day with this I am here to bring you back into reality. I have a sick sense when it comes to these types of things.

    It is almost spooky, because I cannot turn a blonde eye to these glaring flaws in your rhetoric. I have zero taller ants when it comes to people spouting out hate in the name of moral righteousness.

    You just need to remember what comes around is all around, and when supply and command fails you will be the first to go. Make my words, when you get down to brass stacks it doesn't take rocket appliances to get two birds stoned at once.

    It's clear who makes the pants in this relationship, and sometimes you just have to swallow your prize and accept the facts.

    You might have to come to this conclusion through denial and error but I swear on my mother's mating name that when you put the petal to the medal you will pass with flying carpets like it’s a peach of cake.
     
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  13. jaybean

    jaybean Well-Known Member

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    Surely this must be the most common one. I cringe every time I hear it.

    Also I've noticed recently (just within the last year or two) people have really been misusing the word "literally".
     
  14. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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  15. Perthguy

    Perthguy Well-Known Member

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    Hilarous. Reminds me of the classic "rocket surgery". The funny thing about that is that I saw a rocket scientist in an interview explain something very complex in a very simple way. It was brilliant and then at the end she started to say "It's not rocket...", caught herself and recovered with "Actually, it is rocket science. That's exactly what it is". :)
     
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  16. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    Wrongly translated voicemail... well it gave me a smile when I saw it. Screenshot_2015-09-15-17-16-29.png
     
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  17. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    How the heck did you come up with this reply so quickly when the OP was only 20mins ago? Google or is it original? Serious Kudos if its your own work.....
     
  18. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    This is actually one of my favourite mixed-idioms.

    I also like to mix my euphemisms to see if anyone is paying attention ... "Lights are on, but the elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor", or "he's a six-pack short of a sandwich", etc.
     
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  19. THX

    THX Well-Known Member

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    No no not mine :) It's copypasta

    If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes should fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.

    As the french say; celery
     
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  20. Perthguy

    Perthguy Well-Known Member

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    Haha. We could have a "lame off". I do this with my flatmate:
    Him: "Did you hear that?"
    Me: "Sure did. I'm not blind"
    Him: "Don't you mean deaf"
    Me: "Eh?"
    hahahaha. :)

    Shocking! :eek: