{"id":1264,"date":"2022-06-22T14:24:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T14:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/?p=1264"},"modified":"2022-11-16T15:46:24","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T15:46:24","slug":"most-commonly-misused-idioms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/most-commonly-misused-idioms\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Commonly Misused Idioms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Unless you\u2019re a genius, you\u2019ve probably experienced the unfortunate situation of using an idiom, only to have someone you\u2019re speaking to say wait, what? <\/em>Idioms are one of the most fun features of a language and can tell you a lot about its speakers and their culture. However, idioms are often easy to mishear and, thus, misuse. Here are a few of the most commonly misused idioms<\/a> in the English language, and what you should be saying instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. For all intensive purposes <\/em>SHOULD BE for all intents and purposes<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    This is one of the most common mix-ups of all time. And it makes sense – it’s easy to mishear. But this idiom means for all possible purposes \u2013 <\/em>i.e., for any and all intents <\/em>and purposes. In a casual conversation, someone might not notice a flub, but be sure to be careful with your language when writing this idiom down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Could care less <\/em>SHOULD BE couldn\u2019t care less<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      This idiom is supposed to mean that you don\u2019t <\/em>care about someone. But if you say you “could care less” you\u2019re actually saying you do care, at least a bit. Instead, be sure to say you couldn\u2019t<\/em> care less. That\u2019ll get \u2018em.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Do a complete<\/em> 360<\/em> SHOULD BE do a complete 180<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Just think about a circle: going around 180 degrees leaves you facing in the opposite direction. On the other hand, going a full 360 puts you back right where you started. So unless you’re talking about getting stuck in a loop, make sure you’re doing a 180.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Doggy-dog world<\/em> SHOULD BE dog eat dog world<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          If you\u2019re not familiar with the origins of this phrase, it makes sense that you might mishear this idiom. A \u201cdog-eat-dog\u201d world is a place that is aggressive and violent – enough so to inspire dogs to cannibalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. Chomping at the bit<\/a> <\/em>SHOULD BE Champing at the bit<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            This was surprised me, too. “Champing” is actually an early word for chomp which was used hundreds of years ago, when this idiom was first created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1. Mute point <\/em>SHOULD BE moot point<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              The thought process behind this makes sense: a mute <\/em>point sounds like a point that hasn\u2019t been spoken aloud, and thus an irrelevant point. But in fact, a \u201cmoot<\/a>\u201d point has little relevance to your current situation \u2013 just like \u201cmuteness\u201d has little relevance to this idiom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              1. Deep-seeded <\/em>SHOULD BE deep-seated<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                The correct form of this idiom is deep-seated, deriving from horseback riding and being \u201cdeep in the seat\u201d when once is well-situated in the saddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                1. Another thing coming <\/em>SHOULD BE another think coming<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  The longer version of this phrase says, \u201cIf that\u2019s what you think, you\u2019ve got another think coming.\u201d Which makes a lot more sense than \u201canother thing coming,\u201d when you think<\/em> about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  1. Sneak peak<\/a><\/em> SHOULD BE sneak peek<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    Since “peak” means top, I’m not sure how you can “sneak” off with the top of a hill. You want to sneak a “peek,” or glimpse at something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    1. Without further adieu <\/em>SHOULD BE without further ado<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      We’re not French. So it’s not without further “goodbye” – it’s without further dilly-dallying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      1. Wreck havoc<\/em> SHOULD BE wreak havoc<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        When you’re making a mess, you’re wrecking things, so it makes sense to think this idiom means to “wreck havoc.” However, the correct word is “wreak” meaning to cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        1. Getting off scotch free<\/em> <\/em>SHOULD BE <\/em> getting off scot-free <\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          Getting off scot-free means<\/a> getting off without repercussions \u2013 which makes sense when you consider that a \u201cscot\u201d is an archaic term for tax payment. It\u2019s less clear what it means to get off \u201cscotch free.\u201d Maybe it\u2019s an idiom in the making \u2013 but right now, it\u2019s meaningless, and that makes it incorrect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          Unless you\u2019re a genius, you\u2019ve probably experienced the unfortunate situation of using an idiom, only to have someone you\u2019re speaking…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,75,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-grammar","category-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1264"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1413,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions\/1413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewordfinder.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}