Common sayings that are commonly misstated

[bassteban]

You say tomato, I say potato...

Let's all just agree to not pronounce the p, okay?

Alright: *Otato*
I like it.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

"noone" instead of "no one"

Which raises the question of intentional misuse. e.e. cummings used "noone" to contrast with "someone" I suspect because of the shape it makes on the page and in your mouth. He certainly was well educated enough that it wasn't inadvertent.

 

[vinny]

How many of you will admit to saying Febuary (feb-yoo-ary) instead of February (feb-roo-ary)?

 

[Turock]

Nip it in the butt.

Wouldn't that be biting someone's ass?

 

[Turock]

Bare with me.

 

[MrDOS]

This is a favorite subject for me! There's used to be a column in Info World that printed these type of malapropisms ("Archie Bunker-isms).
My favorite is from a coworker (who wore her qualifications in her cross-your-heart -- sorry, no pictures). She sent me an email indicating she wanted to, "touch basis" with me. Classic!
When I was laid off for making too much money, she took over my job. True story.

 

[turbo chicken]

I like to misuse words/phrases on purpose... With my wife and sister in law within earshot...

My brother in law and I will explain total nonsense... Sometimes they buy it for a few seconds until we throw out a word that doesn't fit...

The ax and ask thing though ... Ugh...

 

[Turock]

The ax and ask thing though ... Ugh...

I think aks was used before ask.

 

[bassteban]

How many of you will admit to saying Febuary (feb-yoo-ary) instead of February (feb-roo-ary)?

I have never heard anyone hit that 1st *R*.

 

[bassteban]

Which is not to say right or wrong- maybe commonly-accepted.

 

[gigslut]

Even our news anchors gloss over it if they pronounce it at all.

I thought this was serious, if peculiar;

Pronounce February

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skUfQYr47QQ

until I listened to some more of their "How to pronounce" videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvU0bFtmh8&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJRyeUDfthk&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS2Y385vSWg&feature=relmfu

 

[Sijjvra]

It's probably already been mentioned and I missed it, but the "Have your cake and eat it, too" is the wrong phrase. Technically, you CAN have your cake and then eat it, too. The correct way is "Eat your cake and have it, too". Because you cannot eat your cake and still have that cake - it's already gone.

The more typical grammar issues that are so very common, such as confusing "it's" (it is" and "its" (belonging to), "you're" (you are ) and "your" (ownership again), there, their and they're, affect and effect, a lot/alot, except and accept, blah blah blah etc, etc.

Regional inflections, dialects and slang in the verbal context bothers me less than written mistakes. You don't write an accent, so poor spelling and grammar can't be excused so easily. I speak with something of what is known to some as a "Lake accent" or "Michigander accent", ( I'munna means I'm going to or I'm gonna, Fridge or Fridgerator means refrigerator, U'sta is used to, and the list goes on...) but I take care to check my spelling, sentence structure and grammar. Sure, everyone makes mistakes but some of this **** should have been picked up on and corrected in elementary school.

 

[DwaynieAD]

let this sleepin dog lie. doggone it, I'm dog tired of leading the dogs life; fighting like cats and dogs against cats and dogs young pups doggin' my trail trying to become top dog. I'm goin to the dogs soon in a dog eat dog world.

 

[bassman314]

let this sleepin dog lie. doggone it, I'm dog tired of leading the dogs life; fighting like cats and dogs against cats and dogs young pups doggin' my trail trying to become top dog. I'm goin to the dogs soon in a dog eat dog world.

That dog don't hunt!

 

[Funky Ghost]

let this sleepin dog lie. doggone it, I'm dog tired of leading the dogs life; fighting like cats and dogs against cats and dogs young pups doggin' my trail trying to become top dog. I'm goin to the dogs soon in a dog eat dog world.

The dog days of summer are making you cranky Me? I'm fit as a butchers dog.

 

[TNCreature]

For christ's sakes. No, it is sake.
Also for those who want to touch basses (or bassis), it should be touch base.
Although i've been known to touch a few basses.

Btw I say FebRUary. You know, correctly.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

NUCLEAR

 

[bassteban]

NUCLEAR

I believe that is actually correct.

 

[Richland123]

I believe this is more of a regional thing where I live. I hear people ask "Where yeatin'?", which means "Where are you eating?".

 

[96tbird]

NUCLEAR

That is correct. NUCULAR is wrong.