Nobody knows for sure how many words are in the English language, with estimates floating between 250,000 and a million. What isn't in dispute is that English has considerably more words than any other language .The reason for English's massive vocab list is that ours is a very inclusive language, meaning it has been able to absorb words from foreign tongues with relative ease. This etymological curiosity is of little consolation to English speakers, who are stuck with many more words to learn than everybody else.
And, as the folks over at Cracked found out, we aren't doing a particularly good job of handling this burden. In fact, some fairly common words, such as bemused, pristine, enormity and plethora, are, more often than not, being used incorrectly.
Having read their list of "Nine Words That Don't Mean What You Think," we've decided to expand the usage fun and throw out some phrases which also may not mean what you believe them to mean.
1. I could care less
What you think it means: "I couldn't care less."
What it actually means: You actually do care.
2. It begs the question
Would you think it means: To ask or raise a question
What it actually means: To use an argument that assumes as proved the very thing one is trying to prove.
3. Let's table this
What you think it means: To discuss something later
What it actually means: This is tricky, because in the United States, it means what you think it does. But it means the exact opposite -- "let's discuss this right now" -- in most of the rest of the English-speaking world. Best not to be used in any international setting.
4. I did a 360
What you think it means: Completely changing your opinion.
What it actually means: Your opinion changed, but then changed back to your original opinion.
5. PIN number
What you think it means: A non-repetitive way to refer to your personal identification number
What it actually means: That you're being redundant. Especially when you use your PIN number at the ATM machine.
6. Lion's share
What you think it means: The greatest of multiple shares
What it actually means: You're not technically incorrect, because, over time this has become one of the phrase's definitions. But the phrase originally comes from an Aesop's Fable in which the lion took all -- not the largest -- of the shares. Because that's what lions tend to do.
7. The exception that proves the rule
What you think it means: Any counterexample to a rule proves the rule. For example, if you said you only date blondes, but somebody pointed out the time you dated a brunette, you might say that it is "the exception that proves the rule." This popular usage makes no sense at all.
What it actually means: The idiom actually does make sense -- but you have to think about it along the lines of the exception proves that a rule exists. For example," No parking on Saturdays" would mean that you can park in the spot any other day of the week.
8. I am nauseous.
What you think it means: I have a sick feeling in my stomach.
What it actually means: It depends. Prior to World War II, you'd have been clearly saying, "I make other people sick," and the correct term would have been "I am nauseated." However, over time, the usage has shifted to the point that many language experts have deemed "I am nauseous" as an acceptable explanation of your own queasiness. Just be careful using that term around the old folks' home.
From the Web:
Famous Quotes That Were Cut Short. (College Humor)
Native American Mascots: Honorable or Ignorant? (Bleacher Report)
Beware of turkeys in the 'burbs. (Burbia)
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Comments:
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Tuesday 06 October
By Heavytoka
You should do more like this, it's always good to learn something new.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By cowgirltothebone
You forgot one.....
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
it really is
You can't eat your cake and have it too.........
Thursday 08 October
By jade
I agree... This was fun...
Thursday 08 October
By Tom Hetmanek
Watch that redundancy. If you're learning something, it has to be new.
Thursday 08 October
By Gigi
What about 'I'm well' in response to 'How are you?' when the speaker has not been ill. This seems to be used most by people who think highly of themselves and their correctness. They need to figure out their adjectives and adverbs!
Thursday 08 October
By Rob SHultz
Why isn't "Indian Giver" on the list? Many poeple use this term in a very inappropriate was without even thinking of what it really means.
Thursday 08 October
By bluxt
A near miss is actually a hit. A near hit is a miss
Thursday 08 October
By Julia
my friend always thought it was "you can't have your Kate and Edith too." not " you can't have your cake and eat it too"!!!! ha ha...
Thursday 08 October
By N J DENISE
HERES ONE: "TRY AND CLEAN YOUR CAR" INSTEAD OF
"TRY TO CLEAN YOUR CAR"
TRY AND IS SO INCORRECT
Thursday 08 October
By GLO
Another one that is misused. "I was walking on egg shells so I wouldn't offend him". This means nothing since if they are just the shells, they are already broken, no delicacy needed. Should be "I was walking on eggs so I wouldn't...
Thursday 08 October
By steven rodgers
Actually, the term Native American is racist, because it assumes that only aboriginal people are native. It should be offensive to all non-aboriginal native people. Actually, anyone born in America is native.... being native has nothing to do with one's race.
Thursday 08 October
By ecinreb
Love this comment!
Thursday 08 October
By capnjack
Another phrase or sentence that doesn't mean what you may think it means is; 'Can I ask you a question?"
Not only is 'can I ask' used rather than the proper 'may I ask', but the question is in itself a question.
So, what would you say? Would you ask if you can ask a second question? Or, would you just say "With your permission, I would like to ask you a question."
Yea, Sure.
Thursday 08 October
By Pete
Any counterexample to a rule proves the rule FALSE...
Saturday 10 October
By stephanie
how about "blood is thicker than water" -people say that as if it means some sort of special bond between those who are related by blood.. however.. it actually is the OPPOSITE.. it speaks of being closer to someone with whom you have cut a covenant (thus the blood) - a friend or spouse.. than you are to someone you are related to... water = water in birth.. actually, the original term was "blood is thicker than milk" = I am closer to you(by covenant) than as if we were nursed by the same mother.
Saturday 10 October
By Melissa
I kept trying to tell everyone my entire life that they should be saying "I couldn't care less" instead of saying "I could care less". They just never seem to listen lol
Saturday 10 October
By Ollie
How about when people say "Where Can I meet you AT." My Wife usually replys by saying right before the AT. You don't end a sentence with a Preposition. The AT did not add a thing to the sentence. "Where Can I meet You" is the appropriate sentence.
Saturday 10 October
By jon
native american isn't racist lol they are native americans just like we're european americans or african americans..our descendants were european or african and there's were natives and the only other way to describe it is to call them just americans and you cant do that because then what the heck are we! lol and you cant call them indians cause they live in india..honestly i'm not big on the native american african american and european american i'd rather we all just be called americans and be done with it
Wednesday 07 October
By You suck
1."I could care less." meaning you care but not enough to care any more or less about it, meaning you don't really care.
2. I have never heard anyone use the term "I did a 360" to mean that they changed their mind I have always heard the proper (I/he/she did a 180.)
3.Referring to it as a Pin is not a "non-repetitive" way of saying its a repetitive ans SHORTENED way to say emphasis on shortened as that is why people use it. Number is added to the end of the phrase to avoid confusion as when spoken it could be heard as pin (needle or other object used to secure hair documents etc), or pen. So its not redundant and actually has a very valid purpose.
4. How is taking all not taking the largest multiple of shares? The Aesops Fable is a fable meaning its supposed to be adapted to the situation its being used for if this means that the person is gaining most of and not all the shares it is still applicable even according to the fable, now you're reaching.
No problem with the rest but do a little research on all of the things you choose instead of some.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By genericbackpack
"1."I could care less." meaning you care but not enough to care any more or less about it, meaning you don't really care."
Now you're just making crap up. People mean "couldn't," your excuse is just confusing and silly, and doesn't at all imply what you're claiming it does.