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.


























Lingerie Worker Claims She Was Fired For Being 'Too Hot'
What Happened When Alex Kenjeev Paid His Student Loan in Cash
The Richest Woman in the World: How Gina Rinehart Earns her Billions
Preserve Your Budget by Freezing Foods -- Savings Experiment
Facebook's IPO Debacle, Day 3: Un-Friended and Dis-Liked on Wall Street
Jennifer Lopez, Casper Smart TV Show: J.Lo to Star in Reality Series With Boyfriend (REPORT)
Vet Saves His Own Cat's Life After Car Accident
Miranda Lambert, W Magazine Interview: Songstress Talks Marriage, Touring and Taylor
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan: A Romantic Facebook Timeline







Comments:
Add a comment
Saturday 10 October
By Dave
Ben, I like the way you phrased it! Well done!
Thursday 08 October
By Keith
The phrase is "I couldn't care less". Couldn't = could not. So the meaning is I could not care less = I do not care.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By Robe
My fav is, "a little knowledge is dangerous" or some derivation of it. This phrase would seem to have you thinking that learning or education brings on trouble. But as the originator, Alexander Pope said was, " A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep or taste not the Periegn-{sp} spring where shallow draughts intoxicate the brain and drinking deeply, sobers us again."
Implying that only knowing half or part of the story and shooting your mouth off makes you seem like a fool.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By jill
I find it funny that the saying is misinterpreted because it is only part of a saying that refers to knowing only part of something is dangerous. Ha.
Thursday 08 October
By amalgamate
Someone should have proofread this posting. If you're going to talk about phrases we say wrong, at least get the grammar/spelling right.
"What it actually means: To use an argument that assumes as proved the very thing one is trying to prove." Should that be Has????
"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 word. Best not to be used in any international setting." Should that be worLd????
Reply
Saturday 10 October
By Dave
No. It is "as". It assumes AS ALREADY proved an argument that has not been.
Yes. This was a typo, which seems to have been fixed. Unless you misread it.
Thursday 08 October
By alschrod
For many years I've listened to people say "I could care less", and thought it sounded dumb compared to my "couldn't care less", but never made a big deal of it. There are many other common usages that are never corrected. I used to wince at Pres. Bush saying "nu-cue-lar" instead of nu-clee-ar,and "ee-legal" instead of "ill-legal" (Jay Leno said that too), but attributed it to his Yale education. Thankfully, most people now know "irregardless" is incorrect! One more item: When using "secondly", shouldn't the word "firstly" precede it? If using "first" than it must be followed be "second". Writers and readers both make this mistake---I think they are trying to show a little flair with "secondly", but it ain't not right!
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By Scott
If you go back and listen to JFK's pronunciation of "nuclear", he pronounced it the exact same way as GWB. Both have been deemed acceptable; it's just been one of the points that the media has pounced upon to portray GWB as unintelligent.
Thursday 08 October
By Tom
When someone starts reciting a number of points with "first of all" the following points should be "secondly" "thirdly" "fourthly" etc., not "second of all" "third of all" "fourth of all."
Thursday 08 October
By Bagman520
To "Tom"
A word that ends in "l-y" can in amost every case be considered an adverb. An adverb is a word that describes "in the manner of" and modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs don't modify nouns. So to say "secondly" is wrong. You can have a "hotly debated" topic such as we are discussing here today, because we are using some pretty hot language to express some pretty hot opinions on language. We are doing it "hotly" amongst ourselves. You can't do something "secondly" meaning "in a second manner" which is what an adverb does. My copy of "The Little Book" - real title "The Elements Of Style" by William Strunk & E.B. White, which is the *Bible* of written English, states on page 57: "Unless you are prepared to use 'firstly'and defend it (which will be difficult) do not prettify numbers with -ly. Modern usage prefers second, third, and so forth." Keep the comments coming, folks...I'm having the time of my life today!!
Bernie520
Seattle, WA
Thursday 08 October
By Bill
Actually, "I could care less" is part of a longer expression, which I have forgotten, that makes perfect sense and is correct. Unfortunately, since we never hear the rest of the expression, most people do not know that it ever existed.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By rwschwartz
You are (so far) the only one who is correct. This phrase is a shortened version of "I could care less than him/her/you/etc.". As in, "She thinks her party is so important, but I could care less (than her)." It really does mean the speaker does not care much if at all.
Saturday 17 October
By Who writes this crap?
This was BORING, and a waste of my time. Whoever wrote this, needs to stock cucumbers at the grocery store, instead of writing an article. As someone who loves reading, writing, and the English language itself, this insulted my intelligence.
Reply
Saturday 10 October
By alschrod
My oh My, someone's intelligence has been wasted--how bad we should feel! They have deigned to read and respond to our little group of dummies but have been insulted by our useless chatter. Instead, why not twist this topic into something politically negative so that all the Obama-haters can comment? The bottom line here is that IF you come across a subject worthy of your response-RESIST THE URGE TO DO IT! We may be dummies, but we're having fun "wasting our time" in here!
Thursday 08 October
By Elizabeth
One of my favorites is "time is of the essence." Most people seem to think that means "hurry," but what it really means is that the dates specified in a contract are hard and fast dates. EX: if an offer or contract expires at midnight on December 31, then, in fact, it is no longer valid at 12:01 AM on Jan. 1.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By amazedatminds
I hate hearing BETWEEN YOU AND I all of the time when it should be BETWEEN YOU AND ME!
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By Bagman520
amazedatminds:
YES!! Nothing makes my teeth hurt more than when someone makes this mistake. It's a simple matter of knowing the Nominative from the Objective case, and the difference between the two should have been learned well before high school, let alone for it to be used by folks with a college education. And come to think of it, most of the errors we have been discussing today are used by educated folks who think using a bigger word like "preventative" is the "smarter" word. I believe that those who do that fall into the category of folks who don't read enough. Either that, or they assume that since they read it in the paper or heard it on TV, and that a "professional" journalist used the construction, that it is indeed correct. And I just thought of this. My father and another fellow were talking, and the other fellow said to dad, "Jim, you did me a big favor; now I'm going to retaliate." My dad just about fell over laughing, and told the guy that he meant "reciprocate" which means nothing like the word he misused. I am having so much fun with this, I can't find words to describe it.
Bernie520
Seattle, WA
Thursday 08 October
By Jacquie
One that drives me nuts every time I hear it is: ie:
Due to an error in publishing, the article is retracted.
Due to should only be used to indicate a sum of money which is owed. Thus: Jim owed a large sum of money which was due to Joe.
The best of minds uses this phrase incorrectly. Perhaps that means that it has become an idomatic expression which is accepted in its "new" meaning. Oh well.....my thoughts anyway.
Reply
Thursday 08 October
By Tom
I agree. Rather than "due to" it should be "owing to."
Thursday 08 October
By ms
This is THE DUMBEST ARTICLE I HAVE EVER READ. I'm almost 100% sure it was written and researched by an elementary school student...one who is known for writing terrible essays.
#1 means that you do care... but to say you could care less is a calous way of saying you care and comes off as offensive. Doesn't belong.
#2 Is the only item that belongs on this list.
I don't know anyone who understands #3 since it hasn't been used since the prohibition.
Look at #4; I did a 360. Who the hell is so stupid that in their adult life they would somehow associate a FULL ROTATION with completely changing their mind???? If someone says "I did a 360" it usually refers to extreme sports or car accidents.
I'm pretty sure #5 was made up by a small vermin that resides in a Texas Steakhouse. It makes no sense at all.
#6 doesn't belong on the list.
#7 is completely retarded and nobody (except those who misunderstand and misuse a sometimes "altered" version of a popular phrase in order to sound intelligent. C'mon, we all know somebody..) uses it.
#8 BARELY squeeks by, mostly because its a misused word and not a phrase, but since a word must be used in a "phrase" or simply a sentance, I guess you could technically count this like #6....wait, nevermind. Take this one off the list too.
Reply