Common mistakes or misnomers
Discussion
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lord trumpton said:
As dull as 'dishwater' instead of ditchwater
Dishwater is pretty dull, arguably duller than ditch water. Cliche avoidance is commendable and should not be confused with solecism.As for common mistakes:
Assuming the expression 'exception that proves the rule' is gobbledegook. when what it means, that a rule that still holds in exceptional circumstances can be regarded as proven, is a reasonable point.
'Begging the question' to mean inviting a question when it actually means assuming what you are supposed to be trying to prove.
Saying something is a 'moot point' to imply it's irrelevant rather than debateable. If something is a moot point then it might be exactly the point you need to discuss to settle the issue.
Confusing 'envy' with 'jealousy'.
paulguitar said:
gregs656 said:
Same with 'I could case less' - idioms don't have to conform to logic.
The problem with that one is it appears so glaringly illogical that it is difficult to ignore.Johnspex said:
Baths have been run since before I was small and I'm nearly 70.
I'm not daft. I left the plug out!You should go and check on those, they've probably overflowed.
StevieBee said:
MBBlat said:
Calling any grey painted ship with a gun a “battleship”. It’s a warship and now the USN have finally retired the Iowas there are no battleships in active service.
Probably one for the any questions thread but as we're here... what defines (or it seems, defined) one from the other?"A warship means a ship belonging to the armed forces of a State bearing the external marks distinguishing such ships of its nationality, under the command of an officer duly commissioned by the government of the State and whose name appears in the appropriate service list or its equivalent, and manned by a crew which is under regular armed forces discipline."
This might have already been posted, but often people use "Blood is thicker than water" to suggest family members are more important than friends.
The full quote was "The blood of the covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb" which means the opposite - a bond made with someone you've shed blood with is stronger than someone you may have shared a womb with.
The full quote was "The blood of the covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb" which means the opposite - a bond made with someone you've shed blood with is stronger than someone you may have shared a womb with.
SBF said:
This might have already been posted, but often people use "Blood is thicker than water" to suggest family members are more important than friends.
The full quote was "The blood of the covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb" which means the opposite - a bond made with someone you've shed blood with is stronger than someone you may have shared a womb with.
Shakespeare or..?The full quote was "The blood of the covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb" which means the opposite - a bond made with someone you've shed blood with is stronger than someone you may have shared a womb with.
breamster said:
This may be a repeat but when people try sound clever by using the word methodology in place of method! Grrh
There is a difference.Method describes the means of how something will or has been done.
Methodology describes the thinking, reasoning and detail behind the method chosen.
I often have to write tenders and where I'm required to write a method statement, that typically runs to no more than a page of A4. If I'm asked to describe the methodology, that tends to constitute 60% of the document or more.
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