Everyone has at least one word or phrase (probably more, if you’re like me!) that they said wrong for far too long.
It might seem embarrassing or like you should have known better, but if you only heard it out loud rather than seeing it in writing (or maybe even misheard it), it makes sense that you’d get it wrong. In reality, it’s more funny than mortifying. Here are some things you probably used completely incorrectly when you were younger — don’t worry, there’s no harm done!
1. It’s not “for all intensive purposes.”
This is a pretty common mix-up — the correct phrase is actually “for all intents and purposes.” It means “for all practical purposes” or “in every practical sense.” The mistake probably comes from mishearing the phrase and trying to make sense of it. However, “intensive purposes” doesn’t really mean anything.
2. You don’t “nip it in the butt.”
Unless you’re talking about biting someone’s behind (which we hope you’re not), the phrase you’re looking for is “nip it in the bud.” It’s about stopping something before it has a chance to develop or get worse, like nipping a flower bud before it can bloom. The “butt” version is just… uncomfortable.
3. It’s not “supposably.”
This one’s a tricky pronunciation issue. The word is “supposedly,” meaning “according to what is generally assumed or believed.” “Supposably” isn’t a word, even though it might sound right to your ears. It’s one of those errors that can slip by unnoticed if you’re not paying attention.
4. You don’t “take things for granite.”
Unless you’re a geologist with a very specific mindset, you probably mean “take things for granted.” This phrase is about not appreciating what you have because you’re used to it. Granite is just a type of rock. The similarity in sound makes this an easy mistake to make, especially if you’ve only ever heard the phrase and never seen it written down.
5. It’s not “could of” or “would of.”
This is a really common one. The correct phrases are “could have” or “would have,” often contracted to “could’ve” or “would’ve.” The confusion comes from the fact that “could’ve” sounds a lot like “could of” when spoken quickly. But “of” doesn’t make grammatical sense in this context.
6. You don’t “wreck havoc.”
The phrase is actually “wreak havoc,” meaning to cause a lot of trouble or damage. “Wreak” means to cause or inflict, while “wreck” means to destroy or ruin. They sound similar, which is probably why this mistake is so common. But if you think about it, “wreck havoc” doesn’t really make sense — you can’t destroy chaos, you can only cause it.
7. It’s not “escape goat.”
Unless you’re talking about a very nimble farm animal, you probably mean “scapegoat.” A scapegoat is someone who takes the blame for other people’s mistakes. The term comes from an ancient ritual, not from a goat that’s good at escaping. Though that would be an interesting sight.
8. You don’t “flush out” an idea.
When you’re developing an idea, you “flesh it out,” not “flush it out.” To flesh something out means to give it substance or to make it more complete. Flushing something out has a completely different meaning — it’s about forcing something out of hiding. Unless your ideas are hiding in the plumbing, stick with “flesh out.”
9. It’s not “peaked my interest.”
The correct phrase is “piqued my interest.” To pique means to stimulate or provoke. Your interest isn’t reaching a peak (at least not in this expression), it’s being aroused. It’s an easy mistake to make since “peaked” is a more common word, but in this case, it’s not the right one.
10. You don’t “wet your appetite.”
Unless you’re literally putting saliva on your appetite (gross), you mean to “whet your appetite.” To whet means to sharpen or stimulate. It’s often used in relation to appetite or desire. The confusion probably comes from the fact that “whet” isn’t a word we use often in other contexts.
11. It’s not “on accident.”
While this one is becoming more common, especially among younger speakers, the traditional phrase is “by accident.” You do something “on purpose,” but “by accident.” It’s just one of those quirks of English that doesn’t follow a logical pattern.
12. You don’t “put the skids on” something.
The correct phrase is “put the kibosh on,” meaning to put an end to something. “Skids” are a real thing (they’re a type of support or runner), but they’re not what you use to stop something in this expression. The origin of “kibosh” is unclear, but it’s definitely not related to skids.
13. It’s not “wind something up tight.”
When you’re anxious or tense, you’re “wound up tight,” not “wind up tight.” “Wound” is the past participle of “wind,” so when you’re tense, it’s like you’ve already been wound up, like a spring. It’s a small difference, but it changes the meaning quite a bit.
14. You don’t “take something with a grain assault.”
The phrase is “take it with a grain of salt,” meaning to view something with scepticism. “A grain assault” doesn’t mean anything — it’s just a mishmash of similar-sounding words. This one is pretty funny when you think about it. What would a grain assault even look like?
15. It’s not “far and few between.”
The correct phrase is “few and far between,” meaning that something is scarce or happens infrequently. The order of the words matters here. Things that are few are also far between each other. Saying “far and few” doesn’t quite capture the same meaning.
16. You don’t “peruse” something quickly.
Contrary to popular belief, to “peruse” something actually means to read or examine it carefully, not to skim over it quickly. This is a case where the common usage has almost completely flipped the original meaning. If you’re just glancing at something, you’re not perusing it.
17. It’s not “first come, first serve.”
The correct phrase is “first come, first served.” It’s a small difference, but an important one. The idea is that the first person to arrive will be the first person to be served, not that they’ll do the serving themselves.
18. You don’t “wile away” the hours.
The correct phrase is “while away” the hours. To while away time means to pass it idly or pleasantly. “Wile” is a different word altogether, meaning crafty tricks or stratagems. Unless you’re plotting something, you’re probably whiling, not wiling.
19. It’s not “a doggy-dog world.”
As cute as that sounds, the phrase is actually “a dog-eat-dog world.” It’s used to describe a situation of fierce competition where people will do anything to succeed. The idea of a “doggy-dog world” is much nicer, but unfortunately, it’s not the correct phrase.
20. You don’t “give free reign.”
The correct phrase is “give free rein.” This comes from horseback riding, where giving a horse free rein means to let it go where it wants. “Reign” refers to the period a monarch rules, which doesn’t really fit the meaning of the phrase. It’s an easy mistake to make since both words sound the same.
