# Commonly mangled phrases or words **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867 "2005-12-09T13:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/1 "2005-12-09T13:42:52Z")
Just heard someone on the tube say “I could care less.” when what he really meant was “I couldn’t care less.” What else ya got ? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/2 "2005-12-09T13:45:27Z")
“For all intensive purposes” instead of “for all intents and purposes”. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/3 "2005-12-09T13:52:11Z")
You have to see it written. “Should of…” “Would of…” “Could of…” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/4 "2005-12-09T13:59:40Z")
In French, the words for “long chair” are “chaise longue.” Even though it’s now standard, proper usage in American English, it still grates on me to hear it called a “chaze lownj.” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/5 "2005-12-09T17:31:10Z")
> [@What the .... ?!?!](#): > > Just heard someone on the tube say “I could care less.” when what he really meant was “I couldn’t care less.” > > What else ya got ? It’s not wrong. It’s an idiom, and has been in use for over 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/6 "2005-12-09T17:43:37Z")
If I posted any, I’d wreck havoc on this thread. Instead I’ll just run butt-naked through the snow. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/7 "2005-12-09T17:53:51Z")
[Nuclear.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=348356) ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/8 "2005-12-09T18:13:16Z")
harden fast rule sposably carmel when caramel is meant. Toffee when used to mean something other than sugar and butter that have been through a Malliard effect to make them a brown sugar glass, especially when itused to refer to chocolate chip cookies in a pan or chocolate anything. tongue and cheek hammer and thong it’s (when used as a posessive.} copywrite copywright ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/9 "2005-12-09T18:27:09Z")
A “mute” point (instead of a _moot_ point.) Some of the stuff I find in transcribed procedure notes is, well, unusual. I’m going to start a collection, I think. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/10 "2005-12-09T18:44:42Z")
“Sherbert.” It’s sherbet, people. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/11 "2005-12-09T18:45:25Z")
“Beckon call.” ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/12 "2005-12-09T18:51:44Z")
My boss repeatedly refers to things that are far and few between. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/13 "2005-12-09T18:52:39Z")
_Far and few between. Few and far between_ means something. _Far and few between_ is gibberish. _Head over heels._ Intelligent people substitute _ass over teakettle._ _Irregardless._ _Excape, heighth, acrost,_ etc. **Dumb Guy in FedEx TV ad:** You mean we don’t get French benefits? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/14 "2005-12-09T19:02:13Z")
I’d just assume… (when “just as soon” is meant). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/15 "2005-12-09T19:51:21Z")
Fucken And the one my girlfriend always mangles: Six half dozen of one, and the other. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/16 "2005-12-09T19:53:46Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > _Excape, heighth, acrost,_ etc. Can I aks why that bothers you so much? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/17 "2005-12-09T19:56:54Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Can I aks why that bothers you so much? It’s “ask.” Say it right, and try to keep on the straighten arrow. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/18 "2005-12-09T20:02:24Z")
Expresso ---
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/19 "2005-12-09T20:23:06Z")
A woman I work with uses the following words on a minute-to-minute basis: _flustrated_ instead of _frustrated_ Look, you’re either flustered or frustrated, but you can’t be both! _reconciliate_ as in: I have to reconciliate the bank statement. It’s _reconcile_! My ex-mother-in-law says the following: “That’s right up your aisle!” instead of “That’s right up your alley!” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867/20 "2005-12-09T20:23:22Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > In French, the words for “long chair” are “chaise longue.” > > Even though it’s now standard, proper usage in American English, it still grates on me to hear it called a “chaze lownj.” What is the correct pronunciation? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-mangled-phrases-or-words/334867.md?page=2)