# evenly misquoted expressions... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 17, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760 "2000-08-17T18:40:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mikep777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@mikep777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikep777)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/1 "2000-08-17T18:40:36Z")
Thinking about expressions that are mis-uttered by about half of the people who say them. Not sure if either is “right” anymore, since both versions are so common. Any others that are like this? (not sayings which are universally abused, but ones that there’s even numbers who think it is one way or the other.) Coming down the pipe vs. pike Nip it in the bud vs. butt Jerry vs. jury rigged ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/2 "2000-08-17T18:51:44Z")
“All intents and purposes” versus “all intensive purposes” “Toe the line” versus “tow the line” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/3 "2000-08-17T19:01:35Z")
Could you guys identify which versions you consider correct and incorrect? The way **mikep777** wrote his versions, it would appear that he champions “nip it in the butt” as the original/correct expression. I very much doubt that that is true. For the “mis-uttered expression” that I would think has the most currency, right now, I submit _I could care less._ which started out as a sarcastic inversion of _I couldn’t care less._ but has now become the more frequently heard version, even when the sarcastic tone of voice is omitted. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/4 "2000-08-17T19:03:40Z")
Andy Warhol’s “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” I have heard that misquoted more times . . . ---
**Author:** ![mikep777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@mikep777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikep777)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/5 "2000-08-17T19:08:40Z")
…although your response says something about which versions you think are correct. I thought the original versions were jerry rigged, nip it in the bud, and coming down the pike. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/6 "2000-08-17T19:14:01Z")
GQ vs. IMHO as the place for polling. Not sure which is right anymore. Although I do see a GQ if you meant, “Which of these is the correct (older, traditional, more sensible) version?” My example would be, “You’ve got another thing coming” vs. “You’ve got another think coming” I always heard it as “another think”, but of course that only works when used with "If you think you’re going to paint yourself green and purple with housepaint … " as my mother did. “another thing” sounds vague and carries less force with me. panama jack If you think I’ll sit around as the world goes by You’re thinkin’ like a fool cause it’s a case of do or die - Judas Priest ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/7 "2000-08-17T19:18:34Z")
Shoe-in, instead of shoo-in John Henry, instead of John Hancock Some of 'em I say on purpose: He has a mind like a trap door, or We’ll jump off that bridge when we come to it. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/8 "2000-08-17T19:42:42Z")
For the originals I would give pike bud [jury-rig](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960711) (Jury-rig may be confused with jerry-built where, I believe, the word _was_ originally jerry, but I’m not sure of that.) Jerry-can is different,coming from Brit slang in the North African desert when raiders would avail themselves of Rommel’s fuel whenever possible, using the German’s own fuel cans. ---
**Author:** ![jessicala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jessicala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessicala)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/9 "2000-08-17T19:58:53Z")
“chomping at the bit” instead of “champing at the bit” generally not mis-uttered (since they’re homonyms) but I’ve seen these mistyped: “do to” instead of “due to” “said my peace” instead of “said my piece” ---
**Author:** ![Shaky\_Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Shaky\_Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaky_Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/10 "2000-08-17T20:01:42Z")
AAARGH - “Nip it in the butt” drives me crazy. I cringe whenever I hear it. I’ve lately taken to saying “Oh, really? Can I watch?” case and point…case in point just assume…just as soon the proof is in the pudding…the proof of the pudding is in the eating I frequently hear the first variant of these; the second is correct. While not an expression, another pet peeve is “supposably” for supposedly. And can I have a ruling on “to all intents and purposes” vs. “for all intents and purposes”?. I’ve always said the former, but I’ve found conflicting opinions. [http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/intensive.html](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/intensive.html) (“for all…”) [http://www.alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxtoalli.html](http://www.alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxtoalli.html) (“to all…”) Maybe it’s a US/UK thing? And when I was a kid, I was guilty of “doggy dog world”…no wonder, although I got the meaning, I never understood how the phrase applied to that meaning. Shaky Jake ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/11 "2000-08-17T20:08:23Z")
**Money is the root of all evil** vs. **The love of money is the root of all evil.** **Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well** vs. **Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio.** In both cases, the latter are the original lines. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/12 "2000-08-17T20:15:23Z")
Since Miss Bunny brought up Mr. Shakespeare— So many people quote “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” as though it means “Where are you, Romeo?” when it actually means “WHY are you Romeo?” ---
**Author:** ![Rock-n-Rolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/13 "2000-08-17T20:28:59Z")
How about those who type “here, here” instead of “hear, hear”? That bugs me. And **Shaky Jake** , I have a friend who says “supposively” instead of “supposedly.” She also says “pacific” for “specific” and “margarine” for “margin.” And this is coming from someone who wants to get a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh! Of course, that’s right after she “supposively” gets a B.A. in a _triple_? (no such freakin’ thing!) major at some podunk college here in NC. But this has gone too far from the OP and is rapidly devolving into Pit-worthy material, so 'nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Shaky\_Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Shaky\_Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaky_Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/14 "2000-08-17T21:10:56Z")
**Rock-n-Rolga** OOOHHH, pacific, I completely forgot about that one. I was talking with some “supposably” ( 🙂 ) high-powered bank exec who kept saying that. She asked me “Could you be more pacific?”, and I answered “If I was any more pacific, I’d lose control of my bowels” - Woooooooosh “here in NC” - are you triangle area? Shaky Jake ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/15 "2000-08-17T21:21:23Z")
guy wire vs guide wire ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/16 "2000-08-17T21:36:42Z")
“to hold down the fort” for “to hold the fort” (prob. influenced by “to hold down a job”) “upcoming” for “up-and-coming” (“upcoming” is properly used for the inevitable temporal approach of something, as in “the upcoming Labor Day holiday,” not in the sense of “an up-and-coming employee,” i.e., a go-getter, a rising star, one showing potential) “taking the bit in one’s mouth” for “taking the bit between one’s teeth” (a horse **always** has the bit in his mouth, of course, but when he clamps it between his teeth away from the sensitive ends of the lips he’s much harder to control) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/17 "2000-08-17T22:19:56Z")
Ooh! ooh! Me next! _Nucular_ just makes me _cringe_. I had a friend once who would get cliches mixed up, accidentally. She once said in all serousness: “Patience comes to those who wait.” And my very favorite: “We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.” ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/18 "2000-08-17T22:30:07Z")
awaiting some more of these with baited breath … (instead of “bated”. That one always conjurs up interesting imagery) ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/19 "2000-08-17T22:35:18Z")
In the new-but-not-necessarily-improved words category, “flustrated” and “volumptuous” are a couple of favorites of mine. Oh, and my boss always mispronounces “potpourri”, which shouldn’t be a big deal but he uses the word all the time. Maybe I should point out that the “t” is silent, as in harlot, right **Eve**? ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760/20 "2000-08-17T22:37:26Z")
Well, it’s not really an expression, but… Lounge Chair or Lawn Chair? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evenly-misquoted-expressions/29760.md?page=2)