# Phrases that don't really make sense **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856 "2015-04-16T19:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/21 "2015-04-16T22:17:47Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > **“Fuck you and the horse you rode in on!”** > > _(say what?)_ I think the first guy Paul Revere woke up coined that phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/22 "2015-04-16T22:44:52Z")
“Running back and forth.” How can you go (or come) back, if you have yet to go forth? Shouldn’t it be “running forth and back”? ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/23 "2015-04-16T23:13:22Z")
“Walking out the door:” ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/24 "2015-04-16T23:25:49Z")
> [@Why\_Child](#): > > “Running back and forth.” > > How can you go (or come) back, if you have yet to go forth? Shouldn’t it be “running forth and back”? Clearly you first _walk_ forth, then remember you left the damn iron on, potentially burning the house down, at which point you run back, then run forth again to catch up with the people you left standing there in the wake of your panic. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/25 "2015-04-16T23:28:56Z")
It’s possible to _make_ **“The exception that proves the rule.”** make sense, but it gets used to mean “Well, my rule is crap and has been disproven, but I’m going to pretend it still works by assuming that the disproof makes it stronger.” ---
**Author:** ![Iamnotivan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Iamnotivan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iamnotivan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/26 "2015-04-16T23:37:06Z")
Nothing makes no sense like the p.c. Nazi statement that all people who say they are not racist are ipso facto racist. The fanatics here constantly make that foolish statement which does happen to perfectly represent their level of so-called thought. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/27 "2015-04-16T23:47:40Z")
> [@Iamnotivan](#): > > Nothing makes no sense like the p.c. Nazi statement that all people who say they are not racist are ipso facto racist. The fanatics here constantly make that foolish statement which does happen to perfectly represent their level of so-called thought. Oh, aren’t you a sweetie. Anyway… Logically, this is true. However, the heuristic that states that “any sentence that begins with ‘I’m not a racist, but…’ will continue by claiming some batshit racist nonsense” is still perfectly usable for practical everyday purposes. As least as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/28 "2015-04-16T23:54:24Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > Well, once you’ve eaten it, you don’t \*have \*it anymore. > > The expression would make more sense if said," You can’t eat your cake and have it, too." I blame it on our backwards forebears. 🙂 Or if the saying was you can’t _keep_ your cake and eat it too. That would make it more clear, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/29 "2015-04-17T00:14:49Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Or if the saying was you can’t _keep_ your cake and eat it too. That would make it more clear, I think. No, it wouldn’t. I can keep it for 3 days, then eat it. What I can’t do is eat it, and still have it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/30 "2015-04-17T00:17:05Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Clearly you first _walk_ forth, then remember you left the damn iron on, potentially burning the house down, at which point you run back, then run forth again to catch up with the people you left standing there in the wake of your panic. This happens often enough that we have a saying for it? :dubious: (Cite? :rolleyes: ) You agree that you must first go forth, then proceed to run back and forth again, so I’m happy. No cite necessary. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/31 "2015-04-17T00:23:34Z")
This is more an example of a phrase being said incorrectly so often that it’s overtaken the original phrase: “I could care less”, being used to mean a person _couldn’t_ care less about whatever it is being discussed. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b782af/32.png) [@Why\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_Child)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/32 "2015-04-17T00:23:40Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > “I’m just saying”. > > Makes no sense and I hate it! > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Or worse, ‘know what I’m saying?’ grrrrr :mad: > [@pkbites](#): > > Or > > “you see what I’m saying”. > > No I can’t “see” what you’re saying. What am I, on LSD? Related to these is the saying, “You feel me?” Um, no, not really. That must have been someone else. I am standing over here, minding my own business! ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/33 "2015-04-17T00:38:23Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This is more an example of a phrase being said incorrectly so often that it’s overtaken the original phrase: “I could care less”, being used to mean a person _couldn’t_ care less about whatever it is being discussed. Recently on LinkedIn or Facebook, I saw someone post some dumb thing, and one of the replies was “I could agree more.” I don’t know if it was a typo. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/34 "2015-04-17T00:47:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This is more an example of a phrase being said incorrectly so often that it’s overtaken the original phrase: “I could care less”, being used to mean a person _couldn’t_ care less about whatever it is being discussed. People complaining about “I could care less” is rapidly becoming my new berserk button. It’s basic freaking sarcasm. Which is something that the people on this board are supposed to be experts at. So what gives? “I couldn’t care less” is a bland and neutral statement of fact. “I could care less” is an ironic inversion, giving the statement a delightful sarcastic fizz. So what if it doesn’t make bleeding perfect logical sense? Language often doesn’t. (And, concerning that subject, [here’s a relevant xkcd](https://xkcd.com/191/) that you can take with you for the ride.) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/35 "2015-04-17T00:59:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This is more an example of a phrase being said incorrectly so often that it’s overtaken the original phrase: “I could care less”, being used to mean a person _couldn’t_ care less about whatever it is being discussed. I agree with you. This is what I came in here to share. > [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > People complaining about “I could care less” is rapidly becoming my new berserk button. Let me push the button. Berserk away! I could NOT care less! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/36 "2015-04-17T01:09:49Z")
I think it’s interesting that this multiply-revived 160-post zombie from 2005 [Commonly Misunderstood/Misused Words or Phrases - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=349876) \*on the very same topic \*was revived a few days ago and has been going strong ever since. Now we’re in danger of them being sequential threads with OPs a decade apart. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/37 "2015-04-17T01:28:06Z")
**Everything happens for a reason** Really. Explain the reason, please. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/38 "2015-04-17T01:40:18Z")
> [@kevja](#): > > **Everything happens for a reason** > > Really. Explain the reason, please. It’s God’s plan. Hey, you asked. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/39 "2015-04-17T01:47:01Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > No, it wouldn’t. I can keep it for 3 days, then eat it. What I can’t do is eat it, and still have it, too. How about, You cannot continue to be in possession of your cake and also consume it? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856/40 "2015-04-17T01:55:39Z")
The obvious problem with the cake saying is that, when you tell a waiter at a restaurant, upon perusing the dessert menu: “I’ll have the cake”, you have every intention of also eating the gosh-damned cake. Yeah, I suppose that the expression can be saved with some rejiggering. Probably better to just nuke it from orbit, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-really-make-sense/717856.md?page=3)