# Phrases you've seen mangled **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141 "2010-03-03T16:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/21 "2010-03-03T18:22:20Z")
> [@breaking-reality](#): > > I second the could ‘of’, would ‘of’, should ‘of’…drives me nuts. I third it. > [@breaking-reality](#): > > Also, “We’ll touch basis” instead of ‘base’. I think they may be saying ‘bases’, not ‘basis’, but your point is taken. > [@breaking-reality](#): > > Tacking “You know what I mean?” to the back of any statement. This is okay every now and then, but when it’s every other sentence? Please just shoot me now. It’s also somewhat insulting, although I don’t know if that’s the utterer’s intent. But yeah, eye-gougingly annoying. > [@breaking-reality](#): > > “I’ve ate already” Nope, either you ‘ate already’, or you ‘have eaten’. I’ve never heard this. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/22 "2010-03-03T18:27:35Z")
> [@Oni no Maggie](#): > > Ahhh. I always thought it referred to, metaphorically, experimenting with new ingredients…always a risky proposition and…do they work? Well, the proof that they do (or don’t) will be in the final pudding created! I like that! That deserves its own saying. “The proof is in the meatloaf.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/23 "2010-03-03T18:28:17Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I’ve never heard this. A few years back there was a commercial for a toy. One of the young actors in it says “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever saw!” Made me want to throw things at my TV. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/24 "2010-03-03T18:36:01Z")
> [@Alan\_Bird](#): > > “…just to name a few” instead of “…to name just a few.” Hm. I’ve always said “…to name a few.” ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/25 "2010-03-03T18:36:06Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > “all intensive purposes” I had some managers at my last company all come to my desk to have me settle a bet over whether it was “for all intents and purposes” or “for all intensive purposes” (they knew I had been an English Major in college). I couldn’t believe it. > [@tdn](#): > > Him: Cool! Do you know how to play basic guitar? Yeah, everybody knows it’s called a [Dad guitar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5iG11s-dok). ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/26 "2010-03-03T18:46:48Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > “Quote unquote” instead of “quote, endquote”, especially when the “unquote” appears before the thing being quoted Merriam Webster dates “[unquote](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unquote)” back to 1915 and has no entry at all for “endquote.” ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/27 "2010-03-03T18:56:39Z")
I got this one today: “I’ll send it to you by enter office mail.” They meant inter-office. I always thought the proof was in the pudding. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/28 "2010-03-03T19:19:53Z")
[This link](http://www.langston.com/English/) has a lot of common ones, but I’m linking to it specifically for the correct “champing at the bit”, which is usually misspoken as “chomping at the bit”. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/29 "2010-03-03T19:27:49Z")
They’re late, \*\*minus well \*\*just go… I saw this one just a few minutes ago on a customer review for a book I’m reading. I about choked on my own tongue. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/30 "2010-03-03T19:29:01Z")
> [@Oni no Maggie](#): > > Ahhh. I always thought it referred to, metaphorically, experimenting with new ingredients…always a risky proposition and…do they work? Well, the proof that they do (or don’t) will be in the final pudding created! Well, that’s the right metaphor, yes, but the point of the saying is that the only way to really test (or “prove”) a pudding is to eat it. I mean, it might look fine – it might look like the perfect pudding, and you know you’ve used the finest ingredients, and followed the recipe to the letter, so in theory it should be good – but the only thing that really counts is what it actually tastes like. What the “proof is in the pudding” version lacks is that explicit element of practical testing. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/31 "2010-03-03T19:31:41Z")
I’ve seen (and used) “tender hooks” a lot. It’s actually tenter hooks. Who knew? Same with toeing the line. Until recently I thought it was towing. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/32 "2010-03-03T19:32:14Z")
The proof is in the Jack Daniels. All 151 of it. Any phrase saying “to insure [whatever]” instead of “ensure.” According to a couple of websites, this new meaning of “insure” is apparently becoming acceptable, which annoys me. “Ensure” is correct and was perfectly fine. It’s another example of ignorance getting its way. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/33 "2010-03-03T19:40:02Z")
I knew a girl who would always say “point in case,” and didn’t believe that it wasn’t right. Although this is apparently creeping into acceptable usage, but it still drives me nuts when I see something that “is comprised of” other things. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/34 "2010-03-03T19:41:46Z")
I’ve only ever heard “the proof is in the pudding”. The full version makes much more sense. Thanks! My pet peeve, one that I see here quite frequently: reign in. Unless you’re talking about the country where you rule, it’s REIN in. As in steering a horse. ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/35 "2010-03-03T19:42:29Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > They’re late, \*\*minus well \*\*just go… So this obviously means: They aren’t on time, they forgot to bring the well, so we aren’t waiting around! ---
**Author:** ![breaking-reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@breaking-reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaking-reality)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/36 "2010-03-03T19:45:00Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > It’s also somewhat insulting, although I don’t know if that’s the utterer’s intent. But yeah, eye-gougingly annoying. I am so glad to know I’m not the only one who finds this eye-gougingly annoying. 😛 I’m surprised you’ve never heard the “I’ve ate” thing. Though really, anytime someone uses the wrong verb tense I cringe. Oh, also, (and I’m told this is a local thing) any use of the word “finna”. No, it’s not really a word, and when used in the context of “I’m finna go to the store” it makes me want to choke whoever is using it. I think it comes from the southern phrase “fixing to” but that’s just my best guess. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/37 "2010-03-03T19:56:17Z")
Not really a phrase, but “alot” is not an extant word in the English langage. Nor is “alright.” I’ve actually seen the latter posted on President Obama’s website. “Use” and “utilize” are not at all synonymous! You would _use_ a doorstop to prop open a door. You would _utilize_ a bicycle to do the same thing should a doorstop not be handy. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/38 "2010-03-03T19:58:18Z")
> [@breaking-reality](#): > > Oh, also, (and I’m told this is a local thing) any use of the word “finna”. No, it’s not really a word, and when used in the context of “I’m finna go to the store” it makes me want to choke whoever is using it. I think it comes from the southern phrase “fixing to” but that’s just my best guess. I’ll support that hunch. “Finna” may be too many syllables, though. More like “Fin” would be the correct enuncification. It may even be okay, but “orientate” grates on my nerves. As does “commentate” and if they could dump “impact” as a verb, I wouldn’t bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/39 "2010-03-03T19:58:59Z")
I love my best friend to death, but she constantly says “in lieu of” when she means “in light of”. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141/40 "2010-03-03T20:03:45Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > It may even be okay, but “orientate” grates on my nerves. As does “commentate” and if they could dump “impact” as a verb, I wouldn’t bitch. What the hell are you conversating about, now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youve-seen-mangled/531141.md?page=3)