We all know what these sayings are supposed to mean, but their actual meaning leaves much to be desired:
The proof is in the pudding. Oh really? The proof of what? Fermat’s Last Theorem? The Grand Unification Theory? Or maybe the pudding is spiked with vodka? The correct phrase is, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Learn it, use it.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Well what the hell am I supposed to do with my cake? If I wanted a centerpiece for my table, I’d get some flowers or make a sculpture out of AOL CDs or something. Cakes exist to be eaten, so go think up some other metaphor–oh, wait, there is one! “You can’t have it both ways.” Excellent!
I could care less. …but I don’t because it would actually take more effort on my part to care less than I do, effort which I would rather expend by searching for deep meanings hidden in dessert items.
Brownie points. If I collect several brownie points and glue them together, can I make a +9 Brownie Shuriken of Stupid Phrase Slaying?
I’m sure there are more, but I can’t think of them at the moment.
I agree that this phrase is stupid. But this is really a bastardization of the real phrase which is “The proof of the pudding is in the tasting” which makes more sense.
“On your plate”. As in “What do you have on your plate for the next week?” or “Can I get you to clear your plate and take a swing at this?”
PEOPLE! We are working in an office! THERE IS NO PLATE! NO PLATE-HAVERS WE!
" Going forward…" Well, THAT"S refreshing. For a moment there I thought Mr. Peabody was in the closet with the WayBack machine. And, you know, we’d be going backward.
As Wikkit obliquely pointed out, this is a corruption of “I couldn’t care less” - i.e. “it would be impossible for me to give less of a shit”.
“I could care less” is simply illogical - it doesn’t even work as sarcasm. Unless the meaning is “I could care less… but I don’t”.
Regarding tautology, in Ireland, there is an organization called Allied Irish Bank. This is shortened to AIB. The bank buildings all have “AIB Bank” written on them. Their ATM (machines) are called “Banklinks”, which have written on them: AIB Bank Banklink.
In other words: Allied Irish Bank[sup]3[/sup] link.
Yeah, I went to the ATM machine at 8AM this morning, put in my PIN number, and got my cash money.
Boy, that steams me. I also have a friend that constantly misuses the phrase “begs the question”. He thinks it means “raises the question”. Urgh.
For some reason, I always thought it was “The proof is in the putting.”, i.e., the way you say something affects the perceived validity of the point you’re making. I guess I’d never seen it written down. Hm. I guess I’ve got another think coming.
If you enjoy something a bit more pedantic, try this site. I found it humorous, if a bit erudite for the Pit. Calling Mrs. Malaprop!
The one that always pisses me off is “curiosity killed the cat” No sh*t, but did you know “satisfaction brought him back”? I hate it when people drop half a quote in order to change the meaning entirely. If you don’t like curiosity make up your own quote ya goobs!
