# That Phrase Does Not Mean What You Think It Means **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 24, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786 "2020-10-24T18:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/1 "2020-10-24T18:31:16Z")
Okay, Wikipedia is not the best source, but I believe it in this case. I was looking up random things, one of which was Boot Hill, a generic term for an old west graveyard. The article brought up the phrase, “They died with their boots on.” Now, I never paid much attention to the phrase, but when I did, I always thought it meant, “They died bravely.” But according to Wikipedia, the phrase means, “They died a violent death.” That makes more sense, because a death from natural causes would mean dying in bed. Unless it’s a sudden heart attack. Or a stroke…Or a pulmonary embolism…or…never mind. The point is this cliche has new meaning to me. And I’ve been wrong all this time. As a side note, one of my favorite MST3K riffs is from _The Creeping Terror_ episode, where the carpet monster is swallowing a guy, and his leg is hanging out wearing an ugly two-toned shoe. Mike intones grandly, “He died with his bowling shoes on.” I love that line. Anyway, have you ever learned the truth about a phrase you were using wrong, or maybe do you have other examples of an amusing play on a well known phrase? ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/2 "2020-10-24T18:46:25Z")
Not me, but it seems fairly common to misspell “pique” and “trouper”. “You peaked my interest.” “He was a real trooper!” I saw a cartoon recently where the characters were climbing up a mountain as as they reach the top there’s a sign that says “Peak of Interest.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/3 "2020-10-24T21:54:50Z")
Merriam-Webster disagrees with you, and says that either “trouper” or “trooper” works in this phrase, to mean someone who perseveres through adversity: > [@](#): > > Even though they are different words, _trouper_ and _trooper_ can both be used to describe one who perseveres through hardship or difficulty. _Trouper_ originates from one who is part of a theatre troupe and thus realizes the show must always go on. _Trooper_ originates from the designation given to soldiers and police officers, who are also no strangers to difficult conditions in the line of duty. > **['Trooper' vs. 'Trouper': Choose Your Winner](https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/usage-trooper-vs-trouper)** > > They sound the same and can be synonyms. So you decide. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/4 "2020-10-24T21:55:10Z")
I think those would be examples of eggcorns? They both still make some degree of sense regardless of which of the two words are used. I used to think the metaphor about a worm turning referred to someone turning a new leaf, but I learned it was a little more specific, referring to a meek person who strikes back when pushed too far. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/5 "2020-10-24T22:03:43Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > The article brought up the phrase, “They died with their boots on.” > > Now, I never paid much attention to the phrase, but when I did, I always thought it meant, “They died bravely.” But according to Wikipedia, the phrase means, “They died a violent death.” I’ve always assumed the phrase meant “they died in action”, such as while active at work or at war, vs dying in their sleep or while watching TV (unless their job was a TV critic). I never had any reason to consider that incorrect until now. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/6 "2020-10-24T22:33:20Z")
You aren’t wrong. The origin of the phrase is not clear and your assumption is the modern definition. [From the wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_with_your_boots_on#:~:text=In%20popular%20culture-,Origin,who%20died%20on%20active%20duty.): [quote]To " **Die with your boots on**" is an idiom referring to dying while fighting or to die while actively occupied/employed/working or in the middle of some action. A person who dies with their boots on keeps working to the end, as in “He’ll never quit—he’ll die with his boots on.” The implication here is that they die while living their life as usual, and not of old age and being bedridden with illness, infirmity, etc. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/7 "2020-10-24T22:36:19Z")
^^ Oh, good to know. I’m too old to learn any new tricks I don’t need to. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/8 "2020-10-25T01:32:42Z")
“This task has a steep learning curve” originally meant (and may still mean in specialized psychological circles) “This task is something you can get good at **quickly** ” - skill level rises quickly. But “steepness” is so associated with difficulty in normal life, that use of that phrase is asking to be misunderstood. [A steep learning curve is a good thing! - ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S152994301001449X) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-phrase-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/923786/9 "2020-10-25T07:20:49Z")
Yes, it’s more commonly thought to mean a task that _requires_ you to get good at it quickly rather than one that _enables_ you to get good quickly.