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AIBU?

To wonder what mental image people have for 'towing the line'...

261 replies

LaFlambeau · 13/07/2014 00:53

When the correct expression is 'toeing the line'?

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Poofus · 13/07/2014 00:55

Yes, mad, isn't it? I also always wonder what people think a fine "toothcomb" is...

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STOPwiththehahaheheloling · 13/07/2014 00:58

Grin

I was about to comment that it was actually "toeing"

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STOPwiththehahaheheloling · 13/07/2014 01:00

'Toothcomb' - for combing outbthe bits of gristle between your teeth, right? Wink

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LaFlambeau · 13/07/2014 01:01

Toothcomb... Like a toothbrush, obviously Grin

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MarrogfromMars · 13/07/2014 01:04

And when people 'reign someone in' (rein them in). To be fair, reign does have connotations of getting someone to do what they're told, but the original is a nice metaphor which actually makes sense!

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NotWeavingButDarning · 13/07/2014 01:07

Or when people take a different 'tact' instead of tack. Loses all sense of meaning.

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LaFlambeau · 13/07/2014 01:09

Although incorrect, 'giving free reign' almost makes sense. Perhaps that's where the reign/rein confusion arises.

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STOPwiththehahaheheloling · 13/07/2014 01:09

'Intensive purposes'

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echt · 13/07/2014 01:09

I think the towing the line brigade imagine someone hauling on a rope, possibly in the manner of sailors, so maintaining the image of working together.

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AshaH1982 · 13/07/2014 01:11

Duck tape. Made from ducks or used to stick a few ducks together?

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CuttedUpPear · 13/07/2014 01:13

I realise this topic should be in Pedant's Corner really, which annoys the pedant in me...but while we are here, may I vent my spleen about "unfortunately"?
I am hearing it pronounced (on the BBC!) as "unfortunely" over and over again!

Angry

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gymboywalton · 13/07/2014 01:14

Fine tooth comb is just picky, it's just the emphasis you are questioning?

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CuttedUpPear · 13/07/2014 01:14

I mean this thread, not this topic. Apols!Soz!

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gymboywalton · 13/07/2014 01:14

And duck tape is a brand

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Shnickyshnackers · 13/07/2014 01:16

I thought the saying was 'going at a rate of noughts', instead of 'nots', i thought there were lots of naughts because you were literally going soo fast, ie add on lots of noughts.....

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Bogeyface · 13/07/2014 01:16

Duck tape is a trade name for a brand of duct tape, so either would be ok. Like saying Sellotape instead of sticky tape, or Hoover instead of vacuum cleaner.

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Bogeyface · 13/07/2014 01:17

X post Gymbo!

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Shnickyshnackers · 13/07/2014 01:17

its a fine toothed comb gymboywalton.

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LaFlambeau · 13/07/2014 01:18

It's not pedantry - I'm genuinely curious to know what people imagine 'line towing' to be!

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ParsingFlatly · 13/07/2014 01:19

And a "shoe in" is surely very different from a "shoo in"?

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LaFlambeau · 13/07/2014 01:20

That's brilliant, Schnicky!

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Shnickyshnackers · 13/07/2014 01:22

laflambeau, it gets right on my dh's tits, so i make sure to always say it now :)

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NotWeavingButDarning · 13/07/2014 01:22

Shnickyschnackers it's actually a rate of knots, not 'nots' or 'naughts' Grin. 'Tis a nautical measure of speed.

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Shnickyshnackers · 13/07/2014 01:23

I'll tell you one that's on the tv all the time here (Australia), 'the pointy end of the stick'. In Masterchef etc they often say its getting to the pointy end of the competition. WTF does that mean, where does that 'saying' even come from?

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HamAndPlaques · 13/07/2014 01:24

Schnicky it's actually a rate of knots, ie nautical miles...

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