Page 5 | To have completely misunderstood the meaning of some sayings?

KermitTheToad · 2025-11-18T20:53:28+00:00

I only found out today that the term Social Butterfly refers to someone who is outgoing and loves social events. I thought it meant you didn't like social events, as in you would fly away and avoid them. I also until recently thought that a Spendthrift is somebody who is frugal in their spending. I assumed that as thrifty meant not being wasteful, that Spendthrift meant being careful in what you spent. YANBU..I see where you are coming from. YABU.. You are a wally, go back to school!

TabbyM · 21/11/2025 16:43

@CryMyEyesViolet · to further confuse things the epicentre is indeed the point at which the quake originated but DEEP in the crust...the point above this on the surface is the Focal Point! (two years of geology not wasted here!)

Ponoka7 · 21/11/2025 16:32

@CarefulN0w it has got an interesting origin from the 17th century. It's when men would befriend dairy maids for the cream, or tradesmen would be flirting with the cook to be fed.
@RafaFan coworker is really old and was first used in a religious sense of doing God's work. So it was around in Downton abby days. Picky bits wasn't, it was typically just afternoon/high/meat tea.

merryhouse · 21/11/2025 16:22

oh, and in the same vein as Netflix and Chill

When people talked about a Sunday morning in bed with the papers I assumed it was just that, and imagined how grubby with ink the sheets would get...

CarefulN0w · 21/11/2025 15:42

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:07

Ahh so you are after a phrase to describe someone who cozies up to someone because they want something from them?

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My parents used to say it’s just cupboard love when the cats started making a fuss of the humans at dinner time. They were both children during WW2 so I don’t know if it had a wartime origin.

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 21/11/2025 14:45

honeylulu · 21/11/2025 14:20

Yes I'm not doubting what posters say about carrot and stick being the original correct term, but carrot or stick is now commonly used too and also makes sense in the right context.

My boss says "all stick and no carrot" when he is fed up with the board members threatening reduced bonuses (stick beatings) if productivity doesn't rise whereas it might be more effective to increase the bonuses (carrots) to encourage productivity.

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Yes exactly . That’s what I was saying .

honeylulu · 21/11/2025 14:20

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 21/11/2025 12:14

Carrot or stick - a carrot as a treat, inducement or a stick to beat him. The stick is a threat or punishment; not the stick that the carrot hangs on the end of. I guess if you use both then it means offering a threat and a bribe at the same time.

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Yes I'm not doubting what posters say about carrot and stick being the original correct term, but carrot or stick is now commonly used too and also makes sense in the right context.

My boss says "all stick and no carrot" when he is fed up with the board members threatening reduced bonuses (stick beatings) if productivity doesn't rise whereas it might be more effective to increase the bonuses (carrots) to encourage productivity.

Rainydayinlondon · 21/11/2025 13:54

I used to think that the expression “you can’t have your cake and eat it” didn’t make sense until someone used it the other way round ie “you can’t eat your cake and (still) have it

Galatine · 21/11/2025 13:39

Matriarchofmenopausemansion · 19/11/2025 20:23

I was browsing Facebook marketplace recently.... someone was selling a Chester drawers!! 😜

I also used the expression " fly by night" at work recently, my younger colleagues didn't have a clue what I was on about!

I

To make a promise to do something but then disappear. (An unreliable person).

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 21/11/2025 12:14

Unseasonablywarm999 · 19/11/2025 11:04

Really bugs me when people say "carrot and stick" to mean you can use a carrot OR a stick. Its wrong. The carrot was on the end of the stick to keep the donkey moving but he never actually gets it... he's reaching for it. So its carrot and stick, an inducement, not carrot OR stick.

Carrot or stick - a carrot as a treat, inducement or a stick to beat him. The stick is a threat or punishment; not the stick that the carrot hangs on the end of. I guess if you use both then it means offering a threat and a bribe at the same time.

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 21/11/2025 09:45

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 09:08

Yes. And with a slight air of desperation as you are in need.

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Butter up - Ingratiate oneself - Curry favour - cosy up to - less faltering end Toadying/Sycophantic/Obsequious/Fawning/Unctuous/Servile.

I don't know maybe English speakers haven't needed such a phrase/word enough .

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 09:11

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:09

Mums Net favourite Cheeky fucker?

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That might tick that box well.

Good work.

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:09

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 09:08

Yes. And with a slight air of desperation as you are in need.

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Mums Net favourite Cheeky fucker?

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 09:08

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:07

Ahh so you are after a phrase to describe someone who cozies up to someone because they want something from them?

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Yes. And with a slight air of desperation as you are in need.

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:07

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 09:04

No but you haven't been ditched. You've just become over friendly as you need something from someone. If its not the friend in need phrase what describes that tricky situation? Must be one surely.

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Ahh so you are after a phrase to describe someone who cozies up to someone because they want something from them?

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 09:04

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:02

The phrase to express that someone has ditched you when you needed them is a Fairweather friend.

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No but you haven't been ditched. You've just become over friendly as you need something from someone. If its not the friend in need phrase what describes that tricky situation? Must be one surely.

WarrenTofficier · 21/11/2025 09:02

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 08:53

I think the other way is better and more useful. That's how I shall continue using that expression through life and hope I only meet people who have misinterpreted it as well.

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The phrase to express that someone has ditched you when you needed them is a Fairweather friend.

Leavesfalling · 21/11/2025 08:53

DiaryofaProvincialLady · 21/11/2025 02:50

Its, a friend (not you, but the other person whom to you is a good friend, to you, when you are in need), is (they are) indeed a very good friend (to you).

Neither of the friends are you, both mentions of friend is the other person

In other words, Betty if she is your friend when you are in need, is indeed your friend, because Betty was there for you when you were in need.

Edited

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I think the other way is better and more useful. That's how I shall continue using that expression through life and hope I only meet people who have misinterpreted it as well.

BunnyLake · 21/11/2025 08:53

Rainydayinlondon · 20/11/2025 23:34

Isn't it a friend in deed, as in a friend who does good things (deeds) for you?

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In deed is not the same meaning as indeed.

CarefulN0w · 21/11/2025 08:10

Fluffy40 · 20/11/2025 11:21

When I was nursing I saw another nurse type, patient is very poly.

That reminds me of a reading a colleagues classic misspelling in the kardex: Bowls open and bowel wash given.

Valeriekat · 21/11/2025 04:23

Catpiece · 19/11/2025 12:38

I’ve never thought the stick was for punishment. I think it’s just to hang the carrot off? 🤷‍♀️

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That is incorrect.

DiaryofaProvincialLady · 21/11/2025 02:57

Rainydayinlondon · 20/11/2025 23:34

Isn't it a friend in deed, as in a friend who does good things (deeds) for you?

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Nope. It means that they are indeed (definitely/confirmed) your friend because they were there for you, when you were in need (of a friend).

DiaryofaProvincialLady · 21/11/2025 02:50

soupyspoon · 19/11/2025 07:36

But if I am the friend in need, how can I also be the friend indeed, if the friend indeed is my friend who is being a good friend?

Surely a friend in need, has a friend indeed, if indeed, they have a friend?

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Its, a friend (not you, but the other person whom to you is a good friend, to you, when you are in need), is (they are) indeed a very good friend (to you).

Neither of the friends are you, both mentions of friend is the other person

In other words, Betty if she is your friend when you are in need, is indeed your friend, because Betty was there for you when you were in need.

LaMarschallin · 20/11/2025 23:47

Rainydayinlondon · 20/11/2025 23:34

Isn't it a friend in deed, as in a friend who does good things (deeds) for you?

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I don't think so. I think it's one word "indeed" meaning "definitely".
I suppose they may show their friendship "in deed" but it's one word in the saying.

Rainydayinlondon · 20/11/2025 23:43

facewithnumber · 20/11/2025 08:11

Just five minutes ago I learnt the phrase is ‘to the manner born’ not ‘to the manor born’. I’ve only just realised the name of that 1970s sitcom was a pun!

Is it really???? 😂
Well I've learned something tonight!

Rainydayinlondon · 20/11/2025 23:34

realsavagelike · 18/11/2025 23:09

Wrong. It's the other meaning - someone who is your friend when you are in need is a true friend

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Isn't it a friend in deed, as in a friend who does good things (deeds) for you?