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Original poster

To have completely misunderstood the meaning of some sayings?

843 replies

KermitTheToad · 18/11/2025 20:53

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!

OP posts:
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7
Leavesfalling · 20/11/2025 23:19

soupyspoon · 20/11/2025 22:59

I say it in real life, always have. Only on here do I see that some people have an aversion to it

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Might I very kindly suggest holding off on using the phrase (unless you are a monkey picking bits of fleas off another monkey then go for it).

LeftieRightsHoarder · 20/11/2025 23:08

soupyspoon · 18/11/2025 21:14

No it doesnt. It means a dark haired man.

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Christopher Lee, who played the handsome but evil Dracula in a series of films, called his autobiography “Tall, Dark and Gruesome”.

soupyspoon · 20/11/2025 23:00

Ladygodalmighty · 20/11/2025 18:26

I think Soupsyspoons has changed it from a descriptive phrase to a noun. This place is a bomsitit or dump.

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Correct. I could have just said that but im not articulate enough. My brain is a bit of a bomsitit

soupyspoon · 20/11/2025 22:59

BunnyLake · 20/11/2025 17:51

I had never heard of picky bits before MN, never heard anyone say it in real life. I can see why it’s annoying though.

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I say it in real life, always have. Only on here do I see that some people have an aversion to it

Thistlewoman · 20/11/2025 22:32

KilliMonjaro · 20/11/2025 14:39

Ooo those picky bits are very moreish! 🤣🤣🤣

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😱😱😱😱😱🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣!!

LaMarschallin · 20/11/2025 22:23

hazelnutvanillalatte

I also thought 'toe the line' meant deliberately almost-crossing boundaries, or 'crossing the line' - when it actually means the opposite

At least you didn't think it was "tow the line" unlike about 50% of Mumsnetters who don't consider what that could possibly mean.

hazelnutvanillalatte · 20/11/2025 21:54

I'm the same with spendthrift - thought it meant someone who was thrifty and frugal?

I also thought 'toe the line' meant deliberately almost-crossing boundaries, or 'crossing the line' - when it actually means the opposite

Leavesfalling · 20/11/2025 21:49

Silverbirchleaf · 20/11/2025 20:36

Nor did I! So it is that the modern equivalent of ‘would like to come in for a coffee?’

Also, I didn’t know (from further upthread) that ‘edibles’ now refers to drugs. If I hear the word edible, I think of something that can be eaten.

Like Meghan Markles edible flower sprinkles. Is she peddling drugs on Netflix?? The Netflix that we now learn is a euphemism for sex!?

Honestly its all go here on this thread

Leavesfalling · 20/11/2025 21:46

Tiedbutchorestodo · 20/11/2025 20:32

I thought “Netflix and chill” actually meant t9 watch tv and chill out - didn’t realise it was code for sex - wondered why the guy at work looked at me strangely when I asked if he was going to do that at the weekend.

No!!!!! But David Cameron used to tell everyone that's what he did at weekends! Netflix and chill! Cripes..we were all so innocent and just thought he watching a bit of TV!

WhyDidntIGetAnySoup · 20/11/2025 21:44

I’ve just remembered one: Until I was in my early 20s, I thought the shop WHSmiths was pronounced ‘whismiths’ like ‘whiskers’ or ‘whisky’ / everyone I knew called it “Smiths” so I’d never heard it said out loud 🤦🏼‍♀️

YourMotherSortsSocksInHell · 20/11/2025 21:16

It's only in the last couple of years (largely thanks to Mumsnet) that I've realised that "mediocre" means no better than average, or just about good enough. I always thought it meant absolutely shit.

I am in my 50s.

LikeAHandleInTheWind · 20/11/2025 20:50

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!

I'm middle aged and only very recently realised that Fawlty Towers is a pun on faulty!

Silverbirchleaf · 20/11/2025 20:36

Nor did I! So it is that the modern equivalent of ‘would like to come in for a coffee?’

Also, I didn’t know (from further upthread) that ‘edibles’ now refers to drugs. If I hear the word edible, I think of something that can be eaten.

Tiedbutchorestodo · 20/11/2025 20:32

I thought “Netflix and chill” actually meant t9 watch tv and chill out - didn’t realise it was code for sex - wondered why the guy at work looked at me strangely when I asked if he was going to do that at the weekend.

WithChips · 20/11/2025 20:23

Leavesfalling · 20/11/2025 14:45

Oh thank you so much. Now I feel sick.

I see M&S have got an aisle dedicated to "picky bits" with a Picky Bits sign, which I avoid, often at great inconvenience to myself having to travel a further distance within store to get to the non picky part.

Edited
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Not 100% sure what came first but I believe this is a collaboration with Jordan North, a northen radio presenter who championed the picky tea and then had an advertising deal with m&s.

User79853257976 · 20/11/2025 20:19

Makeitstop2025 · 18/11/2025 21:12

Tall, Dark and Handsome. I always pictured that to mean a white man and that the "dark" was in reference to features such as black/brown hair or brown eyes. A friend told me that the dark was in reference to skin colour and that it basically meant a person of colour.

Before anyone comments that it shows my bias, I am a person of colour!

I think it is what you thought, regardless of skin colour!

Ladygodalmighty · 20/11/2025 20:07

Love "pinch fist" a combination of penny pincher and tight fisted. I'll definitely be using that a lot from now on 😆

Original poster
KermitTheToad · 20/11/2025 20:06

RafaFan · 20/11/2025 18:59

One of the footmen said it in Downton Abbey! No idea if it was an authentic phrase of the time (probably not, as I also heard "coworker" in the series). I've never heard anyone say in real life either. 😆

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Blimey, it's getting worse. I read that and for a second wondered what the hell a 'Cow orker' was!

OP posts:
Ladygodalmighty · 20/11/2025 19:56

WarrenTofficier · 20/11/2025 18:47

Ah but if you are too much of a pinchfist you'll have no friends.

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Love "pinch fist" a combination of penny pincher and tight fisted. I'll definitely be using that a lot from now on 😆

Silverbirchleaf · 20/11/2025 19:33

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!

I didn’t know that (along with other phrases eg Super Bowl pronunciation)!

RafaFan · 20/11/2025 18:59

BunnyLake · 20/11/2025 17:51

I had never heard of picky bits before MN, never heard anyone say it in real life. I can see why it’s annoying though.

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One of the footmen said it in Downton Abbey! No idea if it was an authentic phrase of the time (probably not, as I also heard "coworker" in the series). I've never heard anyone say in real life either. 😆

swimsong · 20/11/2025 18:52

Linzloopy · 18/11/2025 22:03

A member of my family frequently uses "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" wrongly - she thinks it means something like "that proves it!"

I've told her that "proof" in the saying means "test", like the way you leave bread dough to "prove" to check the yeast is working and see if it’s ready to put in the oven, or see "proofs" of something that’s being printed to check it's right before the final printing, but she doesn’t believe me.

Edited

They are not far wrong when the pudding (or whatever the metaphor refers to) has indeed been eaten (tested) - and thus it's quality, or lack thereof, proven.

Your meaning lacks an explanation for the addition, inclusion and consequence of 'the eating'.

WarrenTofficier · 20/11/2025 18:47

Ladygodalmighty · 20/11/2025 18:19

It's bad. Same as spendthrift. Squandering your wealth! Don't be a scattergood this Christmas and end up with lots of debt in the new year!😉

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Ah but if you are too much of a pinchfist you'll have no friends.

RememberBeKindWithKaren · 20/11/2025 18:40

I'm going to ask about " having kittens". Why must it be kittens? If I'm going to have any other animals I'd rather have puppies.

Ladygodalmighty · 20/11/2025 18:28

Leavesfalling · 20/11/2025 18:23

Love it! Thank you. I shall be using it relentlessly from now on.

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Me too 😁

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