What were your misconceptions as a child?

[Geekster1963]

I always used to think when a pub said 'free house' it meant you got free drinks. I also thought a '99' was so called because it cost 99p. (Was a lot less when I was a child).

I used to think "To Let" signs said "Toilet".

@Violetroselily I thought that as well!

When mum told me that Mrs next door was being chased round the bedroom by their male friend I thought she meant playing like a kid would. I could not understand the disgust on her face!!

With all those who were confused about "free house": cereal packets often said in big letters "Free inside". I thought this meant the cereal could escape, but it actually meant there was a free toy inside.

When my mum said she couldn't afford something I would helpfully suggest she went to the cash machine. I thought it just gave you money!

Some of these have had me crying with laughter!

Another one of mine. When I was a child I thought that "going to university" involved getting sent to outer space. It was the whole universe thing. The thought of it terrified me!

I also believed for a long time (well into my teens ) that prices were always fixed; you paid what was asked, and that was that. Thinking about the haggling scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian "I want twenty for that. Eleven?! Did I hear you right, eleven?!", I thought it was very funny, but my jaw dropped to the floor when I was told in all seriousness that people really do argue over prices like that, especially for big things such as houses and cars.

Also about not turning up to parties or social events on time; I was astonished to learn that it was normal to arrive after the time stated on the invitation, when normally it's unthinkable to be late for school.

I've just remembered one, which will demonstrate how ancient I am.
When I was a quite young child, as a treat, my parents would phone up Jonny Morris who would read me a story. He was lovely; he did all the voices for the animals, just like he did on TV.
It was years later I realised it was a recording and we didn't actually phone JM at all.

Beatles "Hard Days Night"

When I get home to you, I find the things that you do that make me feel alright.

I honestly thought she'd done her housework whilst he'd been at work and he was happy the house was tidy 🤣

I used to think that when you were on a plane that there was another plane behind you with everyone's luggage.

In an effort to make us read widely, my mum told us the library staff were only allowed to lend out the same book once. I believed this till I was about 20.

The Lord's Prayer said 'forgive us our chess passes'.

My dad, poor man, repeatedly tried to teach me to play chess, but I was hopeless and couldn't remember from one day to the next which piece was allowed to move where.

I do remember thinking that a lot of people must also be bad at chess, if it actually got a prayer-mention!

I used to think that when it said on the news that someone was in police custody, they were being gunged with custard as a punishment

Every time I saw a To Let sign when I was littler& I needed the loo, I always thought it was a toilet sign

As a little girl, I used to think that the National Anthem contained the words 'long to rain over us'. I did used to wonder why the Queen wanted it to rain over her subjects.