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Original poster

Phrases which make no sense

210 replies

WhereTheFuck · 25/09/2021 03:08

It has just occurred to me that the phrase 'one in one out' (like when you go to a club and it's really busy) doesn't make sense. It should be 'one out one in' because you don't get to go in until someone comes out.
For some reason this is now really annoying me! Does anyone else have examples of everyday phrases that actually make no sense when you think about them?

OP posts:
TooBigForMyBoots · 25/09/2021 03:17

There are loads of them OP. Teenage DS has ASD and is now asking me what sayings mean and if he is using them correctly. It's an education and a headfuck.

PurpleSapphire · 25/09/2021 03:42

"I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less".

SirusTheVirus · 25/09/2021 03:50

@PurpleSapphire

"I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less".
I couldn’t care less makes perfect sense 🤷🏼‍♀️
PurpleSapphire · 25/09/2021 05:00

Exactly!! Grin

Betsythecheshirecat · 25/09/2021 09:02

It took me until I was in my mid thirties to understand the phrase "a stitch in time saves nine". Nine what? I always thought. How do you stitch time???

It really baffled me until one day I saw something about a tailor who explained it and I felt so stupid as it seemed so obvious.

I also have been annoyed at "I could care less" too.

PerseverancePays · 25/09/2021 09:32

I am sat. Either you are sitting now or you sat down in the past.

AndTime · 25/09/2021 09:55

I always say couldn't care less. It makes no sense otherwise. I've never heard anyone say I could care less.

One in one ur could be abbreviated from, one can go in when one comes out.

Gemzee · 25/09/2021 09:56

Yeah why do Americans think 'could care less' makes any sense? It really bugs me.
The saying is 'I couldn't care less' which makes perfect sense.
So glad it's not just me!

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 26/09/2021 06:43

I always thought 'a stitch in time saves nine' meant putting in one stitch now (ie fixing something when you first spot a problem) means you don't need to put in nine stitches (a bigger fix) later. So it makes sense to me. Is that not how it's used?

Valmur · 26/09/2021 06:46

“Cheap at half the price”. Surely it should be “Cheap at double the price”?

CraftMaker · 26/09/2021 06:50

'The devil is in the detail'. What does it actually mean?

BadlyArrangedToasties · 26/09/2021 06:58

I couldn’t care less is the correct phrase - but lots of people say it incorrectly and use could.

midsomermurderess · 26/09/2021 07:08

The devil is in the detail? Superficially things might look fine, let's do this, this will work, until you analyse the situation, really work out what's going on, what the ramifications, unintended consequences, of x or y are. Ah, this is much more difficult and complex than it first appeared to be.

CraftMaker · 26/09/2021 07:19

@midsomermurderess Thank you so much for that explanation!

ginandbearit · 26/09/2021 07:21

"No better than she ought to be ".....I think it's meant to be condemnatory but can't get me head around it ..

Chunkymenrock · 26/09/2021 07:39

@Valmur

“Cheap at half the price”. Surely it should be “Cheap at double the price”?
Yes, yes, yes! I am always saying this. Of course it's cheap at half the price. The saying is cheap at twice the price.
Chunkymenrock · 26/09/2021 07:47

Everyone being 'obsessed by.' An obsession is a psychological disorder. Whatever happened to really liking something or being extremely fond of it?

Your 3 year old is not obsessed by cats. They just really like them.

SW1amp · 26/09/2021 07:48

Cheap at half the price means something is expensive. It’s sarcastic

It’s often used in the wrong context but it is supposed to mean ‘gosh, that’s expensive’

Devil is in the detail means something that looks simple at first look, but needs to be done properly to work, so the devil/hard part is in the small detail that is required. Ie you can’t cut corners to get it to work

Another ‘devil’ one - between the devil and the deep blue sea, means a dilemma where you chose between 2 unpleasant things
The origin is that the outer planks of wood on a boat are called the ‘devil’ because they are curved to fit the hull and therefore a devil to fit
So when you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are teetering on the edge

squishee · 26/09/2021 07:51

You can't (= couldn't) make it up. Only the latter makes sense to me.

To step foot is just wrong. It's SET foot.

Fizbosshoes · 26/09/2021 07:55

Sleeping like a baby or I slept like a baby.

This annoys me since having a baby usually means years months of disrupted sleep!!

Mermaidpool · 26/09/2021 07:58

It was in the last place I looked/it will be in the last place you look. Annoys me because of course it will be as you will stop looking when you've found it

Janaih · 26/09/2021 08:03

Not quite what OP was asking but it winds me right up when people say "I was on tenderhooks"

CaptainMyCaptain · 26/09/2021 08:04

@PurpleSapphire

"I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less".
That's an American usage. And, no, it doesn't make any sense.
OliverBabish · 26/09/2021 08:12

Maybe this is just a regional thing but I hear people say this/see this written on social media A LOT: “I love you all the stars”
Just… what

Also “if you think that, you’ve got another thing coming”… it’s THINK PEOPLE

Daisyhoney · 26/09/2021 08:14

I hate the expression ' getting your ducks in a row ' - what does that really mean ?

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