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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:
Panningforfish · 26/09/2021 15:35

Swings and roundabout - you move in them, but end up in the same place at the end, so you don’t gain anything.

I think the proof is in the pudding is just an abbreviated version of the original the proof of the pudding is the eating as over time everyone learnt the meaning and then couldn’t be arsed to say the full thing.

satci · 26/09/2021 15:36

@PurpleSapphire

"I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less".
It makes sense to me. 'I could care less' is just totally wrong.
actingsergeant · 26/09/2021 16:08

“You don’t know you’re born”

What?!

MolyHolyGuacamole · 26/09/2021 16:10

@PurpleSapphire

"I could care less" rather than "I couldn't care less".
As someone not born an raised in the UK, this one really bugs me because we say it the correct way as 'I couldn't care less'
MolyHolyGuacamole · 26/09/2021 16:12

One that I only got very recently as an adult after years of not understanding was 'a friend in need is a friend indeed'. I always thought of it as friend being in need, and wondered why someone who needs something from me is a true friend 😂

Really comes down to punctuation and a few unsaid worlds; 'a friend, in (your time of) need, is a friend indeed'.

Unless I'm wrong again? 😂

MolyHolyGuacamole · 26/09/2021 16:18

@Mermaidpool

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
This argument annoys me. It doesn't mean it as literally as that. It means that if all the possible (finite) places that something could be, it will be in the last place you look.

Eg: can't find my keys, they're either in my bag, in the car or on the window sill. I have 3 places to look, but it won't be in the first or second place that I look, it will be in the last. Happens to me all the time

MolyHolyGuacamole · 26/09/2021 16:20

You want nonsensical? The Dutch “helaas pindakaas” literal translation is “oh well, peanut butter”.

Make of that what you will.

Reminds me of the Mean Girls quote: 'whatever, I'm getting cheese fries' 😂

Wantubackforgood · 26/09/2021 16:34

This has been me since this morning (Scottish Smile)?

Lily019 · 26/09/2021 17:23

Often times. I have read that is it is in fact correct usage, but I just dont see why. Often already means 'frequently' in my understanding so why add on 'times'?

Knobblebobble · 26/09/2021 17:29

@CraftMaker

'The devil is in the detail'. What does it actually mean?
Also "the devil " was the last plank on wooden ships to be fitted. The curved one at the edge and apparently took a lot of skill but looked easy. Also gives rise to the phrase between the devil and the deep blue sea meaning a difficult situation!
Knobblebobble · 26/09/2021 17:44

Drat beaten to it....

Also from ships, a square meal as the plates used to be square!

I love knowing nonsense like this 🤣

FuzzyPuffling · 26/09/2021 17:45

"Blood is thicker than water"

Actually it is "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb", so the opposite.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 26/09/2021 18:10

I mentioned on another thread recently about people saying "ten to the dozen" about talking fast, when they mean "nineteen to the dozen".

WhiskeyNeverStartsToTasteNice · 26/09/2021 18:17

@MolyHolyGuacamole

One that I only got very recently as an adult after years of not understanding was 'a friend in need is a friend indeed'. I always thought of it as friend being in need, and wondered why someone who needs something from me is a true friend 😂

Really comes down to punctuation and a few unsaid worlds; 'a friend, in (your time of) need, is a friend indeed'.

Unless I'm wrong again? 😂

I've never understood this phrase either, and I'm not sure your explanation even makes sense. Otherwise surely the phrase would just be "a friend when you're in need is a friend indeed"?? 😕
Ameanstreakamilewide · 26/09/2021 18:40

@NEE1302

'I turned around and said' - why were you facing the other way?

'At the end of the day' - why not at the beginning or middle of the day?

Hmm

When people say 'at the end of the day' to my brother, he always says 'it gets dark'.

It takes them a second or two to realise he's taking the piss! 😉

Ameanstreakamilewide · 26/09/2021 18:42

@Mermaidpool

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
The saying is 'it's in the last place you think to look'.

Then it makes sense!

Neighbour667 · 26/09/2021 20:09

When you come to a fork in the road, take it!

TaraR2020 · 26/09/2021 20:17

The phrase "butter wouldn't melt" to describe someone being warm and sweet drives me nuts because I don't get it at all!

Surely it makes a person sound cold??

goodwinter · 26/09/2021 20:34

@WildRosie

'The exception that proves the rule' doesn't make sense to me. And, everyone's favourite, 'it is what it is' is utterly redundant, meaningless and hackneyed.
The way to think about "the exception that proves the rule" is that, if an exception to something is rare enough to be notable, it means that there's a general rule that holds the rest of the time. Hopefully that makes sense!
piefacedClique · 26/09/2021 20:38

My husband is Scottish and his family always use the expression ‘at the back of’ when discussing time….for example…. What time will you be finished? ‘I’ll be home at the back of three!’ What does that mean! At the end of the hour of three as in 3.45 ish or before 3! Who bloody knows! Makes absolutely no sense to me!

NigellaSeed · 26/09/2021 20:43

Waste not want not. I know what it means. But I just really don't like that phrase

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 26/09/2021 20:45

@NigellaSeed

Waste not want not. I know what it means. But I just really don't like that phrase
It makes complete sense, so doesn't really belong in the thread.
PuppyMonkey · 26/09/2021 20:55

I’m surprised this hasn’t turned into yet another thread about daft people who really believe it’s “if you think that, you’ve got another THING coming” rather than THINK coming.

  • runs off to leave everyone debating this until next week.
TinselTitsAndGlitteryBits · 26/09/2021 20:57

That's not a threat, it's a promise - but it is a threat?

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 26/09/2021 21:05

@TinselTitsAndGlitteryBits

That's not a threat, it's a promise - but it is a threat?
The point is that is someone threatens something bad, they might do it or they might not. If someone promises to do something bad, they will definitely do it.

"Come outside and I'll punch you, you wanker!"
"Is that a threat?"
"That's not a threat, it's a promise"

The person isn't just threatening a punch, it's definitely going to happen.