Things you assumed and were astonished to find out you were completely wrong

[Cattery]

For example: The Elgin Marbles. Heard these mentioned from time to time over the years. Always pictured marbles; kids’ marbles. Then I heard they were something to do with Greece and I’ve always thought Elgin was there. Got it all completely wrong

I can't believe this...

I've been wondering why Freddie Flintoff's brother, Andrew never appears in his current TV show and wondered if there was some sort of estrangement or jealousy on Andrew's behalf or maybe that he's just a much more private, serious person than Freddie.

And I too thought "their" parents must be so proud.

Then I read this. And I googled. And well...now I feel stupid.

Me and my nemesis, Cricket.

That's fantastic 😂 bet you wondered what Argentina thought it was doing, trying to claim them 😄

That you were on tenderhooks i.e hooks that were fragile so were in peril etc .
When the word is actually tenterhooks. Mind blown .

I thought the Native Americans/ indigenous Canadians got there from East to West (ie. Norway, Iceland, Greenland, arrive) I’m not sure where I thought the Bering Strait was, but the vikings went that way and so did Columbus - so I just assumed the first people did too.

I’ve believed that for so long, it’s actually hard to imagine the alternative. If I think about it, I can ‘see’ them in my minds eye - and they’re always walking from right to left (yes I know it wasn’t actually done in a single journey!)

Then I realised that Native Americans look more Asiatic because they came via that direction. But in my brain, they’re to our left, our ancestors got there by going left/West.

As a dc I thought stories of War were actually just stories. Couldn't believe people could actually kill each other...

We took some Year 8s on a school trip to Holland and they too, thought that the coach would be driving along the seabed and they’d see fish swimming alongside. They were disappointed to discover it wasn’t true.

I always think Thirsk is in Scotland, have to think about it a little to remember it isn't.

I was in my late 30s when I discovered that cows have to give birth before they produce milk. I just thought that they could produce milk at will.

The origin of “nearside” and “offside” dates back to when we all used horses to get around. You always mount a horse from the near side (left) as historically a soldier would have his sword on his left hip (so he could draw it with his right hand when needed).

We still use “near” and “off” now when talking about horse physiology - “He’s got a white sock on his near hind”.

Its just another example of old terminology sticking around in our language even though it’s origin no longer applies/is relevant.

Are you getting confused with Pontypandy from Fireman Sam!!

I thought road runner the cartoon was a made up bird...was shocked when my husband explained to the kids (and me) that it's based on a real bird called the roadrunner that runs really fast.

Me too 😳

SO DID I!

Me too! I thought they were big round stones…

I honestly thought you were taking the mick. I had to Google. Also had to check on donkeys while I was there.

I thought, for far too long, that a plane worked similar to a rocket. As in flames coming out of the wings, which left the 'smoke tracks' behind.

That daylight savings is for 7 months of the year and not 6. I thought it was half the year for decades.

I was well into adulthood when I realised that test tube babies didn’t stay in a test tube till they were ready. I just assumed as they grew they had to change out the test tube for a bigger one.

I always thought that 'both ways', when betting on a horse racemesnt that they ran there and back.
Dh was unimpressed when I said this loudly in a betting shop about 25 years ago. I still say, are you doing it there and bac, when he has the odd flutter

@sixmaybeseven this one has tipped me over the edge with laughter. Thank you for making me smile 😊

I thought Roy Orbison was blind.

I used to hear rough areas being described as ‘like Beirut’ only I heard Bay Route and thought it was a rough area in America known for it’s gangs

Same ! 😂

I am also very confused that the inside lane is on the outside to my brain!

@alwaysnapping is it not??????

AnneKipankitoo

I thought Roy Orbison was blind.

So did I!

IIRC nearside of a car is the pavement/passenger side & offside is the driver side. I have trouble with right & left, so if I had to take the cat to the vet with a bad leg, I'd describe the injury as e.g. 'nearside front' as though it was a tyre on a car.😂

Disclaimer: all of the above could be complete rubbosh.