To wonder what mental image people have for 'towing the line'...

[LaFlambeau]

When the correct expression is 'toeing the line'?

The Allen company was the original maker of the keys, and still does make them.

So glad I can finally add to one of these threads!

I thought it was Allen key, with Allen being the brand name of a Hex(agonal) key... But I saw Alum Key written on something very official the other day, so now I'm confused and frightened.

I have a vision of a particularly irritated duck performing a "one fowl swoop" in the context I often hear it.

Mute point leads me to Joey from Friends stating that a point is "moo" because a cow has no opinion.

"Cheap at half the price" is the original and correct version of the saying. In Middle English, cheap, or "cheep" also meant goods or property, so the street cry, "Cheap at half the price!", was the Middle Ages' equivalent of today's shop window sign, "All stock 50% off". Chaucer uses this meaning in, "...greet cheep is holde at litel pris...". That is to say, where there is an abundance, "greet cheep" = great supply of goods, the price is low "..holde at litel price" = is valued at a low price. Possibly the earliest reference to supply and demand! The corruption, "Cheap at twice the price" would have appeared through a misunderstanding of the original meaning of "cheep".

My DH likes to "wait and see how things plan out".

"It's not pedantry - I'm genuinely curious to know what people imagine 'line towing' to be!"

In case you haven't found it www.mumsnet.com/Talk/cunning_linguists is a great place for the pedcurious.

I've never heard anyone say "cheap at TWICE the price'. The saying is 'cheap at half the price' I think, even though it doesn't make sense.

School role. How can anyone think that's correct? It has to be school roll.

I don't know fuck (I love calling you that!)- going to have to find out now...

DH says the 'foul swoop' thing too. I've tried explaining it but he doesn't believe me.
I also have noticed that some people use 'weary' when they mean 'wary'.
I realise that none of these things are going to change the fate of nations but it does sometimes mean it takes a while to work out what's meant.

Christ Ici, I'm a teacher and see that all the time. From headteachers. And admissions officers.

que instead of cue is another that just doesn't make sense

In reply to an earlier poster, "Up and Atom!" Is Radioactive Man's catchphrase in The Simpsons. So it might have been a reference to that. Like when I say "moo point". :o

And the official answer is.....nobody knows

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/between%20the%20devil%20and%20the%20deep%20blue%20sea.html

Although this search led to the discovery of CANOE- the Campaign to Ascribe a Nautical Origin to Everything- the very existence of which fills my heart with joy

I had a message recently from a friend to let me know that her DD's birthday present had arrived 'in tacked'. I had to say it out loud to get it.

Thanks stubborn :o

Love CANOE as a concept :o

I always wonder what people think tender hooks are, although in fairness many people using 'I'm on tenterhooks' probably don't know they were part of a frame used to stretch and dry cloth.

Have also had many people tell me they are a hypochondriacts.

I've been subject to 'reach' instead of 'retch'

My friend told me she couldn't push her baby out so they gave her a mange tout

que instead of cue is another that just doesn't make sense

And indeed queue

I had to say this to get it, mrsminiver, was that Ventoux??

Don't all you pedantics find it ironic that you are correcting other people, but then find out that you are quoting the evolved saying and not the original and therefor "correct" one.

"Toe the line" is the evolved expression, so why is that different, or any worse than saying "Tow the line", which might have significance for the sayer?

I also always wonder what people think a fine "toothcomb" is...

I'm not going to tell you how old I was when the penny dropped.

Love this thread.

My offering - a surgeon referred to having to staunch a bleed. HARRUMPH.

And many people at work send emails/ reports talking about getting to the "route cause" of the problem.

Winds me up!