To have completely misunderstood the meaning of some sayings?

[KermitTheToad]

I only found out today that the term Social Butterfly refers to someone who is outgoing and loves social events. I thought it meant you didn't like social events, as in you would fly away and avoid them. I also until recently thought that a Spendthrift is somebody who is frugal in their spending. I assumed that as thrifty meant not being wasteful, that Spendthrift meant being careful in what you spent.
YANBU..I see where you are coming from.
YABU.. You are a wally, go back to school!

No it doesn't!🤣

You're wrong but that's ok.

@LushLemonTart @LBFseBrom
This is playing out EXACTLY like the conversation I first had with my BF who originally "corrected" me. I have now moved to the same part of the country as him and EVERYONE here thinks it is sexual with no ambiguity whatsoever, so maybe it is a regional thing?

The Oxford English Dictionary offers both meanings (untidy storage cupboard and sexual) which would indicate that its not regional. I suspect its generational 🤔

Oh, I think you are talking about the lady who misunderstood "glory hole" I am the "lead in your pencil" culprit

https://wordhistories.net/2021/09/23/lead-in-ones-pencil/

The phrase lead in one’s pencil denotes male vigour, especially sexual

I think put spring in your step - or put hair on your chest (meaning something will make you stronger, more robust, or more of a man) - would be less obviously sexual phrases but suppose it could be used to denote just vigour/well being but that may not be how others take it.

It is highly likely to be generational. The second (less savoury) meaning is relatively recent I think. Nobody would have ever got away with doing that sort of thing in public toilets in years gone by.

I've enjoyed the discussion of "A friend in need is a friend indeed." When I was a child I completely misunderstood that saying, though in a different way to others on this thread. I thought it meant that if a friend needs something, he/she is also a friend in deed (not just in word but in deed). I know this makes absolutely no sense, and I still remember the moment it dawned on me what the saying actually means.😅

This is what I took it for, but I realise it makes no sense now

Swansea?

What??!?

No, it doesn't at all.

"Spendthrift" seems to refer to someone who exercises caution - thrift - with their money. But in fact it means the opposite. That's the problem

Me neither

@Heavyeyelids is correct. Think of it like the Tardis in Doctor Who, which appears deceptively small - because initially it looks like it IS small from the outside, when it's actually huge & spacious. Its appearance is what is deceptive.

It does.

Thrift is what you save.

A spendthrift fritters it away by spending the thrift.

🤣🤣🤣

@EyeLevelStick Thrift is what you save.
A spendthrift fritters it away by spending the thrift.
I still stand by my original argument that the phase Spendthrift is ambiguous.
You say a 'Spendthrift spends their thrift'.
I erroneously think that they are 'thrifty with their spending'. I do not think it is clear cut.

Except it's not. Thrift is (as per the Cambridge dictionary)" the careful use of money". Its meaning of savings has long disappeared.

Hence the confusion, because when one heards or sees the word once instantly think of someone who displays thrift.