So, you think you can spell?

[Twiglett]

Because there's a piece in the Guardian today that made me ROFL ..

I can't link ... so here's a game ... which of the following words or phrases are right and which are wrong?

1. straight-laced
2. 'just desserts'
3. 'font of knowledge'
4. 'free reign'
5. 'slight of hand'
6. 'phased by'
7. 'butt naked'
8. 'vocal chords'

I shall be back later to check

think they are all wrong. although confess I would spell no. 7 that way.

1 (should be strait)
2 (should be one s in deserts)
3 (should be font)
4 (should be rein)
5 (should be sleight) are all wrong.
Never sure about whether it's fazed or phased TBH
Think 6 & 7 are right

I would say
1 wrong (strait-laced)
2 right
3 wrong (fount)
4 wrong (free rein)
5 wrong (sleight of hand)
6 wrong (fazed by)
7 right
8 wrong (vocal cords)

Which makes me wonder whether 2 and 7 can possibly be right....

1. straightlaced
2. just desserts
3. fount of knowledge
4. free rein
5. sleight of hand
6. fazed by
7. butt naked
8. vocal cords

Er.... I think

7 is wrong too. Was thinking of musical chords for some reason, instead of the ones in your body which are cords. Dur!

1. strait-laced
2. just deserts
3. font or fount - depends if you're quoting or not (??)
4. free rein

5.sleight of hand

1. fazed by
2. buck naked?? but I prefer butt naked
3. vocal cords

strait laced
2 - correct
fount of all knowledge
free rein
4 correct
fazed by
7 correct
8 correct

(glad I'm in disguise at the moment )

missed sleight of hand

I think Pruni is right.

I think she is too - having now googled - oh the shame!

3, 4, 5 , 6 and 8 are wrong.

Yes, I just googled buck naked too- she's right :)

I am a Lady and wouldn't google things like that

Is it just about spelling though?

If so, I think 3, 5, 6 and 8 are wrong.

I think they're all wrong...?

Thank the lord I didn't accidentally do a Google Image search, eh? :o

you're all so vastly intelligent .. well most of you

they're all wrong

1. straight-laced .. should be strait-laced
2. 'just desserts' ..should be deserts (the root is deserve)
3. 'font of knowledge'.. should be fount
4. 'free reign' ... should be rein (it comes from horses not royalty)
5. 'slight of hand'... sleight
6. 'phased by' ... should be fazed (no idea why)
7. 'butt naked' ... buck naked
8. 'vocal chords' .. should be cords

1. straight-laced - wrong straitlaced
2. 'just desserts' - right
3. 'font of knowledge' - right
4. 'free reign' - wrong free rein
5. 'slight of hand' - wrong sleight of hand
6. 'phased by' - right
7. 'butt naked' - right
8. 'vocal chords' - right

I think

Ooops didn't read your thread Twig

All wrong I think - 7 is probably considered right but is a horrible jarring Americanism

I know who you are beefy

1. straight-laced - Not sure about the hyphen but think the spelling is OK.

1. 'just desserts' - Think this is right.

1. 'font of knowledge' - This looks right but 'fount of knowledge' rings a bell too.

1. 'free reign' - Think this should be 'free rein'!

1. 'slight of hand' - Should this not be sleight?

1. 'phased by' - Should be fazed?

1. 'butt naked' - Looks right enough.

1. 'vocal chords' - Look right to me.

all wrong except 1 and 7

now i'll read thread - probably much too late!

I agree with those who say number 8 should be 'vocal cords', that makes sense. Don't know whether it should be "buck" or "butt" naked.

Interested to hear the correct answers.