Torchwood = Doctor Who?! What else has made you feel like an idiot?

[MomDePlume]

In spite of being a fairly avid Dr Who fan, I only realised this morning that 'Torchwood' is an anagram of 'Doctor Who' (courtesy of the Guardian TV reviewer - I didn't work it out for myself ). This reminded me of the fact that it took me about 12 years of watching Neighbours to realise that it was an anagram of Erinsborough. And I'm a bloody crossword buff!

So come on, fess up - tell me things that all you clever folk have not realised for years and have made you feel like a fool when you finally 'got' them.

I didn't know either of those two things so you are not alone. I don't feel particularly idiotic about it though as I am rubbish at anagrams. I comfort myself that I am a whizz with numbers instead.

I didn't realise that Batman isn't a superhero. In my defence, I've never had anything to do with him and his comic empire but dh laughed like a drain.

I didn't know the latter and didn't realise about Torchwood for ages until I actually paid attention to the opening titles where it's rather obvious!

Eh? Neighbours is not an anagram of Erinsborough.

(is Erinsborough the place it's set?)

Now I feel like even more of an idiot, TA. Someone told me that years ago and it sounded right, so I didn't check! (Yes, it is the place where it's set.)

But you've made me feel infinitesimally better, MaryPoppins, as last night was the first time I've actually seen Torchwood.

ShowOfHands, I think the Batman one is perfectly understandable, particularly if you're not a fan. Still funny, though.

ha ha ha i can beat you all with my numptiness: i am a degree educated well read woman who only realised last year, in a conversation with her religious FIL, that the church of england, and the anglican church, WERE THE SAME THING... I had always assumed the anglicans were some kind of weird english off-shoot. sorry but that beats batman by several hundred levels!!!

"Erinsborough" is ALMOST an anagram of "Neighbours". After laughing for 4 years at people who didn't get the "Torchwood" thing I can't believe I have only just noticed this one!!

Batman's Wikipedia entry claims that he is a superhero. How does one define "superhero"?

Nice! This has now reminded me of another one as well. Bear in mind that I'm a bit of a foodie as well as a pedant... Years ago I was in a restaurant (with my new boyfriend, no less), and I decided to order the Cajun chicken - except I pronounced it Ca-ZHOON. When the waitress looked at me blankly, did I just point meekly to what I wanted? I did not. I raised my eyebrows and said (to myself, thank god) 'You ignorant serving wench', and repeated the same pronunciation at the top of my voice. And didn't realise my mistake until years later. Oh, the shame.

What the hell is Batman if he is not a superhero?

UD, I'm guessing superhuman powers (as opposed to fancy equipment).

I didn't realise that when people mentioned "Porta - cabins" this was the same thing as a "Portakabin".

For some reason I always read it (and pronounced it ) as Portaka-bin.

Batman's just human. No super powers. Just technology.

I assumed with all that swooping about in film trailers that he could fly. He can't.

Spiderman, Superman et al all have special powers. Batman is just rich and has lots of toys.

i like portaka-bin! very hyacinth bucket. bit like spudooolikay (as opposed to spud-u-like). on that subject, does anyone know how the hell you pronounce nihilism? is it nee or nye???? and is it conTROversy, or CONtroVERsey? i now avoid using either in everyday conversation... not that the former comes up much!

Surely he is more than just an ordinary bloke with a leather fetish, though. He has powers of detection, crimefighting, disguise etc,. above and beyond those of the ordinary human.

Batman is badass normal I suppose. But he behaves as a superhero (some might say vigilante) even if he doesn't technically have any powers.

I love TV Tropes!

I'm linking them all over the place at the moment, trying to get more people addicted!

I've said this one before on here but.....

....until i went on it i thought the Channel Tunnel was on the surface of the seabed - rather than being underground .

I didn't realise that Cruella De Vil was also devil for years and years.

Neighbours isn't an anagram of Erinsborough - it doesn't have two o's for starters. Or is it spelt differently?

I didn't notice until this year that only men play tennis at Queens. I am supposed to be quite a fan of tennis....

• • Neighbours isn't an anagram of Erinsborough. * *

"[i]Or Neighbours[/i]" would be.

I didn't realise Unquietdad's name was an homage to Doctor Who until dh pointed it out, despite being a Doctor Who addict and sharing many a fine thread with UQD... (and that particular episode being seared on my brain as proper scary).