¿Qué dijiste?
Since it's the last day of the year (and many on this forum are probably already celebrating in some time zones), I want to share some funny quotations that I have personally collected over the years. I have heard or read people say these things myself, which only proves that even native speakers often get confused in their own language.
See if you can figure out what the intended phrase was. In many cases, two sayings in English have been conflated, so see if you can figure out what the two were.
Have fun, and happy New Year!
You're skating on thin water.
Put that in your hat and smoke it!
The sooner, the quicker.
She cries at the drop of a dime.
We're all in the same shoe.
It's sort of a parody on words.
We'll just have to grit and bear it.
You'll have it made once you get your door in.
I want to get back to normal quo as soon as possible.
Keep your eye to the ground for any developments.
Wait a minute, it's right on the tip of my head.
I don't mean to beat a sleeping horse, but...
He was hanging on by thin air.
She wouldn't do that for all the money in China.
We need to stay on our p's and q's for the game.
I'm just counting my lucky stars
I was ready to try anything; I was just pulling rabbits out of my head.
(Seen in writing) It was no more than a hare's breath away.
That just goes with the turf.
Everything is just peachy cream.
I don't mean to throw a loop into the works, but?
That's no skin off my teeth.
Nine times out of a hundred that's the way it happens.
It was no bars holed.
He really threw himself into the towel for that project.
It takes two to tangle.
That's really straggling the line between the two.
I'll bet you're walking on sunshine.
She just got back from a world-wind trip.
$600? That's nothing to shake a stick at.
Well, he's not out of the clear just yet.
That went over like a lead brick.
I wanted to give him the benefit of the break.
We'll weigh both sides of the coin before deciding.
He was quiet as a peep.
That's his ace in the card.
Something like that is just cream on the cake.
I don't think this issue is worth losing much sweat over.
He made no beans about it.
It has a ripple down effect.
I've been around the block a few years.
I'm still green behind the ears. (Barack Obama)
For all intensive purposes, ?
That is a mute point.
26 Answers
Hilarious...I didn't get most but hilarious....and I couldn't agree more with Sam....Please invite your mother to the forum
jejej
Hilarious! Thanks for the chuckle. Happy New Year.
A bob wire fence
Unthaw the dinner
I know I've heard others.
Anyway, to all: Have a great new year!
What a hoot! We, English-speakers, don't even understand our own language. How about, "I could care less," or "irregardless."
For the ones I have heard of on your list, the way I have heard them said all of my life are as follows.
You're skating on thin ice.
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
The sooner, the better.
She cries at the drop of a hat.
We're all in the same boat.
We'll have to grin and bear it.
Keep your ear to the ground for any news.
It's on the tip of my tongue.
It's like beating a dead horse.
He was hanging by a thread.
She wouldn't do that for all of the tea in China.
We need to watch our ps and q's.
Everything is just peaches and cream.
I don't mean to throw a wrench into the works, but...
No skin off of my nose.
Nine times out of ten...
No holds barred.
It takes two to tango.
That went over like a lead balloon.
I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Weigh both sides of the matter.
He was as quiet as a church mouse.
He made no bones about it.
I've been around the block a few times.
I'm still wet behind the ears.
And the last two used in that way upset me. Sadly, people actually say them that way.
To/For all intents and purposes.
That is a moot point. Mute is simply wrong.
I have one to add to the list. I don't know of anyone yet who has heard this one. I grew up hearing my mom and grandmother say it. When something is odd looking or surprising, they would say, "Great day in the morning."
To this day I use it and get some pretty funny looks.
In any case, that is the way I have always heard those little sayings growing up. There are a few on your list I haven't heard. That was a fun topic to go over. Thanks James.
This was funnyyyyyy. However: I am one of those in your list many times over -- especially when I speak Spanish. Happy New Year James.
James Santiago said:
As my mom likes to say, "I got my tongue wrapped around my eye teeth and couldn't see what I was saying."
Please invite your mother to join the forum.
samdie said:
I wanted to give him the benefit of the break.
I take it that they weren't shooting pool at the time.
hehe
This is an example of the conflation I mentioned. It combines "give someone a break" and "give someone the benefit of the doubt." When we speak, sometimes our brains don't sufficiently sort everything out. As my mom likes to say, "I got my tongue wrapped around my eye teeth and couldn't see what I was saying."
I wanted to give him the benefit of the break.
I take it that they weren't shooting pool at the time.
Sure did. Every one of them. I've been compiling this list for over ten years. There have been others that I forgot before I had the chance to write them down.
I was ready to try anything; I was just pulling rabbits out of my head.
That's a riot. I've heard some peaches in my time, but that takes the cake. You actually heard someone say that, and they weren't joking'
