Category: Translation Written by: Daqeeq Date: 28 Apr 2021
Daqeeq says….
Top misunderstood words and phrases in English
Speaking a second language is by itself a great achievement. Most of us lean on intuition and our native language when faced with new words or phrases in our second, third, or even fourth, language.
So I think it’s useful to share some of the most confusing and widely misunderstood words and phrases in the most spoken language on the face of the green planet, I mean English, of course.
Without further ado, here’s our list you can share other words on our Instagram account.
Just deserts
The proper spelling for the phrase meaning “the punishment that one deserves.” Is not “Just deserves” (which makes more sense nowadays). It is actually “Just deserts”.
Scapegoat
A person who is blamed for something that someone else has done is not escape goat although it makes a bit more sense regarding the meaning than the actual word which is scapegoat
All intents and purposes
While people generally use both “for all intents and purposes” and for “all intensive purposes,” meaning “in every practical sense.” The standard form of the idiom is “for all intents and purposes”.
Hunger pangs
Most people use “hunger pains” referring to contractions of the stomach when it’s empty. That nowadays both forms: “hunger pangs” and “hunger pains” are acceptable.
A moot point
A “moot point” is a fact that doesn’t matter because it’s not relevant to the current situation. “Mute point” is just another mistake that made it to our list.
Biding my time
To wait patiently and quietly for the right moment to arrive. The word “bid” means to remain or stay in a specific condition or state as if you are waiting. But dear reader, if you hear it “biting my time” most likely you’re hungry.
Compelled
This word is commonly misused to mean “willingly do something” but what it actually means to be forced to do something
I couldn’t care less
If you say “I could care less” intending that you don’t care at all, you’re saying it wrong because this means that you haven’t reached your bottom yet, and you aren’t making your strongest point. So next time use “I couldn’t care less”.
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