Idioms are prone to being misheard because they are not tied to reality in the way that most words or phrases are. If someone says “don’t kick a man when he is down,” he is not referring to actually striking a man, so if you mishear it in a manner that still sensibly conveys the intended meaning, how will you ever know? Some examples:
Play it by ear -> Play it by year. Both have to do with modifying a plan based on future developments.
Take it for granted -> Take it for granite. Granite isn’t going to get up and leave you any time soon.
High on the hog -> High on the hog. To be so well-to-do that you can get stoned and ride around on a hog without having to worry about repercussions.
A piece of cake -> A pizza cake. Something suited to a child.
Cock and bull story -> Cockanbull story. A story about a cockanbull, which does not exist.
One good turn deserves another -> One good tern deserves another.
(dialect req.) Don’t beat a dead horse -> Don’t be da dead horse. Have more sense than to be a dead horse.
A penny saved is a penny earned -> A penny saved is a penny yearned. Never save money, because it will make you a target for the avarice of others.
All’s well that ends well -> All Swell; that end swell. The All Swell, that end times swell, rising from the sea to crush the world.
10 Oct 2011, 5:41 pm
