Chuckle Muscle | Offenders Will Not Be Propogated!

by Professor Auberon Brinsley-Standish

How wrong can you be? Here is a list of the most common
misnomers or misused expressions which pop up in conversation
or in writing, not quite in the way they were meant to be
expressed.

Have a giggle and see how many you may be misusing too!

(The proper term or word comes after see)

(ethnic) routes see root »
(go (at it)) hammer and thongs see tongs » thongs
a hair's breath see breadth »
a hare's breadth see hair »
a mood point see moot »
a mute point see moot »
a pigment of so.'s imagination see figment »
a posable thumb see opposable »
a shoe-in see shoo »
a shot over the bough see bow »
a tough road to hoe see row »
adverse to see averse »
all for knot see naught »
all for not see naught »
all fours »
all goes well (for) see augurs »
all total see told »
Alzheimer's » Old-Timer's
anchors away see weigh »
and hoc see ad »
and hominem see ad »
and infinitum see ad »
and libitum see ad »
and nauseam see ad »
another words see in other »
antidotal evidence see anecdotal »
back and call see beck »
bailing wire see baling »
baited breath see bated »
ball one's eyes out see bawl »
ban together see band »
bantied about see bandy »
bare in mind see bear »
bare the brunt see bear »
bare the name see bear »
bare witness see bear »
barred wire see barbed »
batter an eyelid see bat » batter
bean stock see stalk » stock
bear-faced lie see bare » bear
bear-handed fight see bare » bear
bear-knuckled see bare » bear
bearbacking see bare » bear
beck » back
beck and call » beckon call
beck and call » beckoned call
beck and call » beacon call
beckon the question see beg » beckon
bed » bread
bedside manor see manner » manor
beg » beckon
behoove » be who of
bellwether » bellweather
benighted » beknighted
beseech » besiege
bide » buy
bit » pit
bite » byte
black and red fish see blackened » black and
blackened » black and
blackmail » blackmale
bogged down » balked down
boisterous » voiceterous
bold-faced lie see bald » bold
Bombay chest see bombé » Bombay
bombé » Bombay
bona fide » bonified
boot(-)strap » boots-trap
bouillon » bullion
bow » bough
branded about see bandied » branded
bread and breakfast see bed » bread
breadth » breath
brim » rim
bring to bare see bear » bare
buck » butt
bud » butt
bullion cube see bouillon » bullion
bumper to bumper » bumpetta-bumpetta
bupkis, bupkus, bupkiss » buttkiss
bus » bust
bustboy see bus » bust
busting tables see bus » bust
but naked see butt » but
but(-)kicking see butt » but
butt » bud
butt » but
butt naked see buck » butt
buy one's time see bide » buy
by and by » bye and bye
by and large » by enlarge
by and large » by in large
by ear » by year
by-election » bi-election
bylaw » bi-law
cacciatore » catchitore, catchitori, catchatore, catchatori
Cadillac » Catillac
Cadillac converter see catalytic » Cadillac
cahoots » cohorts
can't be asked see arsed » asked
canola » granola
case in point » case and point
catalytic » Cadillac
catnap » catchnap
caused someone his/her job, life, etc. see cost » caused
ceanothus » cyanothus
cease » seize
cease and decease see desist » decease
cease the day see seize » cease
cease the opportunity see seize » cease
centrifical force see centrifugal » centrifical
centrifugal » centrifical
centripedal force see centripetal » centripedal
centripetal » centripedal
cents » sense
chaise longue » chaise lounge
champ at the bit » chomp at the bit
charm » champ
chewy nugget see nougat » nugget
chic » sheik
chickens come home to roast see roost » roast
cholesterol » cholester oil
chord » cord
cinch » synch
claim heartship see hardship » heartship
cling and clatter see clink » cling
clink » cling
clique » click
co-opt » co-op
coded » coated
coif(f)ed » quaffed
cold-hearted » cold harded
collaborating evidence see corroborate » collaborate
color-coated see coded » coated
coma » comma
come on » common
come to knot see naught » knot
come to not see naught » not
come to turns with see term » turn
coming down the pipe see pike » pipe
commander-in-chief » commander and chief
common everybody see come on » common
common guys see come on » common
congestive » conjunctive
conjunctive heart failure see congestive » conjunctive
contend » content
content with see contend » content
copy writer » copyrighter
copyright » copywrite
cord » chord
corn stock see stalk » stock
cornroll see row » roll
corps » core
corroborate » collaborate
cost » caused
courtesy » curtsey
crosier » crow's ear
cruller » crawler
crutch of the matter see crux » crutch
crux » crutch
cue » queue
curtsey call see courtesy » curtsey
curtsey of see courtesy » curtsey
cut off one's nose despite one's face see to spite » despite
cutting age see edge » age
cuttlefish » cuddlefish
cyberstocking see stalk » stock
cymbal » symbol
Dachshund » Dashound
damp squid see squib » squid
dander » gander
dashboard stomach see washboard » dashboard
dawn » don
day and age » day in age
dead wringer see ringer » wringer
death charge see depth » death
death throws see throes » throws
deem » deign
deep-seeded see seat » seed
defamation » deformation
deformation of character see defamation » deformation
defunct » defunked
defuse » diffuse
deign worthy (of) see deem » deign
deluded » diluted
demur » demure
depth » death
derring-do » daring-do
desert » dessert
desist » decease
die » dye
die-hard » die-hearted
discard » disguard
distraught » diswrought
djinn up see gin » djinn
do » dew
do » due
do diligence see due » do
do process see due » do
do to (the fact, etc.) see due » do
dog-eat-dog » doggy-dog
doggy-dog world see dog-eat-dog » doggy-dog
don on (someone) see dawn » don
don't know buttkiss see bupkis, bupkus, bupkiss » buttkiss
downright » darn right
draw a beat on see bead » beat
drawl » draw
drawl » brawl
due » do
due or die see do » due
each his » each's
eclair » eggclair
ectopic » eggtopic
edge » age
eggtopic pregnancy see ectopic » eggtopic
en » on, in
enact revenge on see exact » enact
enact vengeance on see exact » enact
espresso » expresso
eternally » internally
ever » every
every since see ever » every
exact » extract
exact » enact
exclamation » explanation
exercise » exorcise
exorcise » exercise
expatriate » expatriot
explanation mark see exclamation » explanation
explanation point see exclamation » explanation
expletive » explicative
explicative deleted see expletive » explicative
extract revenge on see exact » extract
extract vengeance on see exact » extract
fair to midland see middlin' » midland
fairy tail see tale » tail
fait » fate
fall by the weigh side see way » weigh
far be it for me see far be it from » far be it for
far be it from » far be it for
far-gone conclusion see foregone » far gone
fartlek » fartlick
fast majority see vast » fast
fast swathes see vast » fast
fate accompli see fait » fate
faze » phase
fell » fowl
fell » foul
figment » pigment
financial heartship see hardship » heartship
flair » flare
flaw in the ointment see fly » flaw
flesh » flush
flesh against see flush » flesh
flout » flaunt
flush » flesh
flush out see flesh » flush
fly » flaw
flying a flag at half-mass see mast » mass
foolhearty see hardy » hearty
foolscap » fullscape
for all intensive purposes see intents and purposes » intensive purposes
foregone » far gone
founder » flounder
fount of knowledge » font of knowledge
free reign see rein » reign
French benefit see fringe » French
French crawler see cruller » crawler
fringe » French
from here on end see in » end
from the gecko see get-go » gecko
furl one's brow see furrow » furl
furled brow see furrow » furl
furrow » furl
gain » game
gall » gaul
game » gain
gameful employment see gain » game
gamefully employed see gain » game
gamut » gamete
gamut » gambit
get a beat on see bead » beat
get one's gander up see dander » gander
get-go » gecko
gin » djinn
gird » girdle
girdle one's loins see gird » girdle
give (someone) his/her do see due » do
give credit where credit is do see due » do
give free range see rein » range
give so. the load down on sth. see lowdown » load down
go through one's mine see mind » mine
goal standard see gold » goal
gold » goal
granola oil see canola » granola
granted » granite
Grauman » Grumman
grim and bear it see grin » grim
grin » grim
grin and bare it see bear » bare
Grumman's Chinese Theatre see Grauman » Grumman
gung-ho » gun-ho
guttural » gutteral
hackneyed » hack-kneed
hailed into court, hailed before the court see hale » hail
hair » hare
hair's breadth » hare's breath
hale » hail
hallmark » wholemark
Halloween » Holloween
halter monitor see Holter » halter
ham-fisted » hand fisted
hand » hat
handful » hand few
handsome cab see Hansom » handsome
Hansom » handsome
harbinger » harbringer
hardily see hearty » hardy
hardship » heartship
hardy » hearty
harebrained » hairbrained
hawk » hock
he who plays the piper calls the tune see pay » play
heap » heave
hear » here
hearty » hardy
heave scorn on see heap » heave
heel » heal
hegemony » hedgemoney
here, here see hear » here
heresy » hearsay
hierarchy » higherarchy
hire » higher
hoarfrost » whorefrost
Hobbesian choice see Hobson's » Hobbesian
Hobson's » Hobbesian
hoist » host
holds » holes
Holter » halter
home » hone
hone in on see home » hone
hosted on/by one's own petard see hoist » host
hue and cry » human cry
hybrid » high bred
hydrocele » hydroseal
I'll be darned » all be darned
immemorial » in memorial
impact(ed) » inpacked
imperial » empirical
in » end
in able to see order » able
in cohorts with see cahoots » cohorts
in lame man's terms see layman » lame man
in other » another
in shore supply see short » shore
in the mist of see midst » mist
in/on route (to) see en » on, in
incestuous » insectuous
inclement » inclimate
incorrigible » incourageable
inherent » inherit
intents and purposes » intensive purposes
interfere » interfear
interim » in-term
internally grateful see eternally » internally
intolerant » and tolerant
invaluable » unvaluable
invisible » invincible
jack of all traits see trade » trait
jibe » jive
jointly and severely see severally » severely
just desserts see desert » dessert
keel » kill
kick but see butt » but
kill over (and die) see keel » kill
knit-pick see nit » knit
knitwit see nit » knit
know so. from atom see Adam » atom
lack toast and tolerant see intolerant » and tolerant
lack toast and tolerant see lactose » lack toast
lack toast intolerant see lactose » lack toast
lactose » lack toast
lactose and tolerant see intolerant » and tolerant
laissez-faire » lazy-fare
landlubber » landlover, land lover
lapse into a comma see coma » comma
last ditch » last stitch
last rights see rite » right
laughing stalk see stock » stalk
layman » lame man
leach » leech
learn by route see rote » route
left-wind see wing » wind
lemonade » lemon-aid
let alone » little lone
libel » liable
limb » lurch
linguistics » languistics
livestalk see stock » stalk
lo and behold » long behold
locus » locust
locust of control see locus » locust
loggerheads » lagerheads
lose » loose
lowdown » load down
magnate » magnet
make a pack with the devil see pact » pack
make dew see do » dew
make due see do » due
make ends meat see meet » meat
make heads or tales of sth. see tail » tale
manner » manor
mano a mano » mano-on-mano
marble » marball
marshal(l) law see martial » marshall
martial » marshall
mast » mass
medal » metal
meet » meat
metal » medal
mettle » metal
middlin' » midland
midst » mist
might » mine
might as » minus
militate » mitigate
mind » mine
mind you » mind due
mine as well see might » mine
minus well see might as » minus
mitigate against see militate » mitigate
Monday detail see mundane » Monday
money is/was no option see object » option
moot » mute
moot » mood
moreover » morever
mores » morays
Morning Becomes Electra see mourning » morning
morning dove see mourning » morning
mother lode » motherload
mourning » morning
much adieu see ado » adieu
mundane » Monday
narrow » arrow
naught » not
naught » knot
naval(-)gazing see navel » naval
navel » naval
neck and neck » neck in neck
nether » never
never regions see nether » never
next door » next store
nip in the butt see bud » butt
nit » knit
no holds barrel see barred » barrel
no holes barred see holds » holes
no stings attached see string » sting
Nobel laureate » Nobeloriate
nougat » nugget
object » option
of salt » assault
off the beaten path » off the beat and path
off-quoted see oft » off
off-repeated see oft » off
off-times see oft » off
oft » off
old langsyne see auld » old
old wise tale see wives » wise
old wives tail see tale » tail
old wives' tale » old wise tail
on a whim and a prayer see wing » whim
on a wink and a prayer see wing » wink
on mass see en » on, in
on masse see en » on, in
on tenderhooks see tenterhooks » tenderhooks
on the spurt of the moment see spur » spurt
on track » untracked
once in a while » once and a while
one and the same » one in the same
one foul swoop see fell » foul
one fowl swoop see fell » fowl
one(-)off » one(-)of
open-mined see mind » mine
opposable » a posable
or other » or rather
order » able
out of » outer
out on a lurch see limb » lurch
outer body experience see out of » outer
overdue » overdo
owe » own
own one's success to see owe » own
owning to see owe » own
pact » pack
paean » peon
pains(-)taking » pain-staking
paprika » pepperika
paramour » power mower
part and parcel » part in parcel
parting of the waves see way » wave
party hardy see hearty » hardy
pass muster » pass mustard
passed » past
past » passed
past away see passed » past
pay » play
pay-per-view » paper-view
Peace Core see corps » core
peak one's interest see pique » peak
pedal to the medal see metal » medal
pedestal » pedastool
peer » pier
penchant » pension
per aspera and astra see ad » and
per se » per say
peremptory » pre-emptory
petition » partition
pick knits see nit » knit
pidgin » pidgeon
piece » peace
pied » pipe
pier-to-pier network see peer » pier
pike » pipe
pincer » pincher
Pipe Piper see pied » pipe
pique » peak
pits and pieces see bit » pit
plain geometry see plane » plain
plane » plain
plantar » planter
planter warts see plantar » planter
play it by year see by ear » by year
playwright » playwrite
point of you see view » you
poise » pose
polka dot » poke-a-dot
pore » pour
posed to (do something) see poise » pose
post-dramatic stress disorder see traumatic » dramatic
post-pardon depression see postpartum » post-pardon
postpartum » post-pardon
pour over (a text) see pore » pour
powerhouse » powerhorse
pre-emptory challenge see peremptory » pre-emptory
pre-fix menu see prix-fixe » pre-fix
precedent » president
prima donna » pre-madonna
prix-fixe » pre-fix
prospective » perspective
prowess » poweress
pylon » pile-on
pylon » pie-line
qualm » quorum
quote unquote » quote on quote
rabble » rebel
rabble » rubble
rabid » rapid
rain » reign
rain supreme see reign » rain
rampant » rapid
rank and file » ranking file
rapid fan see rabid » rapid
rapt » wrapped
ratify » radify
reap what you sew see sow » sew
rebel rouser see rabble » rebel
reductio and absurdum see ad » and
reek havoc see wreak » reek
regardless » irregardless
reign » rain
reign in see rein » reign
rein » range
rein » reign
renowned » reknowned
ride roughshot see roughshod » roughshot
rife with » ripe with
rift » riff
right as reign see rain » reign
right of passage see rite » right
right of way » right away
right-wind see wing » wind
rimful of see brim » rim
rimmed with see brim » rim
rimming with see brim » rim
ring » wring
ring one's hands see wring » ring
ring so.'s neck see wring » ring
ringer » wringer
rite » right
rod iron see wrought » rod
role call see roll » role
roll » role
roller coaster » roll-a-coaster
roost » roast
root » route
rot iron see wrought » rot
rote » route
roughshod » roughshot
route cause see root » route
row » roll
row » road
rubble-rouser see rabble » rubble
rubble-rousing see rabble » rubble
run rapid see rampant » rapid
run roughshot see roughshod » roughshot
run the gambit see gamut » gambit
run the gamete see gamut » gamete
s.o.'s lips are steeled see sealed » steeled
sacred cow » holy cow
sacrilegious » sacreligious
sail (someone) down the river see sell » sail
salchow » sowcow
salchow » sowchow
Sam Hill » Sand Hill
samblind » sand-blind
sarcastic » sartastic
say one's peace see piece » peace
scapegoat » escape goat
scapegoat » scrapegoat
scare » scar
scare » square
Scarlet Teenager see Tanager » teenager
scarred the heck out of see scare » scar
sealed » steeled
seat » seed
segue » segway
seize » cease
seize and desist see cease » seize
seize fire see cease » seize
self-righteous » self-richeous
sell » sail
sensor » censor
set foot » step foot
severally » severely
shoo » shoe
shore-term see short » shore
short » shore
short shift see shrift » shift
short-sighted » short-sided
shrift » shift
shudder » shutter
sing-along » sing-a-long
skeletal staff see skeleton » skeletal
skeleton » skeletal
skewer » skew
skim » skin
skin milk see skim » skin
slather » smother
sleight » slight
slight of hand see sleight » slight
slings » stings
slither » sliver
sliver » slither
sloe » slow
slow gin see sloe » slow
slow-eyed see sloe » slow
smother on see slather » smother
snub » snob
snuff » stuff
so to speak » sort of speak
soak and wet see soaking » soak and
soak one's wild oats see sow » soak
soaking » soak and
social morays see mores » morays
soft-pedal » soft-peddle
sole » soul
something or rather see or other » or rather
sordid » sorted
sort after see sought » sort
sort for see sought » sort
sought » sort
soul rights see sole » soul
sound byte see bite » byte
soup » supe
Southern brawl see drawl » brawl
Southern draw see drawl » draw
sow » sew
sow » soak
spade cat see spayed » spade
spark » sparkle
sparkle protests (etc.) see spark » sparkle
spayed » spade
spear of influence see sphere » spear
sphere » spear
spinal chord see cord » chord
spit and image » spitting image
spout » sprout
spread like wildflowers see wildfire » wildflowers
spur » spurn
spur » spurt
square quotes see scare » square
squeamish » squirmish
squib » squid
stalk » stock
stalk raving mad see stark raving » stalk raving
star-craving mad see stark raving » star-craving
stark raven mad see stark raving » stark raven
stark raving » star-craving
stark raving » stalk raving
stark raving » stark raven
statute » statue
stings and arrows see slings » stings
stock » stalk
stole away see stow » stole
stow » stole
straight as a narrow see arrow » narrow
straightjacket, straight-laced, Straight(s) of X see strait » straight
strait » straight
strike » stripe
string » sting
stripe me pink see strike » stripe
strong suite see suit » suite
suit » suite
Summer Teenager see Tanager » teenager
suped-up see soup » supe
surname » sirname
tack » tact
tact » tack
tail » tale
take another tact see tack » tact
take for granite see granted » granite
take the reigns of power see rein » reign
take with a grain assault see of salt » assault
tale » tail
Tanager » teenager
tattle-tail see tale » tail
tell-tail see tale » tail
tenet » tenant
tenet » tent
tenterhooks » tenderhooks
term » turn
term of speech see turn » term
the bud of someone's jokes see butt » bud
the dye is cast see die » dye
the invincible hand see invisible » invincible
the Monday world see mundane » Monday
the straight and arrow see narrow » arrow
threw » through
throes » throws
throes » throngs
throngs of passion see throes » throngs
through (someone) for a loop see threw » through
throws of passion see throes » throws
tide » tie
tie one over see tide » tie
tighty-whitey » tidy-whitey
time in memorial see immemorial » in memorial
tinderbox » tenderbox
to each's own see each his » each's
to spite » despite
toe » tow
toe-head see tow » toe
toe-headed see tow » toe
told » total
tongs » thongs
tongue in cheek » tongue and cheek
torch paper see touch » torch
touch » torch
touch a cord see chord » cord
tow » toe
tow the line see toe » tow
tract » track
trade » trait
traitor » trader
traumatic » dramatic
treasure cove see trove » cove
tried » trite
trite and true see tried » trite
trove » cove
try one's hat at sth. see hand » hat
turn » term
two sense worth see cents » sense
uncharted » unchartered
underlying » underlining
underlying » underline
undue » undo
untimely » on timely
up and coming » up incoming
up most discretion see utmost » up most
up most importance see utmost » up most
up most satisfaction see utmost » up most
up to stuff see snuff » stuff
uphauled see appall » uphaul
uphauling see appall » uphaul
utmost » up most
vale » veil
valedictorian » valevictorian
vantage » vintage
vast » fast
veil of tears see vale » veil
versus » verses
view » you
vintage point see vantage » vintage
vocal chords see cord » chord
wail away at see whale » wail
waist » waste
walk down the isle see aisle » isle
wander » wonder
wangle » wrangle
washboard » dashboard
way » wave
way » weigh
way anchor see weigh » way
way in (on) see weigh » way
weigh » way
weigh station see way » weigh
weigh-lay see way » weigh
well-healed see heel » heal
wet one's appetite see whet » wet
whale » wail
what in/the/in the Sand Hill see Sam Hill » Sand Hill
wheedle down see whittle » wheedle
wheel barrel see barrow » barrel
whence » whenst
whet » wet
while » wild
whittle » wheedle
Whoa is me! see woe » whoa
wholesale » whole-scale
wide » wild
wild awake see wide » wild
wildfire » wildflowers
will o' » willow
willow the wisp see will o' » willow
Winchell factor see wind chill » Winchell
wind chill » Winchell
wind chill » windshield
wind-nut see wing » wind
windfall » winfall
windshield factor see wind chill » windshield
winfall see windfall » winfall
wing » wink
wing » wind
wing » whim
wise tale see wives » wise
without further adieu see ado » adieu
wives » wise
wives tail see tale » tail
woe » whoa
woe is » woeth
woeth me see woe is » woeth
wont » want
works like a champ see charm » champ
worth your wild see while » wild
worthwhile » worthwild
wrangle an invitation see wangle » wrangle
wreak » reek
wreak » wreck
wreck havoc see wreak » wreck
wring » ring
wring the changes see ring » wring
wringer » ringer
wrought » rod
wrought » rot
wry » rye
zero-sum gain see game » gain

Posted by Zender at February 1, 2006 11:59 AM

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