There’s no denying that the English language can be pretty tricky as it is always evolving everyday. So, it is incredibly common to make a few mistakes here and there whenever we communicate or write. Even native English speakers make mistakes when using phrases.
Here we look at some phrases that you might be saying incorrectly. Myself included.
1. I could care less vs I couldn’t care less
The right term for expressing apathy is “I couldn’t’ care less,” meaning you do not care at all, but saying “I could care less,” it means there is room for you to care at least a little –which is not apathetic at all.
2. Nip it in the butt vs Nip it in the bud
We usually use “Nip in the bud” when we want to halt something from occurring. Nipping something in the butt literally means you’re biting someone’s posterior.
3. No pain, no game vs. No pain, no gain
This one makes almost sense, but not as much as the correct one. The latter means it is necessary to work hard in order to succeed. Therefore, the right phrase is “No pain, no gain.”
4. Lip sing vs. Lip sync
Lip sync is actually a short term for lip synchronisation, meaning to move one’s lips silently to match the movements of the sound on a recorded song.
5. Butt naked vs buck naked
As much as we would like to admit that “butt naked” makes more sense, but the correct term is “buck.”
What phrases have you been misusing regularly or hear people get wrong?
Header image is from here
