Enough of the smoking mirrors!

Tannin · September 2023

In the paper today: local politician having a grumble about the state government's secrecy and poor communication: "Enough of the smoking mirrors!"

Well, we know what he meant.

What linguistic howlers have you seen today?

the_jaffa · September 2023

That sort of error is known as an Eggcorn. There’s quite a lot of them

Sporky · September 2023

I use one of them to check I look good in my smoking cap and smoking jacket.

I don't.

I look magnificent.

thecolourbox · September 2023

It's a Doggy Dog world out there

Jonathangus · September 2023

Sellers on Facebook Marketplace can sometimes be seen advertising a Chester Draws.

Jonathangus · September 2023

Smoking Mirrors would be a good name for a band.

Emp_Fab · September 2023

As would The Escape Goats.

NothingOnTheTele · September 2023

'We're going over it with a fine tooth-comb.'

Dentists recommend that you comb your teeth twice a day.

horse · September 2023

Tow the line

theatreanchor · September 2023

Many I’d never heard of here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2090909-eggcorns.html

mrkb · September 2023

NothingOnTheTele said:

'We're going over it with a fine tooth-comb.'

Dentists recommend that you comb your teeth twice a day.

Isn’t the correct saying “fine toothed-comb” rather than the tooth brush you are implying?

GoFish · September 2023

From old TV:

A Moo point. Like, a cow's opinion.

A damp squid.

From real life:

I pacifically told you to do that.

My boy calls a type of fast food handburgers.

Sporky · September 2023

I've noticed a significant increase in rebbelliousness in the past several years. Lots of people declaring "I'll defiantly do that".

Power_Freak · September 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ExXOIvY9V0

ICBM · September 2023

I don't have an example from today, but I'll bet there's one - the constant use of "flaunt" when they mean "flout", as in flout the law. It's not an 'evolution of language', it's plain wrong because it means pretty much the opposite of what they're trying to say.

Jonathangus · September 2023

mrkb said:

NothingOnTheTele said:

'We're going over it with a fine tooth-comb.'

Dentists recommend that you comb your teeth twice a day.

Isn’t the correct saying “fine toothed-comb” rather than the tooth brush you are implying?

It's just the hyphen out of place:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fine-tooth-comb Sporky said:

I've noticed a significant increase in rebbelliousness in the past several years. Lots of people declaring "I'll defiantly do that".

I suspect autocarrot may be partly responsible.

JezWynd · September 2023

the_jaffa said:

That sort of error is known as an Eggcorn. There’s quite a lot of them

Or BoneAppleTea in redditspeak. I wonder if phone speech to text is responsible for some of the more egregious examples.

mrkb · September 2023

Jonathangus said:

mrkb said:

NothingOnTheTele said:

'We're going over it with a fine tooth-comb.'

Dentists recommend that you comb your teeth twice a day.

Isn’t the correct saying “fine toothed-comb” rather than the tooth brush you are implying?

It's just the hyphen out of place:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fine-tooth-comb

Ah, I see now, thanks.

Dominic · September 2023

the_jaffa said:

That sort of error is known as an Eggcorn. There’s quite a lot of them

Is that the same as a mixed metaphor or not Pacifically ?

Dominic · September 2023

A fat builder that used to work for us told us that the clinic said he was O' Beast !
What a fool........he didn't have a drop of Irish blood in his fat body

Brio · September 2023

An ex girlfriend used the phrase "Gone to Hell in a handbag" I pointed out it was usually "in a handcart". She thought about it, decided hers was better and stuck with it.
I liked her.

RocknRollDave · September 2023

theatreanchor said:

Many I’d never heard of here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2090909-eggcorns.html

It says some people say ‘another think coming’ i stead of ‘another thing coming’….it’s the former who are correct, in this instance.

FWIW, I say the ‘wrong’ version myself - I think most people do - but ‘think’ was the original correct version.

CoffeeAndTV · September 2023

Tannin said:

In the paper today: local politician having a grumble about the state government's secrecy and poor communication: "Enough of the smoking mirrors!"

Well, we know what he meant.

What linguistic howlers have you seen today?

Just one quote and everyone replies on mass

Bod · September 2023

"this room looks like a bomsytit!"

A bloke at work used to refer to putting one's head above the pulpit. I despised him, not just for that btw.

Also, people in Leicestershire say "straight the way" instead of straightaway. Really annoying.

Sporky · September 2023

On the original, I wonder whether the mistake was the local politician's or the journo...

mrkb · September 2023

CoffeeAndTV said:

Tannin said:

In the paper today: local politician having a grumble about the state government's secrecy and poor communication: "Enough of the smoking mirrors!"

Well, we know what he meant.

What linguistic howlers have you seen today?

Just one quote and everyone replies on mass

And I hope they quote mass in kg and weight in newtons

Sporky · September 2023

I like to use kg-force and lb-mass to confound amateur pedants.

Also the metric inch (exactly 25mm), which I may have invented myself.

MrTee · September 2023

All the sudden

crosstownvamp · September 2023

"Got my new phone... it's great to be in communicado again"

Overheard in supermarket "Have you got desecrated coconut?"

Popular with Americans "per say"

Tannin · September 2023

Sporky said:

On the original, I wonder whether the mistake was the local politician's or the journo...

I wondered the same thing.

Dominic · September 2023

I havn't got time to post on this thread........I'm off on my Holibobs

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Enough of the smoking mirrors!

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