Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Enough of the smoking mirrors! - Off Topic Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Enough of the smoking mirrors!

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TanninTannin Frets: 4394
in Off Topic
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?

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  • the_jaffathe_jaffa Frets: 1572
    That sort of error is known as an Eggcorn. There’s quite a lot of them
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  • SporkySporky Frets: 23802
    edited 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. 
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
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  • thecolourboxthecolourbox Frets: 9128
    It's a Doggy Dog world out there
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  • JonathangusJonathangus Frets: 4080
    Sellers on Facebook Marketplace can sometimes be seen advertising a Chester Draws.
    Trading feedback | How to embed images using Imgur

    As for "when am I ready?"  You'll never be ready.  It works in reverse, you become ready by doing it.  - pmbomb


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  • JonathangusJonathangus Frets: 4080
    Smoking Mirrors would be a good name for a band.
    Trading feedback | How to embed images using Imgur

    As for "when am I ready?"  You'll never be ready.  It works in reverse, you become ready by doing it.  - pmbomb


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  • Emp_FabEmp_Fab Frets: 23224
    As would The Escape Goats.
    Humans are destructive parasites that will destroy the celestial oasis of Earth.  The sooner Homo Sapiens are extinct, the better.
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  • NothingOnTheTeleNothingOnTheTele Frets: 312
    edited September 2023
    'We're going over it with a fine tooth-comb.'

    Dentists recommend that you comb your teeth twice a day.
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  • horsehorse Frets: 1502
    Tow the line
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  • theatreanchortheatreanchor Frets: 961
    Many I’d never heard of here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2090909-eggcorns.html
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  • mrkbmrkb Frets: 5594
    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?
    Karma......
    Ebay mark7777_1
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  • GoFishGoFish Frets: 1082
    edited 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.
    Ten years too late and still getting it wrong
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  • SporkySporky Frets: 23802
    I've noticed a significant increase in rebbelliousness in the past several years. Lots of people declaring "I'll defiantly do that". 
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
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  • Power_FreakPower_Freak Frets: 90
    edited September 2023
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ExXOIvY9V0 
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    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.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • JonathangusJonathangus Frets: 4080
    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-combSporky 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.
    Trading feedback | How to embed images using Imgur

    As for "when am I ready?"  You'll never be ready.  It works in reverse, you become ready by doing it.  - pmbomb


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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 5837
    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.
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  • mrkbmrkb Frets: 5594
    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.
    Karma......
    Ebay mark7777_1
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  • DominicDominic Frets: 15285
    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 ?
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  • DominicDominic Frets: 15285
    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
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  • BrioBrio Frets: 1499
    edited 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.
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  • RocknRollDaveRocknRollDave Frets: 6075
    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.

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  • CoffeeAndTVCoffeeAndTV Frets: 378
    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
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  • BodBod Frets: 1206
    edited 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.
    Trading Feedback thread - https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/59198/
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  • SporkySporky Frets: 23802
    On the original, I wonder whether the mistake was the local politician's or the journo... 
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
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  • mrkbmrkb Frets: 5594
    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 ;) 
    Karma......
    Ebay mark7777_1
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  • SporkySporky Frets: 23802
    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. 
    "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."
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  • MrTeeMrTee Frets: 423
    All the sudden 
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  • crosstownvampcrosstownvamp Frets: 187
    edited 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"
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  • TanninTannin Frets: 4394
    Sporky said:
    On the original, I wonder whether the mistake was the local politician's or the journo... 
    I wondered the same thing.
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  • DominicDominic Frets: 15285
    I havn't got time to post on this thread........I'm off on my Holibobs
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