老外们也常用错的25组英文短语

老外们也常用错的

25

组英文短语

1: Nip it in the butt vs. Nip it in the bud

Nipping something in the bud means that you’re putting an end to it before it

has a chance to grow or start. Nipping something in the butt means you’re biting

its behind.

2: I could care less vs.

I couldn’t care less

Saying that you could care less about a topic implies that you do care about it at

least a little. What you usually mean is that you don’t care about the topic at all,

hence “I couldn’t care less”.

3: One in the same and the same

When you really sit and think about it, “one in the same” doesn’t mean anything

at all. The correct phrase “one and the same” means that two things are the

same.

4: You’ve got another thing coming vs. You’ve got another think coming

This is one of those phrases where the incorrect usage actually does make sense

and has become its own phrase. But it’s still technically wrong. In fact, most

people don’t even know the correct phrase unless they look it up (I sure didn’t).

The correct version really only make

s sense if you use the entire sentence “if

that’s what you think, you’ve got another think coming.”

5: Each one worse than the next vs. Each one worse than the last

Unless you can foresee the future, “each one worse than the next” doesn’t make

pr

oblem with this phrase is that it isn’t logical. For example, you can’t

compare two bicycles until you’ve tested them both. So logically, you would

compare the current bicycle to the last bike you tested.

6: On accident vs. By accident

Sometimes I feel very sorry for people attempting to learn English. With phrases

like this, it must be awful. You can do something on purpose, but not on accident.

Prepositions are a killer.

7: Statue of limitations vs. Statute of limitations

Whenever I think of these two phrases, I get reminded of one of the best

Seinfeld episodes ever.

8: For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes

You may feel very strongly and intense about your purpose, but that doesn’t

make the phrase correct. Another common incorrect use of the phrase is

switching the words “for” and “with”. The correct phrase means that you are

covering all possibilities and circumstances.

9: He did good vs. He did well

The phrases good and well get interchanged so much that some people think

they are ac

tually interchangeable words. They’re not. If you’re ever confused

about which to use, here’s a tip: Use “well” as an adverb (words used to describe

verbs) and “good” as an adjective (words used to describe nouns). For example:

The dog runs well

He is a good dog

10: Extract revenge vs. Exact revenge

When you extract something, you’re taking it out of something else. When you

exact onto something, you’re dishing it out. Therefore, extracting revenge on

someone would mean you’re taking out that person’s reven

ge. Exacting

revenge onto them means that you’re taking your revenge out on them.

11: Old timer’s disease vs. Alzheimer’s Disease

This one is just kind of silly. It’s really a mistake that we make when we’re

younger. As we get older and actually learn abou

t what Alzheimer’s Disease is,

we have the sense to say the word correctly.

12: I’m giving you leadway vs. I’m giving you leeway

Leadway actually isn’t even a word. Leeway means extra space and freedom.

13: Aks vs. Ask

You don’t aks/axe for things. You ask

for them. I’m now sure when the “s” and

“k” got switched but it happens all the time when people talk.

14: What’s your guyses opinion? vs. What’s your opinion, guys?

I’ll leave this explanation to the Urban Dictionary:

completely and utterly useless phras

e people up north use in the place of ya’ll.

it means you guys, but they just have to be stupid and (besides not using the

much simpler phrase ya’ll) add

-

es to the phrase “you guys”. As I have said

many times with great wisdomosity, ya’ll is much simplier

to say.