Florida’s 15 Most Common Words And Phrases They’ve Been Saying Wrong This Whole Time

Have you ever belted out to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” and sang the lyrics “concrete jungle wet dream tomato” but then thought to yourself, “These lyrics don't make sense?” That's because they don't, and those aren't the right lyrics. The song's actual lyrics are "concrete jungle where dreams are made of." This is a pretty common mishearing of the song, and the same thing happens with common phrases and words that you hear and say on a daily basis.

You’ve Been Saying These All Your Life… Wrong.

Let’s face it, most of us have confidently used phrases we thought were right, only to find out later we’ve been hilariously off the mark. Whether it's a misheard lyric or a totally mangled idiom, you're definitely not alone. Don’t worry, it's time to set the record straight and take the English language head-on.

From Song Lyrics To Everyday Sayings, These Common Mistakes Might Surprise You.

Misheard or misunderstood phrases often sneak into our vocabulary without us even batting an eye. Over time, these little slip-ups become habits, habits that can blend into casual conversation and even professional writing. This list will break down some of the most common ones and show you what the correct versions really are.

#15: “Escape Goat”

What you're really trying to say is “scapegoat.” This translation of a biblical phrase, all the way back from 1530 BCE, refers to someone or something that’s blamed for the mistakes of another. And no, there isn't a goat lost on your farm.

#14: “Doggy-Dog World”

Kids, we’re going to Doggy-Dog World! Although this would be an awesome theme park, unfortunately, it isn't yet, and this isn't the correct phrase. A “dog-eat-dog world” describes a competitive, brutal, and ruthless situation where one will do anything to succeed.

#13: “Did a 360”

Let's go back to high school geometry for a minute. There are 360 degrees in a circle, so doing a 360-degree turn would land you right back in the same spot. Maybe you meant to do that; however, if you’re trying to say that you've made a great change, then what you actually want to say is “did a 180.”

#12: “Hunger Pains”

Yes we’ve all had hunger pains before, in fact, I'm getting them right now. But the actual phrase is “hunger pangs,” although technically this wordage is correct as well. The word “pangs” means a quick, brief, sharp, and painful feeling.

#11: “For All Intensive Purposes

The proper idiom, which is “for all intents and purposes,” is an expression that basically means “essentially” or “in effect.” Since this saying comes from the 16th century, it is a phrase that people commonly mishear and have altered over time.

#10: “Nip It in the Butt”

Even though picturing getting bit on the butt is pretty funny, the correct phrasing is “nip it in the bud.” Don't have a green thumb? This could help you! If you trim a plant while it’s in the budding stage, it won’t grow properly. That is exactly what you’d want to do with a treacherous rumor or idea: nip it in the bud before it spreads.

#9: “Duck Tape”

What do ducks have to do with tape? Are ducks that strong to have an extremely adhesive and durable tape named after them? Nope! Though Duck tape is a brand, the correct wording for the product is “duct tape.” Despite the name, however, duct tape should not be used to seal ductwork.

#8: “First Come, First Serve”

By saying “first come, first serve,” it suggests that the person who arrives first serves the latecomers, only giving more reason to be fashionably late. The proper way to say this phrase is “first-come, first-served,” which indicates that whoever arrives first will be waited on first.

#7: “I Could Care Less”

When someone says “I could care less,” it implies that there is some degree of caring, so much so that there could be a lesser amount. On the other hand, by saying the proper term for the meaning of this phrase, which is “I couldn't care less,” it suggests that they don’t care at all, that is, they have absolutely zero care.

#6: “Slight of Hand”

The correct version of this phrase is “sleight of hand.” Sleight, meaning trickery or cunning, is used when someone uses trickery and deceit to fool, and when they do it using their hands, that’s “sleight of hand.” Despite this “slight” difference, the slight version could make sense as well. Since slight means barely noticeable, someone would want to make this kind of movement to deceive effectively.

#5: “Taken For Granite”

This phrase truly makes no sense. If it's up for interpretation, maybe there was a sense that anything carved in stone was automatically accepted without a doubt. Nevertheless, the right wordage for this phrase is “taken for granted.” Unless you’re a sculptor from ancient Greece, stick to “taken for granted.”

#4: “Scotch Free”

Unless you are an avid liquor collector who hates the taste of scotch, this term is actually pronounced, “scot free.” A scot was a taxation on old English and American tax, so if you didn't pay the tax, you were “scot free.” Hopefully, the IRS wasn't around during colonial America!

#3: “Wreck Havoc”

Despite what seems like words paring with havoc, the expression “wreck havoc” doesn't really mean anything at all. It's basically like saying “destroy destroy.” To “wreak” is to inflict damage or harm. So when discussing the action scenes in any Michael Bay film, “wreaking havoc” is the phrase to go with.

#2: “Wet Your Appetite”

Here's another word from olden times. The proper word to use in this phrase is “whet,” meaning to sharpen or put a fine point on something. So when grandma tells you to “whet your appetite” on Thanksgiving, she means to sharpen your desire for food.

#1: “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”

Similar to “could care less,” this alternate phrase has basically replaced the original. But what is the thing that's coming? It could literally be anything at all, which, if you think about it, doesn't make sense. The original phrase is “you’ve got another think coming.” In other words, you need to rethink what you're doing, because you’re wrong, just so wrong.

Congratulations! You’re Now Officially Smarter Than Your Past Self

Language is ever-evolving, and misheard phrases are just one way it shows. While many of these common mix-ups are a little funny, knowing the right versions can help you speak with a little more clarity and maybe even a little more confidence. So next time you’re about to “wreck havoc” or sing about a “wet dream tomato,” you’ll know better, and maybe even help someone else avoid the same slip-ups.

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