• Servais@dormi.zoneOP
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    2 months ago

    The other day, I heard “Embrace yourself!”. Instead of “brace yourself”. I think I prefer that version

  • waz@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Demo is used as an abbreviation for both demonstration and demolition. Usually it’s pretty obvious which one is intended, but every time I hear someone say “demo” I try to imagine what kind of chaos would result if the wrong usage was assumed.

    • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
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      2 months ago

      “We’re having a demo in the break room in five minutes people!”

      5 min later

      Boom!

      “OMG why are there so many dead bodies? I told everyone to stay clear of the break room!”

  • owenfromcanada@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Had a coworker whose first language was not English. His English was good, but some coloquialisms went over his head. At one point, I had to explain the difference between a “butt dial” and a “booty call.”

  • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
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    2 months ago

    Specific/Pacific.

    You have to be Pacific.

    You mean specific?

    Yeah, that’s what I said: Pacific.

    In my family we now call it the Specific Ocean.

  • Andrew@piefed.social
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    2 months ago

    These are usually eggcorns

    Anyway, there was once a joke on Friends, where - to massively paraphrase - Joey said ‘the point is moo … not even the cows care about it’. I sometimes use ‘moo’ instead of ‘moot’ just 'cos it amuses me.

  • alyth@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    In German, my mom often says igelhaft instead of ekelhaft. She loves hedgehogs though.

  • Pat_Riot@lemmy.today
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    2 months ago

    I had a boss one time that would say “feast or fathom” instead of “feast or famine”.

  • orangeNgreen@lemmy.worldM
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    2 months ago

    This might not be exactly what you’re asking, but my daughter calls marshmallows “marsh pillows.” And they will now forever be marsh pillows to me.

  • DrinkMonkey@lemmy.ca
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    2 months ago

    During a cycling workout, the instructor said “our destination is breathless” as a motivator to really push hard. I thought she said “our destination is breakfast” and honestly, I prefer my version.

  • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    My Polish mate, who’s English was pretty good but still had a noticeable Polish accent, was asking me about some weird pronunciation of a word or I corrected him in something.

    He said “Ah Potato, Tomato. Doesn’t matter”. I burst out laughing, some guy actually tried to correct him on it.

    I also like “We will burn that bridge when we get to it”.