20 Common Phrases You've Been Saying Wrong Your Whole Life

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20 Common Phrases You've Been Saying Wrong Your Whole Life

The English language is really difficult to master and even the most proficient speakers are guilty of making making silly mistakes.

We've already compiled a list of the most commonly mispronounced words, so this time we've rounded up a list of 20 popular phrases that most of us, myself included, have been saying wrong our entire lives.

1. Don't say: For all intensive purposes

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Do Say: For all intents and purposes

For example: Carol, for all intents and purposes, drove right up to the house.

2. Don't say: I could care less

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Do say: I couldn't care less

For example: Jim couldn't care less what people on the internet think about him.

3. Don't say: Hunger Pains

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Do say: Hunger Pangs

For example: Tristan is trying not to snack at night despite having severe hunger pangs.

4. Don't say: It's a "doggy-dog" world

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Do say: It's a dog-eat-dog world

For example: Owning a business is by no means easy, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there.

5. Don't say: It's a mute point

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Do say: It's a moot point

For example: It's a moot point whether the chicken or the egg came first.

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6. Don't say: Peak my interest

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Do say: Pique my interest

For example: Talking to a tech expert has piqued my interest in the latest gadgets.

7. Don't say: Nipped it in the butt

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Do say: Nipped it in the bud

For example: The problem was nipped in the bud before it got any worse.

8. Don't say: Case and point

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Do say: Case in point

For example: Hard work is the key to success. Will Smith's career is a case in point.

9. Don't say: Beckon call

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Do say: Beck and call

For example: The employees are always at their manager's beck and call.

10. Don't say: Extract revenge

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Do say: Exact revenge

For example: Karen agreed to help her friend exact revenge on her cheating husband.

Wait, there are even more phrases you've been getting wrong!

11. Don't say: The spitting image

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Do say: The spit and image

For example: The child is the spit and image of his father.

12. Don't say: On tender hooks

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Do say: On tenterhooks

For example: The upcoming football game has the entire city on tenterhooks.

13. Don't say: Hone in

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Do say: Home in

For example: She homed in on the food as soon as she walked into the kitchen.

14. Don't say: Runner-ups

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Do say: Runners-up

For example: The runners-up were also awarded prizes at the pageant show.

15. Don't say: To make ends meat

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Do say: To make ends meet

For example: Debbie works multiple jobs to make ends meet.

16. Don't say: Tongue-and-cheek

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Do say: Tongue-in-cheek

For example: The comedian's tongue-in-cheek humor made the entire room laugh out loud.

17. Don't say: One in the same

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Do say: One and the same

For example: Bruce Wayne and Batman are one and the same.

18. Don't say: Chock it up

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Do say: Chalk it up

For example: Tim chalked up his failure to inexperience.

19. Don't say: Statue of limitations

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Do say: Statute of limitations

For example: The statute of limitations for a crime varies by state.

20. Don't say: Wreck havoc

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Do say: Wreak havoc

For example: It's been 12 years since Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in New Orleans.

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.