This week: Commonly Misused Idioms Edited by: Tornado Dodger More Newsletters By This Editor
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There are many phrases I see written improperly on almost a daily basis. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some and make sure they aren't being misunderstood by any of our members.
I could care less
The proper phrase is "I couldn't care less" which is used to express maximum apathy toward a situation. The phrase is suppose to say, "It's impossible for me to care less about this." Using the incorrect version is basically saying "I could care less" which means the opposite and you still have care left to give.
First-come, first-serve
This phrase is pretty common but written incorrectly as shown above it suggests that the first person to arrive has to serve all who arrive afterward. The correct phrase should be "first-come, first-served," to indicate that the participants will be served in the order they arrive.
One in the same
"One in the same" makes no sense and would literally mean that something is inside the same thing as itself. It should be "one and the same," meaning that what's being compared is the same thing or the same person.
Wet your appetite
I've read that this phrase is used improperly 56% of the time it appears online. Amazing, right? The correct way to write this is "whet your appetite." which means to awaken your desire for something."Whet" means to sharpen or stimulate instead of "wet" which means to be covered or saturated with liquid.
Emigrated to
This one has an English language connection. The verb immigrate is always used with the preposition "to" whereas "emigrate" is always used with the preposition "from." To emigrate is used when you're coming from another place, and likewise to immigrate is when you go to another place.
Shoe-in
This is a common idiom that means a sure winner. The correct use calls for "Shoo-in" though. To "shoo" something is to urge it in a certain direction. Such as when someone would shoo a fly out of their face.
Deep-seeded
This is another common mistake. The correct idiom should be written as "deep-seated," to indicate that something is firmly in its place. Many people think"deep-seeded" makes sense showing something is planted deep in the ground. While this might make sense, it's not the correct expression.
How many of these did you get right?
Write and Review on! ~ Brooke
"Reference tools may be a dime a dozen in this dog-eat-dog world, but here's a soup-to-nuts dictionary of colloquialisms that doesn't beat around the bush."
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Let's make these new members feel welcome by dropping them a review.
Excerpt:
"Her soul is too dark, her thoughts, pure evil."
They murmur behind closed doors and windows
"Her eyes don't shine, her head's not right."
They tell each other and watch and whisper
~ ~
Excerpt:
"From where do the stories come from?" She asked her Grandfather.
"From the depths of despair. From the light of love. From the mists of mystery. From the hearts of imagination." He replied.
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| | The Empty House [E] #2187364 Inside that snow globe is an empty house. Once strong and needed, now abandoned and alone. by MilesToGo |
Excerpt:
Trapped inside this broken globe
A flake without a mate
No two are ever made the same
And life's an icy fate
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Excerpt:
It wan't that hard to break into the cellar.
Mama said the lock was tough, iron. The door, heavy and stuck. Maybe in her time it was, but no longer. The worn steel door slid open smoothly, as if it had been oiled only moments before, and none of the wooden steps creaked as I made my way down the dark stairwell. I ran my fingers over the walls to my left, finding it soft and damp. Dirt.
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Excerpt:
Dew drops,
Rolling down pale white hills.
Smooth as silk
Falling, falling falling
Soft showers turn into torrents of rain
It’s pouring.
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Excerpt:
It was January 7, 2003. There was a blizzard outside that ravaged the city of Wellesley like a hungry monster, literally storming through quiet streets and neighborhoods of people huddled in their warm, cozy homes relishing in the day off from work or school. Many people remember that day as the beginning of the greatest storm to hit our small city. I, however, remember it in a different way. January 7th was the day that I found out the truth about my family.
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| | Take My Hand [E] #2187514 I published this on allpoetry 9+ years ago. Its since made it's way to other sites. by Kirsten Kae |
Excerpt:
Are you troubled, burdened blue?
Take my hand.
I've been troubled, burdened too.
I understand.
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I received some wonderful feedback to my last newsletter [#9471] "Ooh Shiny Syndrome" and I'm proud to share it with you.
From hbk16
Indeed sometimes someone hesitates according to get published her/his work. It is something which can happen to all authors. May be such will to be perfect lets someone tumorous and willing to publish another work. Here are some good advice to someone who could meet this trouble most often. Good issue!
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