15 Commonly Mangled & Misused Phrases

Much to the chagrin of English experts and grammar gurus across the country, there are some common colloquialisms that many people still can’t quite get right, thereby turning our idiomatic expressions into idiotic exclamations. Even though we’re finally homing in on some of our quirkier linguistic misfires, some people literally couldn’t care less about using these axioms properly, regardless of the consequences to our beloved language.

1. Hunger Pangs

Although hunger may indeed cause discomfort, there’s no such thing as a “hunger pain.” Hunger pangs, on the other hand, are the gnawing, severe muscle contractions that signal it’s time for dinner.

2. Whet Your Appetite

While I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of satisfying those hunger pangs with a tasty beverage, “wetting your appetite” is incorrect. To whet one’s appetite means to sharpen it, like one would use a whetstone to sharpen or hone a knife.

3. Supposed To/Used To

You’re not supposed to write “suppose to” or “use to”; it’s nonstandard English. Get used to writing and saying these phrases the correct way, with a “d” on the end of each.

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Read more: Career, Fun, Life, communication, grammar, phrases, sayings, writing

By Allison Ford, DivineCaroline

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sonia G.

7:57AM PST on Dec 26, 2012

Agree with Kirsten M - great article, except for the incorrect "toward(s)" comment

December 26
send a green star

Fred H.

5:51AM PST on Dec 14, 2012

Thank you Samantha, for Sharing this!

December 14
send a green star

Kathy P.

2:29PM PST on Dec 11, 2012

love this. I am an avid reader and an English language junkie so these types of things intrigue me.

December 11
send a green star

Marion W.

6:06PM PST on Dec 8, 2012

Monica R.
The use of the word less when fewer is correct also drives me up the wall. The other thing that annoys me is modifying the word unique. "It's very unique" or "It's the most unique". Something is either unique or it isn't. It's sad when seeing or hearing proper English comes as a pleasant surprise.

December 8
send a green star

5:47PM PST on Dec 8, 2012

I recently used the expression "sleight of hand" and was corrected by a co-worker who said it should be "slight of hand". lol.
Regarding homophones: I received a message from an online lingerie store which was having website problems asking me to "please bare with us". I sent them an email stating I would be happy to bear with them, but there was no way I was going to get naked with them.
My grammar and word usage are not as up to snuff as they once were, but I still speak and write better than most.

Cassandra F.

12:50PM PST on Dec 8, 2012

Thanks for the great tips.

g d c.

11:08AM PST on Dec 8, 2012

LOL

ty

Ml M.

10:28AM PST on Dec 8, 2012

Very enjoyable. Am reminded of the man I once heard correcting his small son when he said "Daddy I want a sanguidge ". He replied in a loud confident voice "It's not a sanguidge Tommy, it's a samwitch"

Kirstin M.

11:33PM PST on Nov 14, 2012

This is good, but article does contain a mistake. "Towards" is the accepted form in British, Australian, and Canadian English, and likely others. Other than that, I loved this article.

(Grammarist, Grammar Girl, and BBC World Service's "Learning English" series all agree that this is the case.)

November 14
send a green star

Kate B.

7:35PM PST on Nov 14, 2012

Sorry about shabby comment, need some points. I'm a reader so I usually notice gross spelling & grammar booboos, I love when it makes me laugh. One mistake I posted lately was re. the word due - as in expected date, or you owe money.: The sentence was something like, Those reparations are do you.

Didn't notice til after I posted with no way to edit.
It may be becaue I'm a touch typist too?