The 800-pound Gorilla in the Room: Idiotic Idioms
An idiom is a "phrase, construction, or expression that is recognized as a unit in the usage of a given language and either differs from the usual syntactic patterns or has a meaning that differs from the literal meaning of its parts taken together, for example "she heard it straight from the horse's mouth."
Perhaps because people often speak idioms before they write them, absurd errors creep into the world of written idioms. With the help of my friends on social networks, I have compiled a brief list of frequently abused idioms, along with explanations of the logic of the correct version. But if you quote me, I'm not sure if I want you to say you heard it straight from the horse's mouth.
Flush it out vs. Flesh it out
Flesh it out comes from animation. Artists sketch the outline of a character and then fill in the flesh tones and shadows that make the drawing look realistic. What exactly are people thinking when they write flush it out? Forcing fluids, maybe?
Taking a new tact vs. Taking a new tack
Tack is a sailing term referring to changing direction. It is impossible to sail a boat in a straight line; instead, sailors tack back and forth, guiding the boat in the general direction in which they wish to go. So one might need to tack in a direction that seems slightly off-purpose in the short term in order to reach one's long-term goal. Perhaps when people speak of taking a new tact they are referring to adopting the habit of discretion.
For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes
I think this misunderstanding just comes from people not articulating the words. But seriously, folks, doesn't it make more sense the correct way? What is an intensive purpose anyway?
Pour over the details vs. Pore over the details
How would one pour over details? To pore means to read carefully.
Touch basis vs. Touch bases vs. Touch base
This idiom comes from baseball. To touch base means that you have met a certain condition and can now move on, or that you have made meaningful contact -- like touching the base in a baseball game. Perhaps people think that touching a basis means touching something basic; however, that has nothing to do with the actual idiom.
Long road to hoe vs. Long row to hoe
Think of gardening -- that is where we hoe. We do not hoe roads; most roads are paved and do not lend themselves to hoeing. We do hoe rows in gardens. Those of you who have gardened know that having a long row to hoe means that you have a lot of work ahead of you.
Coming down the pipe vs. Coming down the pike
This could almost make sense both ways. Things do come down pipes; not usually very appetizing things, but things nonetheless. However, the actual idiom refers to coming down the pike, which is a highway. Think about the New Jersey Turnpike. To come down the pike means to happen, appear or come along.
Through the ringer vs. Through the wringer
For those of you too young to know about old-fashioned laundry techniques, wringing is the stage when the wet clothes are rolled tightly to squeeze out excess water. The process puts a lot of pressure on the laundry; hence the connotation of something having been put under great pressure.
Wet your appetite vs. Whet your appetite
To whet means to stimulate or sharpen. To wet means to put liquid on. So what would it mean to wet one's appetite? To guzzle a drink perhaps? Whetting the appetite means building up a hunger for something. Could wetting the appetite mean dampening desire?
Gorilla marketing vs. Guerilla marketing
A gorilla is a big ape. This species is not known for its marketing acumen, as evidenced by the scarcity of gorillas in the executive suites in most major corporations. Guerilla marketing is an approach to marketing that uses non-traditional marketing techniques to excellent advantage. The phrase was coined by Jay Conrad Levinson, who wrote a book titled Guerilla Marketing and has built an empire from the concept.
The 800-pound gorilla in the room vs. The 800-pound gorilla vs. The elephant in the room
Ah, another primate idiom. Here is a comical mélange of two idioms: the 800-pound gorilla, (also known as the 600-pound gorilla), which is a category dominator. For example, Google is the 800-pound gorilla in the search-engine industry. The elephant in the room is an issue that is sitting in plain sight but is being steadfastly ignored by everyone present. For example, if sales have been down 50% in the past year and everyone in the sales department is talking only about where to hold the coming year's sales conference, there is an elephant in the room or on the table. If someone in a family is a flaming alcoholic and people never mention his drinking, that is having an elephant in the room.
You can usually avoid misusing idiomatic expressions by thinking for a moment about the logic behind the phrase. Idioms are often based on metaphors, but they are metaphors that can be readily understood. If they weren't fairly easy to figure out, they would not have made their way into popular discourse. So stop, look, and listen before you use idiomatic expressions. And if you can think of a newer fresher way to make your point without resorting to a phrase that's been used many times before, go for it.
© 2011 Elizabeth Danziger
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Stay up to date on Email Land Mines such as Writing in Haste, Proofreading Carelessly, Writing When Angry and Trying to be Funny. Visit www.worktalk.com/blog for useful advice on using email wisely.
"I could care less" vs. "I couldn't care less"
The "I could care less" vs. "I couldn't care less" dispute is addressed in http://www.worktalk.com/blog/?p=173, along with links to two major newspaper columns on the topic.
About the Author
Elizabeth Brenner Danziger has been helping writers excel for almost 30 years. Her fourth book, Get to the Point, has helped thousands of people write more effectively. In her customized on-site business writing trainings, she focuses on the knowledge that will help writers get their meaning across concisely and clearly. She can be reached at (310) 396-8303 or lizd@worktalk.com.
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