OP 10 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT COMMON SAYINGS
Uncover the surprising truths behind 10 commonly misunderstood phrases like “rule of thumb,” “free rein,” and “beg the question.” Learn their real meanings and avoid everyday language mistakes.
SCOT FREE
Common Saying: “To get off scot free.”
Many people think this saying refers to Scottish people being tight with money, hence something being free, but in fact the word “scot” is an old Norse word which means “payment,” specifically a payment made to a landlord or sheriff. So this phrase, while meaning what most people think it means, has no connection to the Scottish people; it just means to get off without having to pay.
FIT AS A FIDDLE
Common Saying: “As fit as a fiddle.”
This is another phrase where a single word has confused people: “fit” in the context of this saying does not mean “healthy,” which is a nineteenth-century definition. Its original meaning was “suitable,” and it is still used in that context in the sentence, “fit for a king.” “As fit as a fiddle” means “as appropriate as can be,” not “in excellent health.” The first use of the phrase, incidentally, was in the sixteenth century and was originally “as right as a fiddle.”
ANOTHER THING COMING
Common Saying: “If you think that, you have another thing coming.”
This is a complete aberration of the original phrase because of the sound of English. The correct phrase is “if you think that, you have another think coming,” in other words, “what you think is wrong, so think again.” Because the “k” in “think” often ends up silent when saying, “think coming,” people have changed the phrase over time. Of course, “another thing coming” makes no sense at all.
EAT HUMBLE PIE
Common Saying: “Eat humble pie.”
People think this phrase means to eat a pie made of humbleness, but it actually means to eat a pie made with umble. “Umble” is an old English word for animal intestines (offal), which were eaten by the poor while the rich ate better cuts of meat. So the phrase originally referred to literal humble food, not symbolic humility. Over time, “umble” became “humble” due to similar pronunciation — a phenomenon called metanalysis.
RULE OF THUMB
Common Saying: “Rule of thumb.”
People often believe this phrase originated from an old law allowing men to beat their wives with a stick no thicker than their thumb. This is false — no such law ever existed. The real origin of the phrase comes from estimating or measuring something roughly, often using the thumb as a quick guide.
ON TENDER HOOKS
Common Saying: “On tender hooks.”
This is a very common mishearing. The correct phrase is “on tenterhooks.” A tenter was a frame used in cloth-making to stretch fabric — the hooks on it were tenterhooks. To be “on tenterhooks” means to be in a state of suspense or anxiety, not delicately placed on “tender” hooks.
TAKE A RAINCHECK
Common Saying: “I’ll take a raincheck.”
Today it means “not now, but maybe later,” and that’s fine — but originally it came from baseball. If a game was rained out, spectators received a “raincheck” to attend a future game. Later, stores used it for out-of-stock items. Over time, it became a general polite way of declining an offer.
FREE REIGN
Common Saying: “To give someone free reign.”
This is a common misspelling. The original and correct phrase is “free rein,” coming from horseback riding — when reins were loosened, the horse could choose its path freely. “Reign” refers to ruling like a monarch, which changes the meaning completely.
WRECK HAVOC
Common Saying: “To wreck havoc.”
“Wreck” means to destroy, while “havoc” already means chaos — so this phrase makes little sense. The correct phrase is “wreak havoc,” where “wreak” means to cause or inflict. It’s a small difference in spelling and pronunciation but a big difference in meaning.
BEG THE QUESTION
Common Saying: “To beg the question.”
Most people use this to mean “to raise the question,” but it originally meant something else. In logic, “begging the question” refers to circular reasoning — when the conclusion is assumed in the premise. For example: “He’s always right because he never lies.” If you want to sound accurate, use “raises the question” instead.
