15 Frequently Misunderstood Expressions That Are Surprisingly Logical

As a child, Malachy McCourt (brother of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Frank McCourt) misheard the phrase “Blessed art thou amongst women” from the Hail Mary prayer as “Blessed art thou, a monk swimming.” This amusing error, while entirely illogical, remains hilariously memorable.

However, some verbal slip-ups can be just as meaningful, if not more so, than their correct versions. These are known as eggcorns, a term introduced by linguist Geoff Pullum in 2003, inspired by the common mix-up of acorn with eggcorn. After all, acorns do bear a resemblance to a hybrid of an egg and a corn kernel.

Here are 15 more misinterpreted phrases that fit this category, ranging from cold slaw to rebel-rouser.

1. The Eggcorn: Cold Slaw // The Correct Term: Coleslaw

The word coleslaw originates from the Dutch koolsla, a shortened form of kool-salade, meaning “cabbage salad” in English. Since coleslaw, like most salads, is typically served cold, the eggcorn cold slaw is somewhat repetitive. However, it’s not entirely incorrect—especially given the existence of hot slaw recipes, which can make the distinction useful. This variation isn’t recent; the earliest recorded use of cold slaw dates back to 1794.

2. The Eggcorn: Extract Revenge // The Correct Term: Exact Revenge

In the 16th century, exact functioned as a verb meaning to demand or enforce something, such as payment or labor. By the 1800s, it evolved to signify “inflict,” as seen in the phrase exact revenge. Today, exact is rarely used as a verb, while extract, meaning to remove with effort or force, is far more common. Given that revenge often involves a similar struggle—akin to pulling out a tooth—it’s understandable why some people mistakenly say extract revenge.

3. The Eggcorn: Happy as a Clown // The Correct Term: Happy as a Clam

The expression happy as a clam is thought to have originated as happy as a clam at high tide, a time when clams are safe from harvesters. Without this context, the shortened version seems odd, leading many to replace clam with clown. While clowns are often associated with cheerfulness, their antics can sometimes be more frightening than funny.

4. The Eggcorn: Last-Stitch Effort // The Correct Term: Last-Ditch Effort

A last-ditch effort refers to a final, all-out, and often desperate attempt to achieve or prevent something. The phrase originates from military tactics, where soldiers would defend their territory to the death, even in the last trenches. The expression die in the last ditch has been in use since the early 1700s. While last-stitch effort is technically incorrect, it conveys a similar feeling of urgency and futility—like a single stitch struggling to hold fabric together.

5. The Eggcorn: Old-Timers’ Disease // The Correct Term: Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, the German psychiatrist and neuropathologist who first identified the condition in 1906. The term is often misheard as old-timers’, which is fitting since the majority of those diagnosed are over 65. Cases diagnosed before 65 are referred to as younger-onset or early-onset Alzheimer’s.

6. The Eggcorn: Deep-Seeded // The Correct Term: Deep-Seated

Describing something as “deep-seeded” suggests its roots were planted deeply, making it firmly established and hard to remove. For instance, a deep-seeded fear or prejudice is difficult to overcome. However, the correct term is deep-seated, meaning the core or foundation of something is deeply rooted. This creates a less literal image than deep-seeded, which is why the confusion between the two is one of the many word usage errors even intelligent people make.

7. The Eggcorn: Take for Granite // The Correct Term: Take for Granted

When you take something for granted, you either fail to appreciate it because you assume it will always be there, or you don’t question it because you believe it’s true. The phrase has been in use since the early 1600s. While it’s unclear when the eggcorn take for granite first emerged, its logic is understandable. Granite is a durable rock, capable of lasting centuries as a countertop or even longer in nature. Taking something for granite could imply assuming its permanence for your lifetime.

8. The Eggcorn: Bad Rep // The Correct Term: Bad Rap

The term rap originated in the 14th century, initially referring to a physical strike, like a rap across the knuckles. Over time, it evolved to signify punishment or even a criminal record (as in rap sheet). Eventually, it also came to represent verbal criticism. If people frequently speak ill of you, especially unjustly, you’re said to have a bad rap. Since this often leads to a poor reputation, it’s easy to see why bad rap is sometimes confused with bad rep.

9. The Eggcorn: Bold-Faced Lie // The Correct Term: Bald-Faced Lie

The term bald-faced in bald-faced lie is a variation of barefaced, meaning the lie is as obvious as an uncovered, clean-shaven face. However, bold-faced has been in use since the 1600s—Shakespeare even employed it in Henry VI, Part 1. If someone tells a blatant lie, they’re likely doing so with a bold expression. Additionally, some may associate the term with bold typeface, making the lie seem even more conspicuous.

10. The Eggcorn: Coming Down the Pipe // The Correct Term: Coming Down the Pike

When something is coming down the pike, it means it’s about to arrive or happen soon, much like something traveling down a turnpike—a main road or highway, which is what pike refers to. However, the phrase down the pipe is also commonly used, as it conveys a similar sense of immediacy. This confusion is likely reinforced by the phrase in the pipeline, which also suggests something is on its way. As Merriam-Webster notes, both expressions are often mixed up.

11. The Eggcorn: Wet Your Appetite // The Correct Term: Whet Your Appetite

You can’t physically wet something intangible like an appetite. The correct verb is whet, meaning to sharpen or stimulate. However, the idea of wetting your appetite might suggest salivating over food, which could indeed stimulate your appetite.

12. The Eggcorn: Pass Mustard // The Correct Term: Pass Muster

Since the early 1400s, muster in a military setting referred to assembling troops for inspection. Passing muster meant meeting the required standards. Over time, the phrase pass muster expanded to describe meeting standards in non-military contexts as well.

While pass mustard is technically wrong, it could be seen as a clever metaphor. Successfully passing mustard at a crowded dinner table might earn you approval as someone reliable and competent, especially if done without causing a mess.

As Merriam-Webster notes, the confusion between mustard and muster likely stems from more than just their similar sounds. The phrase cut the mustard, which essentially means the same as pass muster, may have originated from the old slang use of mustard to describe something excellent.

13. The Eggcorn: On Tenderhooks // The Correct Term: On Tenterhooks

During the late medieval period, newly milled cloth was stretched over a wooden frame called a “tenter” to prevent shrinking as it dried. The hooks or nails used to secure the cloth were known as tenterhooks. This tension-filled process is why we use the phrase “on tenterhooks” to describe a state of anxious suspense.

However, since tenter is less familiar today than tender, tenterhooks is often misheard as tenderhooks, which isn’t a real word. If it were, it might refer to hooks for hanging tender meat—a situation that would undoubtedly cause tension if you were hanging from one.

14. The Eggcorn: Hunger Pains // The Correct Term: Hunger Pangs

The sharp cramps you feel when extremely hungry are known as “hunger pangs,” not “hunger pains.” However, the term pang, as defined by the OED, refers to a sudden, intense spasm of pain, making hunger pains almost justifiable. For precision and to avoid corrections, it’s best to stick with hunger pangs.

15. The Eggcorn: Rebel-Rouser // The Correct Term: Rabble-Rouser

Rabble denotes a disorderly crowd, and rouse means to stir up or provoke action, as per the OED. A rabble-rouser is someone who incites a mob to action, often for a political cause. Since they’re essentially stirring up rebels, calling them a “rebel-rouser” could also seem fitting.

The eggcorn originates from a 1958 hit song by Duane Eddy, who revealed to Guitar Player in 2020 that it was initially called “Rabble Rouser.” However, producer Lee Hazelwood altered the title. “Being from Texas, he likely thought ‘Rebel-Rouser’ was more fitting,” Eddy explained. “It turned out to be a fantastic title regardless.”

Are you passionate about words? Do you enjoy uncovering rare terms and vintage slang to spice up conversations, or exploring the intriguing origins of common phrases? Then don’t miss our new book, The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words: A Miscellany of Obscure Terms, Bizarre Phrases, & Surprising Etymologies, available now! Grab your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Bookshop.org.