Common Phrases (Almost) Everyone Gets Wrong

If you hear Taylor Swift singing about “all the lonely Starbucks lovers” on “Blank Space,” that’s a mondegreen, which is a misheard lyric that gets repeated so often, it becomes almost as ubiquitous as the correct version (“got a long list of ex-lovers,” in Taylor’s case). The same thing happens with common idioms and phrases. If mistaken words are used enough, people start to repeat and transmit them in different forms. Here are some of the most common idioms that folks mishear and misunderstand.

Did a 360 

Double-check your math on this one. There are 360 degrees in a circle, so performing a 360-degree revolution will land you back exactly at the beginning. Perhaps you meant that, but if you’re implying that you made a great change, the correct version is “did a 180.” In that case, you left your starting point to move as far away as possible. In other words, you completely shifted yourself, either metaphorically or physically.

Hunger Pains 

The original phrase is “hunger pangs,” although “pains” could technically be correct as well. The former is an older term that refers to the feeling of cramping that comes with an empty stomach. Since the word “pangs” is a bit outdated, it’s sometimes mispronounced as “pains,” though they essentially refer to the same idea

I Could Care Less 

This one stirs up a bit of debate. When the words are parsed out individually, the accurate version to imply that you care a minimal amount is “I couldn’t care less.” However, the American colloquialism of “I could care less” is so widely used that even dictionaries have accepted it.

You’ve Got Another Thing Coming 

As with “could care less,” this alternative phrase has almost replaced the original, which is “you’ve got another think coming.” In other words, you’re wrong and must rethink what you’re saying or doing. The “think” version of the phrase is older and more likely to be used by British English speakers.

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