Commonly Misused Phrases

Let's have some fun today. Here's a list of commonly misused phrases and what the correct phrase should be.

If you've used the phrase on the left, uh-oh, better get it right next time!

Uh-Oh	Yes, Please
It's a pigment of your imagination	It's a figment (imagined story) of your imagination.
It's a mute point.	It's a moot (of little practical value) point. (Of course, if you're Joey Tribbiani, the point is moo.)
That's a bold-faced lie.	Nope, sorry, it's a bald-faced lie. (For the history of this phrase, see http://i.cx/1hn)
We need collaborating evidence.	You more likely need corroborating (confirming) evidence.
It's a doggy-dog world out there.	I don't know where you live, but where I live it's a dog-eat-dog world.
She's just a font of wisdom.	If she's that smart, she's a fount (fountain or spring) of wisdom. Leave the fonts (typefaces) to us publishers.
Let's hone in on the problem.	I'd much rather home (to navigate) in on it, thank you very much.
He must be lack toast and tolerant.	Are you kidding me? If you've said this, just go home now.
Don't let your jealousy reel its ugly head.	Hey, now, jealousies don't reel, they rear.
She scarred the heck out of me!	If she burned you or cut you up with a razor, then surely she did scar (cause lasting tissue damage) the heck out of you. But I'll bet she just scared (afraid) the heck out of you.
He tripped over a wheel barrel.	Aaaaaaaaaaargh! NO! He tripped over a wheelbarrow. People, people, do you never go to a Home Depot?

For more, visit http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/browse-eggcorns/.

Common Confusables: Lose & Loose

I can't tell you how many times people blow this one. So let's see if we can't get it right.

When you provide a Las Vegas casino with additional revenue, you say, "Gee, I hate to lose money at the slots."

When the knot you've tied comes untied, you say, "Gee, I guess I tied that knot kind of loose."

So, any LOSS gets a single o — LOSE.

Anything that isn't tight gets a double o —L O O S E.



(And while we're sort of on the topic, I'd like to tell the otherwise wonderful comedian, Jim Gaffigan, that he needs a wheelbarrow to carry a Cinnabon, not a wheel barrel. Sheesh, Jim, get with the program!)