why do people get these common phrases wrong?

WHY DO PEOPLE GET THESE COMMON PHRASES WRONG? Watch the video “Have you been getting a phrase wrong all your life?” by BBC Ideas.

LISTENING EXERCISE

Write down the incorrect form mentioned in the video of the following phrases. Then, match the phrases with their meanings labelled A-G.

A. For all practical purposes.

B. Anything that doesn’t work properly or fails to reach certain expectations.

C. The occurrence of growing quickly and suddenly in a short period of time.

D. A person who is blamed for the mistakes or faults of others.

E. Wait patiently for a good opportunity to do something.

F. Two people or things that are very similar either in appearance or interests.

G. A strong and waterproof adhesive tape that is usually silver.

ESL Pals 1 General English

Incorrect phrase Corrected phrase Meaning

Duck tape Duct tape G

Growth sprout Growth spurt C

Biting my time Biding my time E

Two peas in a pond Two peas in a pod F

Escape goat Scapegoat D

Damp squid Damp squib B

All intensive purposes All intents and purposes A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BYW6zEGaME

Now answer the following questions:

1. Do you think it is better to ask upfront for a raise at your job or to bide your time?

2. Can you remember at which age you had a growth spurt?

3. What recent event in your life turned out to be a damp squib?

4. Do you still have a childhood friend that you are like two peas in a pod with?

5. What do you generally use duct tape for?

VIDEO VOCABULARY

Look at the extracts from the video and match the words in bold to their definitions.

1. “You know that mortifying moment when you use a common phrase in front of everyone only to find out you’ve been saying it wrong for years?”

2. “Well, the good news is you can stop that shame spiral in its tracks.”

3. “Actually, if enough people make the same mistake, it can come to take root in our collective consciousness.”

4. “These are the sorts of changes that keep lexicographers busy updating their dictionaries so that they reflect how language is really being used by people, rather than instruct on how language should be used. So tell that to the next pedant who tries to correct you.”

5. “Favel was commonly misheard as favour and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Definitions:

A. Prevent the process or activity from continuing. stop in its tracks

B. A phrase used to indicate that the events succeeding those already mentioned are so well known that they don’t have to be mentioned again. the rest is history

C. To become fixed or established. take root

D. Causing great embarrassment or shame. mortifying

E. A person who is excessively concerned with minor details or rules. pedant


VIDEO INTERPRETATION

Listening exercise. Can you complete the following extract from the video? Fill in the gaps with the correct word: Its original form was really to curry Favel, which will make absolutely no sense to you unless you’ve brushed up on your medieval French literature. Favel, or Fauvel, was the name of a horse in an early 14th Century poem who was renowned for his cunning and duplicity . According to the video, a lot of phrases that we know and love today have a fascinating history. Let’s talk about the origin of the expression:

To curry favour: to try and get a favour from someone by using flattery. Answer the following questions about the video:

1. What is the original form of the expression? To curry Fauvel

2. What is the story of how this expression came to be? ”Fauvel” was often misheard as favour and so the expression came to be. People used to brush the horse with a comb, still known as a curry today.

3. Have you ever tried to curry favour with someone?

4. What word did linguist Geoffrey Pullum coin and why? He coined the word “eggcorn” after someone thought it was the correct word for an acorn.


MULTIPLE CHOICE

Watch the video again and find the following term definitions by choosing the correct answers:

1. A mondegreen is

a. When someone misheard the lyrics to a song.

b. When someone interprets a poem incorrectly.

c. When someone pretended to hear something, but actually didn’t.

2. A malapropism is

a. Using an inappropriate word in a formal setting.

b. Misusing a word for a similar sounding one.

c. The incorrect use of a preposition in a phrasal verb.

3. A malaphor is

a. A mix between a malapropism and a metaphor.

b. A mixed-up idiom.

c. Using an idiom in an unsuitable setting.


MALAPROPISMS

Look at the following social media posts. Identify and correct the following malapropisms:


IDIOMATIC PHRASES

Match the halves to form the correct idiomatic phrases. Guess and discuss the meanings with your teacher.

Now, answer the following questions:

1. Why is it important to never burn any bridges with people you know?

2. Do you agree with the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining”?

3. Do you think that learning idioms in English is a piece of cake? Why?

4. Do you have any friends or family members that were born with a silver spoon in their mouths?


“Beans” ----- beings “Rice” ------ rise

“Mail” ------- male “Keep us posted” is a pun.

“Discuss” ------- disgust “All tomato” ------- ultimatum

“Source” ------- sauce “Tattoo” ------- type two

a. A walk 8 b. A piece 7 c. It’s not 6 d. Cross that bridge 1 e. Until the cows 3 f. Every cloud has a 9 g. The chickens have 4 h. Born with a silver spoon 5 i. To burn 2

1. When we get there 2. Down bridges 3. Come home 4. Come home to roost 5. In his mouth 6. Rocket science 7. Of cake 8. In the park 9. Silver lining

DISCUSSION

Discuss the following questions together as a class:

● Do you have a similar problem of misusing phrases / idioms in your own language?

● Why do we use idioms in language?

● Have you ever had a mortifying moment when you used a phrase / expression wrong?

● Do you like using phrases / expressions or do you think that it is old-fashioned?

● Do you know anyone who is a pedant when it comes to language learning?

● Should we stop the incorrect use of phrases in its tracks or let it reshape the English language?

HOMEWORK

VIDEO LISTENING EXERCISE

This exercise is aimed at fine tuning your listening. Let’s review the meaning of a malaphor: a mixed up idiom. Use exercise 6: Idiomatic phrases and watch the video again. Can you identify all the malaphors in the video related to this exercise?

a. Write them down.

It’s not rocket surgery, it’ll be a walk in the cake, we’ll burn that bridge when we get to it, the cows come home to roost, every cloud has a silver spoon in its mouth.

b. Why do you think people get these common phrases wrong?


READING AND COMPREHENSION

Do you hate studying idioms in English? It has been debated whether or not it is necessary for ESL students to learn and use idiomatic expressions. In fact, an academic journal has been released to explore these ideas. Read an extract from the academic journal below then answer the questions. The Necessity of idiomatic

expressions to English Language

learners

Non-native speakers of English are found in

different parts of the world. The usage of

Idiomatic expressions by those speakers is

considered as an important issue and is

regarded as an essential part of the English

Language competence.

It is a necessity that all speakers of the

English language become aware and

proficient in using English idiomatic

expressions. It is essential and is considered

a big part of English language proficiency to

be able to use idiomatic expression when

communicating in the English Language.

This paper aims to discuss the importance

of idiomatic expressions to English language

learners. In this paper, personal suggestions

have been reached for better idiomatic

comprehension and acquisition.

Contributions have been made by the author

regarding the importance of understanding

and how to better use idioms.

Idiomatic expressions or idioms should not

be neglected and should not be taken for

granted. Idioms are used daily and

repeatedly by native speakers of English

Language. Idiomatic expressions are a part

of every language's vocabulary and are

based on that language history, heritage,

and culture.

Learning idiomatic expressions helps

non-native speakers of a language become

more fluent, and sound more native-like.

Idiomatic expressions increase the

vocabulary and lexicon of the English

Language learner. Moreover, idiomatic

knowledge leads to a better understanding

of the culture and customs of that particular

language.

English language teachers should teach

idiomatic language to their students and not

overlook such a vital issue because

becoming more native-like in English

language is by learning idiomatic

expressions, understanding their meanings

and using them frequently parallel to

English language native speakers.

(adapted from International Journal of English and Literature, The necessity of idiomatic expressions to English language learners by Rana Abid Thyab. Link: Journal)


https://academicjournals.org/journal/IJEL/article-full-text-pdf/491715A59142

a. According to the journal, how can idiomatic expressions help students to

become more native-like?

Understand the culture and customs, broaden their vocabulary and also to become more fluent.

b. How can the knowledge of idiomatic expressions help you as an ESL learner in everyday use? Use the following as guidelines:

i. Series and movies

ii. Speaking to natives.

Iii. Expressing your sense of humour.


why do people get these common phrases wrong?

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