Trickiest Eggcorns In English

The correct term is "bald-faced lie." People argue about this; either way is metaphorical.

The correct term is "champ at the bit." This is what a horse does with a bit in its mouth.

The correct term is "could have," or more commonly, "could've."

The correct term is "all intents and purposes," meaning it covers all desires and objectives.

The correct term is "jury-rigged," which describes building or fixing something using makeshift materials.

The correct term is "whet your appetite," meaning to stimulate your appetite.

The correct term is "toeing the line," meaning you step in line with whatever outside influence you face.

The correct term is "duct tape." Duck Tape is a brand of this type of tape.

The correct term is "bated breath," meaning breath held in great suspense.

The correct term is "coming down the pike," which is short for turnpike, another word for highway.

The correct term is "espresso." This is just a simple pronunciation and spelling error.

Correct term: "rabble rouser," a person who stirs up a mob.South Park, they always yell "rabble rabble rabble!"

The correct term is "flesh out," used when building out from a small idea. (Some people use "flush out," but that belongs to getting something out of a place.)

The correct term is "iced tea," which means tea chilled by ice. ("Ice tea" means completely frozen tea.)

The correct term is "expatriate," meaning someone living outside their home country. (They couldbe an ex-patriot, but that is rarely (if ever) what we mean.

The correct term is "last rites," the final rituals given to a person before death so they may go to Heaven.

The correct term is "on the lam." This means going off the grid and escaping the Man.

The correct term is "a hair's breadth," as hair is thin, this is a thin distance between things.

The correct term is "chalk it up," from old-timey England, where chalk marked debts on a board. (The meaning changed a lot.)

The correct term is "derring-do," suggesting action in a heroic context. ("Daring-do" often gets corrected because it still fits.)

The correct term is "all for naught," meaning what you do will be for nothing.

The correct term is "give free rein," allowing someone to do what they want. "Range" still means boundaries.

The correct term is "primaDonna, Italian for first lady. In American culture, this also means someone with an inflated view of their talent.

The correct term is "pass muster," the ability to be satisfactory to an outside group.

The correct term is "corroborating evidence," evidence that supports a statement or theory. (Evidence does not make collaborative decisions.

The correct term is "stream of consciousness." This is a work with little structure that follows the writer's mind.

The correct term is "contend with," meaning you must deal with its issues. (To be "content with" means you are happy.)

The correct term is "a shot over the bow," which means the front of a ship. Ships shoot across each other's bows to show they are serious.

The correct term is "scapegoat," meaning a person intentionally blamed for wrongdoings they did not commit.This describes a person who has been intentionally blamed for misdeeds they did not commit.This comes from the Bible. A Jewish priest absolved his people of sins by placing them upon a goat.

The correct term is "laughing stock." Stocks were places for punishment, so this phrase shows punishment through ridicule.

The correct term is "wrought-iron fences."People want iron with rot inside.

The correct term is "bogged down." A bog is a mire that is hard to walk through.

The correct term is "above reproach," where the second word means to rebuke or show disapproval.

The correct term is "Alzheimer's disease." It affects the elderly.The disease does affect older people.

The correct term is "dog eat dog world." The world targets you, and every person seeks only themselves.

The correct term is "scantily clad," meaning wearing very little clothing. This is scandalous because of how it looks.

The correct term is "taken/take it for granted." Who wants to take granite?

The correct term is "old wives' tale." These are stories passed from older women to younger ones who accept them as true, even when they are silly.

The correct term is "midst of things," meaning you are right in the middle of it. This phrase works because of its ethereal quality.

The correct term is "biding my time," meaning you are getting ready for the perfect moment.

The correct term is "pedal to the metal." This means slamming your foot on the gas so hard it hits the metal floor.

The correct term is "cease and desist." This is a legal term that means stop doing something and not do it again.

The correct term is "fiscal policy," which connects to the economy.

The correct term is "valedictorian." People struggle to keep this one straight; it is used infrequently.

The correct term is "a pact with the devil," which means making an agreement with him, whether it is a metaphor or an actual deal at a crossroads.

The correct term is "takes two to tango," which describes a dance that needs two people.

The correct term is "overalls." "Overhauls" are what you do when you must change something completely from the ground up.

The correct term is "on the spur of the moment," meaning you act because you are suddenly spurred to do something.

The correct term is "mosh pit," atAt punk, hardcore, or metal concerts, this is where people get wild.Some people think the wrong way to say it comes from differences in accents.

The correct term is "Valentine's Day," which is the day of St. Valentine.