Ten English Idioms that native speakers get wrong all the time

We have all heard “it’s raining cats and dogs”. There are many fun English idioms. You might be surprised to learn that native English speakers get a lot of them wrong! I’ll give you a head start over the native speakers and show you the English idioms many native speakers get wrong.

1.       I could care less (WRONG) -> I COULDN’T care less!

If you think about it this is a statement showing that you care so little it is not possible for you to care any less. I could care less makes no sense, this means you actually do care a little.

2.       You’ve got another thing coming (WRONG) -> You’ve got another THINK coming.

I did not know I was getting this wrong my whole life until today! This is from the phrase “If you think you are right, then you have another think coming”.

3.       Escape goat (WRONG) -> A scape goat.

A scapegoat is someone that is blamed for the mistakes of others.

4.       First come first serve (WRONG) -> First come first served.

The person who arrives first to an event does not serve, they get served by someone else.

5.       To have free reign (WRONG) -> To have free rein.

This idiom mistake makes sense that you could perhaps rule as you please with free “reign” but the original phrase comes from giving a horse free rein, loosening the leather straps to a horses mouth so that it can do what it wants.

6.       To all intensive purposes (WRONG) -> To all intents and purposes.

The phrases means what ever the intention or purpose of a thing.

7.       Taken for granite (WRONG) -> Taken for granted.

Granite is a type of rock, so this makes no sense. Taking something for granted means you expect your wish to already have been granted or fulfilled and you are already expecting everything to be fine.

8.       A mute point (WRONG) -> A moot point.

Moot is a legal term for a discussion where hypothetical situations are debated for clarification. A moot point is something that is open to discussion.

9.       To have piece of mind (WRONG) -> To have peace of mind.

You want to relax with piece in your mind not pieces of your mind…

10.   It’s a doggy-dog-world (WRONG) -> It’s a dog-eat-dog world.

This phrase is about how animalistic the world can be where the stronger dog wins.

And as a bonus there is no such word was “irregardless”. This is a double negative. The correct word is regardless.

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