Tag Archives: new vocab

34 Cracking English Eggcorns

What is an eggcorn?

An eggcorn is an incorrect phrase which the speaker thinks makes sense because it sounds like the correct version and contains words that are related to the topic.

The word ‘eggcorn’ comes from a mispronunciation of ‘acorn’.

Below you can find 34 classic examples of eggcorns, but first let’s look at how eggcorns are made. They are created accidentally for a variety of reasons:

a) the speaker is unfamiliar with the correct word or phrase, but knows the general sounds and therefore substitutes words they know that seem to fit, e.g.

old-timers’ disease instead of Alzheimer’s disease

b) connected speech makes the phrase difficult to process; the last sound of the first word is not pronounced and the syllables run together, e.g.

ice tea instead of iced tea

c) the incorrect word is very similar to the correct word, e.g.

illicit a response instead of elicit a response

d) the correct word is foreign and unfamiliar to the speaker, e.g.

expresso instead of espresso

e) the writer does not know that words which sound the same are spelled differently, e.g.

wet your appetite instead of whet your appetite

f) grammatical knowledge is lacking, e.g.

should of instead of should have

g) maybe you have heard an incorrect phrase so often that it becomes normal for you and you use it by default, e.g.

pacific / pacifically instead of specific / specifically

In general, eggcorns are to be avoided in both spoken and written English because they reduce effective communication and can lead to confusion, e.g. these two phrases appear to have opposite meanings:

I could care less instead of I couldn’t care less

On the other hand, though, eggcorns have the potential to be really cute and make you smile, e.g.

a damp squid instead of a damp squib

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Here are 34 classic examples of English eggcorns. Do you know any more?

34 Cracking English Eggcorns

34 Cracking English Eggcorns

Images: rawpixel and OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

15 Top Business English Idioms

15 Top Business English Idioms

15 Top Business English Idioms

Are you up to speed with the latest business English idioms? Here are some of the top English idioms that you could use in a business context. How many of them do you know?

Let’s get the ball rolling!

1. To get something off the ground = To begin or launch something

To get something off the ground = To begin or launch something

  • I can’t wait to get this project off the ground!
  • I can’t wait to begin this project!

2. To get the ball rolling = To start, e.g. a meeting or debate

To get the ball rolling = To start, e.g. a meeting or debate

  • Let’s get the ball rolling.
  • Let’s start.

3. To think outside the box = To think in an original or left-field / lateral way

To think outside the box = To think in an original or left-field / lateral way

  • Try to think outside the box.
  • Try to think in an original or unique way.

4. In a nutshell = In short

In a nutshell = In short

  • In a nutshell, I just don’t feel that Martin is right for the position.
  • In short, I just don’t feel that Martin is right for the position.

5. ASAP = As soon as possible (acronym)

ASAP = As soon as possible (acronym)

  • I need that report ASAP!
  • I need that report as soon as possible.

6. To stand your ground = To have complete confidence in your position or idea

To stand your ground = To have complete confidence in your position or idea

  • If we stand our ground, they will sign the contract!
  • If we stick to our position, they will sign the contract!

7. The bottom line = The most important thing / the main priority

The bottom line = The most important thing / the main priority

  • ‘What’s the bottom line?’ ‘We must send the orders today!’
  • ‘What’s the most important thing?’ ‘We must send the orders today!’

8. The elephant in the room = The uncomfortable truth that nobody wants to acknowledge

The elephant in the room = The uncomfortable truth that nobody wants to acknowledge

  • The elephant in the room is that we know their sales forecasts!
  • The thing that nobody wants to mention is that we know their sales forecasts!

9. To corner the market = To become the leading seller of a product

To corner the market = To become the leading seller of a product

  • Since 2012 we have been able to corner the market in toothbrush holders.
  • Since 2012 we have been able to become the leading seller of toothbrush holders.

10. To climb the corporate ladder = To be focused on gaining promotion within a company

To climb the corporate ladder = To be focused on gaining promotion within a company

  • John only cares about climbing the corporate ladder.
  • John only cares about trying to get promoted.

11. To hit the glass ceiling = To reach an artificial  limit of promotion, usually due to race, or gender

To hit the glass ceiling = To reach an artificial limit of promotion, usually due to race, or gender

  • Alison feels she has hit the glass ceiling at work.
  • Alison feels she can’t be promoted at work any further, because she is a woman.

12. To be in the red = To be in debt / To be in the black = To be in profit or solvent

To be in the red = To be in debt / To be in the black = To be in profit or solvent

  • No, the company is still in the red, but it could be in the black next month.
  • No, the company is still in debt, but it could be in profit next month.

13. To get the sack = To lose your job

To get the sack = To lose your job

  • Billy got the sack yesterday.
  • Billy lost his job yesterday.

14. To throw in the towel = To quit

To throw in the towel = To quit

  • I’m just about ready to throw in the towel!
  • I’m just about ready to quit!

15. To go / get back to the drawing board = To start again

To go / get back to the drawing board = To start again

  • OK, let’s go back to the drawing board.
  • OK, let’s start again.

 

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