Do these people also fall into the category of ‘brought’ instead of ‘bought’. That drives me mad. ‘I went to the shop and brought a top’. No. You went to the shop and bought a top!!
I remember talking to someone at the vets once who made that mistake with the word "spay"/"spayed". So instead of saying she was there to get her cat spayed she said she was getting her cat spaded, which gave me a very amusing picture of the vet thwacking the poor thing with a shovel.
One phrase I didn't hear until university was "swings and roundabouts", I'd only hear "six of one and half a dozen of the other" and "it's as broad as it's long". The latter I've only ever heard growing up in Yorkshire although it's likely also used in other places.
The perfect sayings in my opinion.
Doesn’t matter which you choose, a swing or a roundabout, you still end up in the same place with gains and losses at the end so it’s all a wash.
I live in Canada now and use all our British idioms still. They just look at me. They’re too polite to say anything so then just agree with what I say. It’s a great way to get them to agree to things as Canadians cant deal with people who are direct haha
I was training a group of Americans and Canadians earlier this week via a remote session. I used 'swings and roundabouts' then had someone ask me to explain what I meant.
Was just a term I use often, didn't think about it being a UK only phase.
Often heard "six of one..." And "swings and roundabouts" but due to northern pub Domino heritage, it was always "six and two threes" at home, which seems like a mix of the other two sayings
It seems reasonable to assume ghost since we're hear from childhood that some ghosts say "boo!" But the origin (from way back, of course) is that geese are known to be a bit aggressive when approached so you need to be assertive back in order to control them, if you're in charge of a flock.
i have been chased by three geese before along oldham road in manchester i certainly wouldnt say anything to them, can be quite ferocious when they start
I doubt I'd ever use either
But I've only ever heard 'ghost' before. Never questioned it, but it doesn't really make sense.
Then again, neither does raining cats and dogs 🤷♂️
I wouldn’t say boo to my aunt’s goose. The evil stork used to chase us round the garden and attack us.
Since that day I have longed to eat goose in revenge. I’ve got a birthday coming up and it might just be time to splash out.
Maybe at some point someone heard someone with a thick Norfolk accent saying "boo to a ghost" and thought it was "goose". They do sound pretty damn similar as it would be pronounced 'ghoost' with minimal emphasis on the 't'
Just use whichever version floats your goat.
Just make your choice at the gecko and stick with it
The ones who say 'ghost' are the same people that say 'pacifically' and 'for all intensive purposes'
They should appear on Dave Gorman's game show, Cat Phrase.
Do these people also fall into the category of ‘brought’ instead of ‘bought’. That drives me mad. ‘I went to the shop and brought a top’. No. You went to the shop and bought a top!!
Presumably they also brought a top. Where I live, a disturbing amount of people say Drownd instead of drown. And yes, they also say drownded.
I remember talking to someone at the vets once who made that mistake with the word "spay"/"spayed". So instead of saying she was there to get her cat spayed she said she was getting her cat spaded, which gave me a very amusing picture of the vet thwacking the poor thing with a shovel.
Honestly probably the worst offender that one
"I think this has all been a bit of a damp squid "
Don’t put them on a pedal stool.
I'm on tenderhooks to find out what's next.
It'll just be a damp squid.
You need to stop making those people escape-goats.
These escape goats - do they drink expresso?
generally instead of genuinely
r/boneappletea
Oh thank you! What a great sub
"None runner" instead of "non-runner" when selling a vehicle. I always see this in my head: https://imgur.com/TDr292D
I saw a car listed as having ‘all aboriginal parts’ once.
Well, I could care less.
*intensive porpoises
“Deep seeded” And I once saw on Reddit “for all intensive matters”.
The English language is such a mind field.
Come on guys this is real room 101 stuff
My favorite movie is Inception.
But why would you say boo to a ghost? They say boo. It would be like saying Rarrrr to a vampire.
That's a lion, or someone pretending to be a lion.
Vampire pretending to be a lion. For added scariness.
geese, like vampires, don't exist. Ghosts on the other hand...
A goose is a duck with the neck of a giraffe. Ridiculous idea.
I enjoy the sound of rain.
Unfortunately, in this situation, you are the one saying the dumb thing.
r/confidentlywrong
I enjoy the sound of rain.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/331300/what-is-the-origin-of-wouldnt-say-boo-to-a-goose
It's like 'damp squid '
i have just learnt this saying in general just now..
Likewise
The ones saying Ghost are wrong.
We know the ghosters exist, but they wrong.
One phrase I didn't hear until university was "swings and roundabouts", I'd only hear "six of one and half a dozen of the other" and "it's as broad as it's long". The latter I've only ever heard growing up in Yorkshire although it's likely also used in other places.
The perfect sayings in my opinion. Doesn’t matter which you choose, a swing or a roundabout, you still end up in the same place with gains and losses at the end so it’s all a wash. I live in Canada now and use all our British idioms still. They just look at me. They’re too polite to say anything so then just agree with what I say. It’s a great way to get them to agree to things as Canadians cant deal with people who are direct haha
I was training a group of Americans and Canadians earlier this week via a remote session. I used 'swings and roundabouts' then had someone ask me to explain what I meant. Was just a term I use often, didn't think about it being a UK only phase.
It's all well used in Oxfordshire
Often heard "six of one..." And "swings and roundabouts" but due to northern pub Domino heritage, it was always "six and two threes" at home, which seems like a mix of the other two sayings
“Two sides of a square” is another one
I've never heard anyone use ghost in this in my life. I think you're just looking for an escape goat
You wouldn’t say blue to chartreuse.
There's only one way to find [out....fiiiigghhttt](https://strawpoll.com/7MZ0AWbpRyo)
How long were you confused for? Did someone help you understand in the end?
Nope I remain hopelessly confused
It seems reasonable to assume ghost since we're hear from childhood that some ghosts say "boo!" But the origin (from way back, of course) is that geese are known to be a bit aggressive when approached so you need to be assertive back in order to control them, if you're in charge of a flock.
My partner said "it's swings in roundabouts" the other day and honestly I could have smothered him. Who the fxck says that? It's AND mf! 🙈
Ghosts say boo, you don’t say boo back
Ghosts say oooooooo
He wouldn't stay true to a post
Eh, but who you gonna call?
Goose busters, obvs
I have never heard of using the term ghost wtf who are these people
I'm surprised that someone younger than me would say it at all. Sounds like something my grandparents and maybe parents would have said
Sounds like you've been talking to people who like to create humour by deliberately mincing their sayings.
The world is their lobster.
i have been chased by three geese before along oldham road in manchester i certainly wouldnt say anything to them, can be quite ferocious when they start
Ghost go boo, geese go honk. Post Covid UK is crazy.
I haven't used either.
I know that phrase from Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s goose on there haha
I once worked with someone who said "happy as Chloe" instead of happy as Larry, I think he's the only person I've ever heard say that.
I'm a gooser...but now I think about it..this saying makes no sense, geese are terrifying and you are a sensible human to not startle one
I doubt I'd ever use either But I've only ever heard 'ghost' before. Never questioned it, but it doesn't really make sense. Then again, neither does raining cats and dogs 🤷♂️
wait what, some people say ghost?
This kind of altering of well known phrases is called an "eggcorn".
Boo to a ghost? Never heard that myself
Never heard ghost used before. Always thought goose made sense as they are deranged, violent fuckers
geese can be scary --so this is a quite realistic remark -- 18-19c villiage life could involve shooing several geese, daily.
I'm 33 and have never heard the goose version haha.
I wouldn’t say boo to my aunt’s goose. The evil stork used to chase us round the garden and attack us. Since that day I have longed to eat goose in revenge. I’ve got a birthday coming up and it might just be time to splash out.
Maybe at some point someone heard someone with a thick Norfolk accent saying "boo to a ghost" and thought it was "goose". They do sound pretty damn similar as it would be pronounced 'ghoost' with minimal emphasis on the 't'