5 Expressions You’re (Probably) Using Wrong

You know your idioms and your slang as well as any other hip urban street kid, but did you know you’re probably using some very common expressions totally wrong? Well, here’s your chance to learn what they really mean, and then go correct your friends. You’re welcome.

5) You’ve got another thing coming

How it’s used: ‘’If you think I’m going to forgive you for kissing Stacy, you’ve got another thing coming!’’

Is this ‘’thing’’ a surprise? Is it a punch? What could it be? What’s the first ‘’thing’’ that came, if this coming thing is ‘’another thing’’? Such are the questions people should ask when they use this phrase, because it really makes no sense.

How it’s meant to be used: ‘’If you think I’m going to apologize for kissing Stacy, you’ve got another think coming!’’ This is the correct usage; you already had one think, but you’re about to have another once you realize Jacob totally isn’t sorry he kissed that good-for-nothing Stacy.

4) Blood is thicker than water

How it’s used: ‘’Timothy, I know you want to take your girl on a date, but it’s your brother’s violin recital tomorrow and blood is thicker than water.’’ This is a phrase people use to remind family that there is nothing stronger than the familial bond. It’s usually followed by an overwhelming feeling of guilt.

How it’s meant to be used: ‘’The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’’

Whoa, that just got creepy. Basically, the origin of this phrase says that the blood spilled during war – ​a metaphor for the bond between soldiers – ​is stronger than the ties of family. The hardship that soldiers endure together brings them closer than the closeness of arbitrary family relations.

3) Money is the root of all evil

How it’s used: ‘’Hey man, you’re slaving away in that cubicle for ‘the man,’ and like, don’t you know that money is like the root of all evil, man?’’

How it’s meant to be used: ‘’For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.’’

Let’s chalk this one up to context, yeah? To me, there’s a pretty big difference between money itself being some kind of malicious entity like Sauron’s ring, corrupting all who touch it, and money being just a neutral substance that can be used for good or evil. So, the original quote suggests there’s nothing inherently wrong with making money, so long as you do not love it. Love in this instance could mean a greedy, jealous, possessive love, which definitely seems like it would lead to evil. Or it could just mean that love should be reserved for people and by placing money on the same level as people, you will definitely come to some evil things. But either way – ​don’t fear money. It doesn’t bite.

2) Judge not lest ye be judged

How it’s used: ‘’Sure, Jimmy stole cookies from the Girl Scouts and then ‘borrowed’ a car, but judge not, right?’’

How it’s meant to be used: ‘’Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.’’

Again, context is important. It’s not the judging that’s frowned upon in this quote, it’s hypocrisy. This quote is telling us that it’s ok to judge but we better do so fairly, because that’s how we will be judged. So, it’s ok to judge Jimmy for stealing from Girl Scouts (Jimmy is a jerk!) but it’s not ok to judge him if you’re going to overlook your own sticky fingers (But it’s ok for me to steal, I deserve this lipstick!). So, judge away, but only if you’re being equally honest with your own shortcomings.

1) Eye for an eye

How it’s used: ‘’Oh, Johnny punched you? Kick Johnny’s butt! Eye for an eye, man!’’

How it’s meant to be used: ‘’If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.’’

Without context, this quote sounds like you should exact revenge if someone wronged you. It’s only fair, right? However, with context, this quote is actually telling you to be equitable. If Johnny punched you, don’t go punching Johnny’s entire family and burning their house down in revenge. It’s actually a part of Mosaic law used in the Israelites’ justice system, saying that justice should never be excessively harsh or excessively lenient, as both would be unjust. So, please, tell that to the next person you hear saying ‘’An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, man. Let’s hug it out,’’ because ‘’an eye for an eye’’ is the only thing stopping me from punching that hippie.

Bonus: ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all

How it’s used: ‘’I know Chad dumped me, but it’s better to have loved and lost, right?’’

How it’s meant to be used: Well, it’s about two dudes. Though this quote isn’t necessarily misused, the origin of this quote is more bromantic than romantic. While most use it to lament a romantic relationship that didn’t last, it was originally written by Alfred Lord Tennyson to mourn the tragic death of his best friend, Arthur H. Hallum. And while that roaring love you had with Chad may have been the greatest love this earth will never know, it will never be as tragic as Tennyson losing his best bud, their friendship described as ‘’swift and deep,’’ to a stroke at age twenty-two.

Tatiana Sundeyeva-Orozco has gotten into the terrible habit of thinking too much about everything. She enjoys fantasizing about traveling, compulsively buying literature, laughing at her own puns, and consuming anything and everything that can be found in a bakery. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley where she got a degree in English. She can be found celebrating awesome female friendships on LadyBromance.com.

By Tatiana Sundeyeva-Orozco