Egg Corns
Egg Corn
Original Phrase
Definition of Original Phrase
a mute point
a moot point
an issue that is debatable but no longer practically important or relevant
an issue that is debatable but no longer practically important or relevant
all for not
all for naught
resulting in nothing, completely unsuccessful or wasted
resulting in nothing, completely unsuccessful or wasted
as dust fell
as dusk fell
when evening darkness was approaching
when evening darkness was approaching
at their beckon call
at their beck and call
always ready to do whatever someone asks
always ready to do whatever someone asks
bare witness
bear witness
to give evidence or testimony that something is true
to give evidence or testimony that something is true
bean stock
beanstalk
the tall stalk of a bean plant
the tall stalk of a bean plant
biting my time
biding my time
waiting patiently for a good opportunity or the right moment
waiting patiently for a good opportunity or the right moment
bob wire
barbed wire
wire with sharp barbs used for fences to keep people or animals in or out
wire with sharp barbs used for fences to keep people or animals in or out
bond fire
bonfire
a large outdoor fire built for warmth, celebration, or burning things
a large outdoor fire built for warmth, celebration, or burning things
car links
car lengths
units of distance measured by the approximate length of a car
units of distance measured by the approximate length of a car
card shark
card sharp
a skilled card player who may use tricks or cheating to win
a skilled card player who may use tricks or cheating to win
case and point
case in point
a specific example that illustrates a general idea or claim
a specific example that illustrates a general idea or claim
chester drawers
chest of drawers
a piece of furniture with stacked drawers for storing clothes or other items
a piece of furniture with stacked drawers for storing clothes or other items
chicken spots
chicken pox
a contagious viral disease causing an itchy rash of spots and mild illness
a contagious viral disease causing an itchy rash of spots and mild illness
chock it up
chalk it up
to attribute or credit something to a particular cause or source
to attribute or credit something to a particular cause or source
chuck it up
chalk it up
to attribute or credit something to a particular cause or source
to attribute or credit something to a particular cause or source
civilware
silverware
eating utensils such as forks, knives, and spoons, especially metal ones
eating utensils such as forks, knives, and spoons, especially metal ones
close-a-phobia
claustrophobia
an intense fear of being in confined or crowded spaces
an intense fear of being in confined or crowded spaces
coal hearted
cold‑hearted
lacking sympathy or kindness; emotionally unfeeling
lacking sympathy or kindness; emotionally unfeeling
cold slaw
coleslaw
a salad made of finely shredded raw cabbage, often mixed with dressing
a salad made of finely shredded raw cabbage, often mixed with dressing
coming down the pipe
coming down the pike
expected to appear or happen in the future
expected to appear or happen in the future
cut to the chaste
cut to the chase
to skip preliminaries and get straight to the main point
to skip preliminaries and get straight to the main point
damp squid
damp squib
something that turns out to be disappointing after high expectations; a squib is a small firework
something that turns out to be disappointing after high expectations; a squib is a small firework
deep‑seeded
deep‑seated
firmly established and difficult to change, often referring to feelings or beliefs
firmly established and difficult to change, often referring to feelings or beliefs
do diligence
due dilligence
the careful research and evaluation done before making a major decision or agreement
the careful research and evaluation done before making a major decision or agreement
doggy‑dog world
dog‑eat‑dog world
a fiercely competitive situation where people are willing to harm others to get ahead
a fiercely competitive situation where people are willing to harm others to get ahead
epic centre
epicentre
the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
escape goat
scapegoat
a person or group unfairly blamed for the problems of others
a person or group unfairly blamed for the problems of others
ex‑patriot
expatriate
someone living outside their native country, often for work or lifestyle reasons
someone living outside their native country, often for work or lifestyle reasons
Extreme Court
Supreme Court
the highest court in a country’s judicial system, whose decisions are final
the highest court in a country’s judicial system, whose decisions are final
fall by the waste side
fall by the wayside
to fail, be left behind, or be forgotten while others continue
to fail, be left behind, or be forgotten while others continue
Farmer John cheese
parmesan cheese
a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, nutty flavor
a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, nutty flavor
feeble position
fetal position
a curled‑up body posture resembling that of a baby in the womb
a curled‑up body posture resembling that of a baby in the womb
first‑come, first serve
first‑come, first‑served
giving something to people in the order that they arrive or request it
giving something to people in the order that they arrive or request it
flush out
flesh out
to add detail or substance to something that is only a basic idea
to add detail or substance to something that is only a basic idea
flustrated
frustrated
feeling annoyed or discouraged because one’s efforts are blocked
feeling annoyed or discouraged because one’s efforts are blocked
flustrated
flustered
upset or confused in a nervous, agitated way
upset or confused in a nervous, agitated way
flutterby
butterfly
an insect with large often brightly colored wings that develops from a caterpillar
an insect with large often brightly colored wings that develops from a caterpillar
for all intensive purposes
for all intents and purposes
in every practical sense or effect, even if not literally
in every practical sense or effect, even if not literally
free reign
free rein
complete freedom to act or decide as one wishes
complete freedom to act or decide as one wishes
from here on end
from here on in
from this moment forward into the future
from this moment forward into the future
front in center
front and center
in a very prominent, noticeable, or important position
in a very prominent, noticeable, or important position
give up the goat
give up the ghost
to die or to stop working and fail completely
to die or to stop working and fail completely
guilt trap
guilt trip
a manipulation that makes someone feel guilty to influence their behavior
a manipulation that makes someone feel guilty to influence their behavior
hanitizer
hand sanitizer
a gel or liquid used on hands to kill germs without water
a gel or liquid used on hands to kill germs without water
happy as a clown
happy as a clam
very contented and satisfied
very contented and satisfied
have another thing coming
have another think coming
being mistaken and needing to reconsider one’s expectation
being mistaken and needing to reconsider one’s expectation
hone in
home in
to move or focus toward a target or main point with increasing accuracy
to move or focus toward a target or main point with increasing accuracy
how the turn tables
turn the tables
to reverse a situation so that the advantage shifts to the other side
to reverse a situation so that the advantage shifts to the other side
hunger pains
hunger pangs
sharp feelings of hunger or stomach discomfort from not eating
sharp feelings of hunger or stomach discomfort from not eating
hysterical marker
historical marker
an official sign that identifies and briefly explains a site of historical importance
an official sign that identifies and briefly explains a site of historical importance
in other worlds
in other words
to rephrase something more simply or clearly
to rephrase something more simply or clearly
inner enemy
inner me
authentic self or spiritual core
authentic self or spiritual core
jig-solve puzzles
jigsaw puzzles
puzzles made of many interlocking pieces that form a picture when assembled
puzzles made of many interlocking pieces that form a picture when assembled
junk-start
jump-start
to start something quickly or give it an extra strong beginning or boost
to start something quickly or give it an extra strong beginning or boost
lack toast and tolerant
lactose intolerant
unable to properly digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products
unable to properly digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products
last stitch effort
last ditch effort
a final, desperate attempt to achieve something before failure
a final, desperate attempt to achieve something before failure
lesser of two equals
lesser of two evils
the less harmful or unpleasant choice between two bad options
the less harmful or unpleasant choice between two bad options
mommy-coddled
mollycoddled
overprotected or treated with excessive care and indulgence
overprotected or treated with excessive care and indulgence
nerve-wrecking
nerve-racking
extremely stressful or worrying to the point of making someone very tense
extremely stressful or worrying to the point of making someone very tense
nip it in the butt
nip it in the bud
to stop a problem early before it grows worse
to stop a problem early before it grows worse
old wise tale
old wives’ tale
a traditional belief or superstition that is widely repeated but not scientifically proven
a traditional belief or superstition that is widely repeated but not scientifically proven
old‑timers’ disease
Alzheimer’s disease
a progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and thinking problems
a progressive brain disorder that causes memory loss and thinking problems
on tender hooks
on tenterhooks
in a state of tense, nervous waiting for something to happen; tenterhooks are hooks used to stretch fabric
in a state of tense, nervous waiting for something to happen; tenterhooks are hooks used to stretch fabric
one in the same
one and the same
completely identical or exactly the same thing or person
completely identical or exactly the same thing or person
optical delusion
optical illusion
an image that deceives the eyes, making one see something inaccurately
an image that deceives the eyes, making one see something inaccurately
pass mustard
pass muster
to be judged as acceptable or good enough
to be judged as acceptable or good enough
peaked my interest
piqued my interest
aroused or stimulated my curiosity
aroused or stimulated my curiosity
permission cheese
parmesan cheese
a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, nutty flavor
a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, nutty flavor
physical cliff
fiscal cliff
a situation where automatic tax increases or spending cuts are set to take effect, risking economic harm
a situation where automatic tax increases or spending cuts are set to take effect, risking economic harm
physical year
fiscal year
a 12‑month accounting period used for budgets and financial reporting
a 12‑month accounting period used for budgets and financial reporting
power of eternity
power of attorney
a legal authorization allowing one person to act on another’s behalf
a legal authorization allowing one person to act on another’s behalf
pre‑Madonna
prima donna
a very temperamental or self-important person who expects special treatment
a very temperamental or self-important person who expects special treatment
real goal-getter
real go-getter
a very energetic, ambitious person who actively pursues goals
a very energetic, ambitious person who actively pursues goals
rebel rouser
rabble rouser
a person who stirs up crowds or emotions, often for political or disruptive purposes
a person who stirs up crowds or emotions, often for political or disruptive purposes
reign in
rein in
to restrain, control, or limit someone or something
to restrain, control, or limit someone or something
rubble rouser
rabble rouser
a person who stirs up crowds or emotions, often for political or disruptive purposes
a person who stirs up crowds or emotions, often for political or disruptive purposes
run the gambit
run the gamut
to include or experience the full range from one extreme to another
to include or experience the full range from one extreme to another
self‑of‑steam
self‑esteem
a person’s overall sense of self‑worth or personal value
a person’s overall sense of self‑worth or personal value
shoe‑in
shoo‑in
someone or something that is almost certain to win or succeed
someone or something that is almost certain to win or succeed
shutter to think
shudder to think
strongly dislike imagining something because it is so unpleasant or frightening
strongly dislike imagining something because it is so unpleasant or frightening
sick sense
sixth sense
an intuitive ability to sense things beyond the usual five senses
an intuitive ability to sense things beyond the usual five senses
skyscratcher
skyscraper
a very tall city building with at least 40 stories
a very tall city building with at least 40 stories
slight of hand
sleight of hand
skillful, deceptive hand movements used in tricks or fraud
skillful, deceptive hand movements used in tricks or fraud
spitting image
spit and image
a person who looks exactly like someone else
a person who looks exactly like someone else
stand at a tension
stand at attention
to stand straight and still in a formal, disciplined posture, usually in military style
to stand straight and still in a formal, disciplined posture, usually in military style
straight and arrow
straight and narrow
a morally upright, disciplined way of life
a morally upright, disciplined way of life
swirlpool
whirlpool
a rapidly spinning body of water that draws things toward its center
a rapidly spinning body of water that draws things toward its center
take a different tact
take a different tack
to change one’s approach or method of dealing with something
to change one’s approach or method of dealing with something
taken back
taken aback
suddenly surprised or startled, often leaving one momentarily speechless
suddenly surprised or startled, often leaving one momentarily speechless
taken for granite
taken for granted
not properly appreciated because something is assumed will always be there
not properly appreciated because something is assumed will always be there
takes two to tangle
takes two to tango
both people involved share responsibility for what happens between them; tango is a dance
both people involved share responsibility for what happens between them; tango is a dance
to be Pacific
to be specific
used to introduce a more precise detail or clarification
used to introduce a more precise detail or clarification
toilet treats
toiletries
personal care items, such as soap and toothpaste, used for grooming
personal care items, such as soap and toothpaste, used for grooming
tongue and cheek
tongue‑in‑cheek
meant humorously or sarcastically rather than seriously
meant humorously or sarcastically rather than seriously
tow the line
toe the line
to follow rules or accept authority without protest
to follow rules or accept authority without protest
very close veins
varicose veins
swollen, twisted veins that are visible under the skin, usually in the legs
swollen, twisted veins that are visible under the skin, usually in the legs
wet your appetite
whet your appetite
to stimulate interest or desire, especially for food or an experience
to stimulate interest or desire, especially for food or an experience
wheel barrel
wheelbarrow
a small one‑wheeled cart with handles used to move loads by hand
a small one‑wheeled cart with handles used to move loads by hand
wild variety
wide variety
a large range of different types or kinds of things
a large range of different types or kinds of things
wonderlust
wanderlust
a strong desire to travel and explore different places
a strong desire to travel and explore different places
A few of the sources I consulted while compiling this list:
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