Phrases that are odd when taken literally.

[Nautical Honors Society]

I was having a random thought. A lot of phrases we use would be ridiculous if taken literally (that is why they are just phrases).

For example: "I had a long day" this is impossible, there is no such thing as a long day, every day is 24 hours long.

So do you guys know any phrases that would be ridiculous if taken literally?

 

[TriggerUnhappy]

"Kick the bucket" and "In a bit of a pickle" are a bit ridiculous.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Ringo Starr is pro at these.

I mean, how the hell does "It's been a hard day's night" make any sense?

 

[DistinctlyBenign]

"Whatever floats your boat" - Water. Its always going to be water. Forever.

"Whats up?" - People who ask this rarely want to know about the objects above their heads.

"Break a leg" - the obvious one. People don't actually want to see your leg broken when they say this.

 

[Grand_Arcana]

"Pot calls tea kettle black." Most of them are similar

"You can't have your cake and eat it too." This one I understand, but it's still strange. Basically, you can't admire your cake's aesthetic charm and admire it's taste. You can either admire the decorative flowers and words written in frosting, or you eat it.

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

"Break a leg" - the obvious one. People don't actually want to see your leg broken when they say this.

This is actually theater tradition since it is bad luck to say "good luck" before a show. So for good luck, you say something bad.

 

[child of lileth]

Ringo Starr is pro at these.

I mean, how the hell does "It's been a hard day's night" make any sense?

I always thought it meant like, "it is the night time phase of the day, after a hard day of work." His way obviously just sounds better.

 

[The87Italians]

It's raining cats and dogs; wouldn't there just be animal corpses all over the place? It'd cause quite the mess.

 

[I Max95]

"bought the farm" it means dead but people who buy farms rarely die right afterwards

"on top of the world" i understand what it means and why its used but in a litteral sense it makes no sense
the world is in space where there is no top, nor up, nor down

 

[Hayate_GT]

how about... "you can't have your cake and eat it too"...i mean it's MY cake what else am i supposed to do with it...i know.....

 

[Sterling|D-Reaver]

F*** off!

atheists who say god damn or any other god related curse.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

"FUCK! ME!" when something bad happens.

Well, depends on who's listening.

 

[Nossy]

"Kill two birds with one stone" - Like any phrase, I understand the meaning, but when I take a step back, it sounds ludicrous. But it would be cool to see it actually happen. Maybe not kill two birds with one stone, but maybe hit two birds with a pebble.

 

[glodud]

screw you!!!

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

The obvious one, "It's raining cats and dogs."

Also, "screw this."

 

[The Geek Lord]

"Jesus Christ" Where, does he just pop up sometimes and give people a quick fright.

One of the funniest mental images I've ever had.

On topic, there's always my personal catchphrase, "God dammit, Japan!" I mean, Japan didn't do it, it was some guy or a company in Japan that did it. It's not like the land itself just grew hands and drew some kind of abomination. Nor did all of the people Japan do it.

 

[AugustFall]

"I want him inside me."


Always thought that was weird out of context.

 

[DarkJester]

"One in the hand is worth two in the bush."

I'm guessing it refers to something you have having more worth or meaning than something you just want... but depending on who you are and what context, this could be quite dirty. And is definitely nonsensical when taken literally.

"Lie like a dog."

Really? Dogs lie alot? Are they good at it? Or in another sense: I don't really see many dogs just lying about randomly.

"Hard as hell."

This one I've heard, and said, quite often. But how do we know that Hell is indeed "Hard"? Perhaps it is soft, or easy, or even fluffy. From what I understand, according to religious folk, Hell is actually quite easy to get in to, plus... fire isn't what some would call "Dense".

"It's always darkest before the dawn."

No, it isn't. It's actually fairly bright. Most of the time; it's darkest on a moonless night, when the sun is at the definite opposite of your current geographical location.

 

[RathWolf]

"One in the hand is worth two in the bush."

I'm guessing it refers to something you have having more worth or meaning than something you just want... but depending on who you are and what context, this could be quite dirty. And is definitely nonsensical when taken literally.

Sorry, felt the need to clarify this. The phrase is "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush", and the idea is if you are holding a bird in the hand, you have your dinner. You can take that one bird, and be well fed. If you let it go to pursue two birds you?ve spied in a bush, you may catch neither, and wind up hungry for the night.

Of all phrases, that one makes quite a bit of sense literally.

 

[Gabriel Xollan]

"Alright, Shoot"

Used in reference to someone about to ask a question. You had better hope the question being asked isn't, can I shoot you?

"I feel all warm and fuzzy inside."

Seeing as the average body temp is 98 degrees I'd say it is pretty warm, but fuzzy? More like squishy haha!

"A whale of a tale."

A tale has whales now??? Aquaman would be proud.

"Can't get you off my mind."

Sorry bout that, confused your mind for a chair. Now that I'm standing up is that better?