Idioms and phrases make a language more interesting and colorful but when they’re used incorrectly, they can create chaos and confusion. In fact, some of the more common mistakes transform the phrases to mean the exact opposite of their
original intention! Following are the incorrect forms of the top 11 phrases that many people get wrong (even though they’re sure they have it right). Do you also say these incorrectly? Do you suffer from twisted phrase syndrome, too?

1. I could care less
2. One in the same
3. Nip [something] in the butt
4. Peak someone's interest
5. First come, first serve
6. Scott free or Scotch free
7. Extract revenge
8. Wreck havoc
9. Baited breath
10. Free reign
11. Slight of hand

If you say or write these phrases as they appear above, unfortunately, you are
using them incorrectly. In this article, we’ll reveal the proper phrases,
including their correct spelling,  their meaning, and also provide example sentences to demonstrate correct usage. You’ll learn how to use them without abusing them. Read on!

Incorrect: I could care less
Correct: I couldn't care less

This is one of the most commonly misspoken phrases. The expression is used to
indicate that you don't care at all about something. More literally, the correct phrase, "I couldn't care less", means that you already care so little (almost not at all), that it would be impossible to care any less.

Conversely, "I could care less" (the incorrect form) actually means that you care about something and could possibly care less. While you might be able to find some use for this wording, it is not the correct phrase, nor does it convey the intended meaning.

Usage in a sentence: Tina told me that she is not coming to the party. Frankly, I couldn't care less!

Incorrect: One in the same
Correct: One and the same

We say that two things are “one and the same” when we want to say that two things
are , in fact, the same thing. It is used when speaking about two people or objects that are thought to be separate but are actually a single person or thing – they are “one and the same” not “one in the same”. In this case, incorrect usage mostly stems from the phrase being misheard.

Usage in a sentence: I was amazed to find out that Mary's husband and Jane's son are one and the same.

Incorrect: Nip [something] in the butt

Correct: Nip [something] in the bud

 

The phrase implies stopping something from progressing early on, thereby preventing it from becoming a bigger problem in the future. For example, when someone begins developing a bad habit, they should put a stop to it before it becomes an addiction – they should “nip their bad habit in the bud, so it doesn’t become an addiction”. The literal meaning of the phrase "nip it in the bud" refers to pinching a bud and possibly destroying it before it grows into a flower.

The incorrect phrase refers to “the butt”, meaning a person's backend, and is completely wrong. This expression confuses people because the words "butt" and "bud" sound similar, and the phrase “nip (something) in the butt” seems actually to coincide with another catch phrase – when “(something) comes back to bite you in the butt”.

Usage in a sentence: Through early detection and proper medication, the doctors managed to nip the illness in the bud.

 

Incorrect: Peak someone's interest

Correct: Pique someone's interest

This phrase confuses people because the words "pique" and "peak" sound the same when spoken, and “pique” is a rare word (i.e., it’s seldomly used). Of course, they are spelled differently, and the meaning of the phrase is simply to interest someone. The word "pique" means to arouse, and it fits perfectly in the phrase "pique someone's interest".

Usage in a sentence: As I walked around, browsing books in the bookstore, one book in particular about the afterlife, piqued my interest.

Incorrect: First come, first serve

Correct: First come, first served

The correct and incorrect versions of this phrase are so similar that people who know which is right will very often still get confused. But when we take a closer look at the two phrases and understand the nuance of the difference between them, it becomes clear that there is only one way to use the phrase correctly.

Most people intuitively understand the meaning of this phrase. It means that people will be serviced or dealt with in the order in which they come. So, if you come first, you get served first. When you incorrectly say "first come, first serve", you are literally saying that the one who comes first has to serve first. Thus, the correct phrase is "first come, first served".

Usage in a sentence: The restaurant is always packed on weekends. They operate strictly on a first come, first served basis.

 

Incorrect: Scott free or Scotch free

Correct: Scot free

When you say someone got off scot-free, you mean that they escaped punishment for something they had done. For example, if someone committed a crime, but was let off without any punishment or penalty, we would say that the person got to walk scot free.

Many people often think the phrase is "scott free" or "scotch free" because the words sound similar. The correct word is, in fact, "scot", which means "tax" in archaic English. So going scot free means to go without having to pay any taxes at all!

Usage in a sentence: Due to lack of witnesses, Brad walked scot free, even though everyone knew that he was guilty in the hit and run case.

Incorrect: Extract revenge

Correct: Exact revenge

 

When you seek to take revenge on someone, you are basically trying to get back at them for something bad they did to you. So… "extracting revenge" might seem like the correct phrase. Alas, it is not – the correct wording is 'exacting revenge', where ‘exacting” means “taking”. No wonder many people get mixed up with this phrase.

One way to remember the correct phrase is to remember that when you want to take revenge for something, you probably want to do something 'exactly' as bad as was done to you.

Usage in a sentence: After being falsely accused, Alan vowed to exact revenge on all those who wronged him.

Incorrect: Wreck havoc

Correct: Wreak havoc

 

The word 'havoc' means destruction. The word 'wreck' means to destroy. But 'wreck havoc' means nothing at all. Because “wreck’ intuitively seems right, "wreck havoc' is often confused with the correct phrase, 'wreak havoc', which means to cause destruction. The confusion is also rooted in the similar way ‘wreak’ and ‘wreck’ are spelled, even though the words are pronounced differently. The word 'wreak' means to cause.

Usage in a sentence: The devastating storm wreaked havoc across hundreds of square kilometers.

Incorrect: Baited breath

Correct: Bated breath

 

The words 'baited' and 'bated' are pronounced exactly the same. Also, bait is a common enough word that is familiar to most of us. On the other hand, few and far between know the word “bated” or have consciously used it in a sentence. So, it’s quite natural that people would think that the phrase is 'baited breath'. However, the correct phrase is 'bated breath'. When you are waiting for something with 'bated breath', it means you are waiting with nervous anticipation, wanting to know what will happen next. For example, waiting to find out who wins in the last 5 minutes of a football game, or waiting with nervous excitement (or, perhaps, trepidation) to know if you scored well on a test.

Wondering what the origin of 'bated' is? It is actually short for the English word 'abated'. To abate means to lessen or shorten something. Therefore, when you wait with bated breath, you are shortening (or holding) your breath.

Usage in a sentence: As the teacher was announcing our grades in class, I waited for my name to be called with bated breath.

Incorrect: Free reign

Correct: Free rein

 

You have probably heard this phrase many times. It means to give someone freedom of expression or action. Here, as well, the confusion lies in the similar phonetics of the words 'reign' and 'rein' and the suitability of the word 'reign' to the phrase, which refers to 'ruling as a monarch'. It is easy to imagine that 'free reign' means complete freedom to do as you please. After all, that's what kings and queens do, right?

Be it as it may, the correct phrase is 'free rein', where the word 'rein' refers to a horse's reins. Think of it as when you give free rein to a horse, the horse can do as it wishes!

Usage in a sentence: Melinda easily trusts people. She has given free rein to all her employees.

Incorrect: Slight of hand

Correct: Sleight of hand

 

And one final time (at least for this countdown),  this is a classic example of phrase confusion because of words that sound similar. The phrase refers to the skill of performing tricks that rely on illusion, such as conjuring or a magic trick. When a magician makes a coin in their palm disappear or seems to grab a card out of thin air, they are performing a sleight of hand.

Since 'slight' is a more popular word than 'sleight' (to say the least), people use “slight” and end up writing this phrase incorrectly. The meaning of sleight is to be able to deceive or trick someone. As such, when you use your hands to do magic tricks, the correct phrase in this context is 'sleight of hand'.

Usage in a sentence: The magician’s deft use of sleight of hand to perform many pf her tricks, had the audience applauding without stop.

Using catch phrases and expressions makes your English more impactful, but only if they are used correctly. Whether writing or speaking, using the correct phrases will make your English more effective. Using the incorrect form of the phrases can have the opposite effect. Learning a new language takes time, and the phrases listed above are so confusing that even native English speakers get them wrong sometimes. Now, then, is the time to switch up your English and If you have been using these phrases incorrectly, it’s a great time to learn to use them the right way!