1. Prostrate cancer
It's an easy misspelling to make, just add an extra "r" and prostate cancer becomes "prostrate" cancer which would translate to "cancer of lying face down on the ground." Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mayo Clinic websites include this misspelling.
2. First-come, first-serve
This would suggest that the first person to arrive has to serve all of the others. The actual phrase is "first-come, first-served" to indicate that the participants will be served in the order in which they arrived. Both Harvard and Yale got this one wrong.
3. Sneak peak
A "peak" is a mountain top. A "peek" is a quick look. The correct expression is "sneak peek" which would mean to have a secret or early look at something. This error appeared on Oxford University's site as well as the National Park Service website.
4. Deep-seeded
This should actually be "deep-seated" to indicate that it is firmly established. Though "deep-seeded" could theoretically make sense, indicating something is planted deep in the ground, this is not the correct expression. Correctica found this error on the Washington Post as well as the White House site.
5. Extract revenge
To extract something is to remove it, like a tooth. The correct expression is "exact revenge" which means to demand revenge. The New York Times as well as the BBC made this error.
6. I could care less
"I couldn't care less" is what you would say in order to express maximum apathy toward a situation. Basically you're saying, "It's impossible for me to care less about this because I have no more cares to give. I've run out of cares." Using the incorrect expression "I could care less" indicates "I still have a few cares left to give, would you like some?"
7. Shoe-in
"Shoo-in" is a common idiom which means a sure winner. To "shoo" something is to urge it in a direction. As you would "shoo" a fly out of your house, you could also "shoo" someone toward victory. The expression started in the early 20th century, relating to horse racing and broadened to politics soon after.
It's easy to see why the "shoe-in" version is so common, perhaps derived from the door-to-door sales practice of moving a foot into the doorway to make it more difficult for a prospective client to close the door. But "foot in the door" is an entirely different idiom.
8. Emigrated to
With this one there is no debate. The verb "emigrate" is always used with the preposition "from," whereas immigrate is always used with the preposition "to." To emigrate is to come from somewhere, and to immigrate is to go to somewhere. "Jimmy emigrated from Ireland to the United States" means the same thing as "Jimmy immigrated to the United States from Ireland." It's just a matter of what you're emphasizing — the coming or the going.
9. Slight of hand
"Sleight of hand" is a common phrase in the world of magic and illusion, because "sleight" means the use of dexterity or cunning, usually to deceive. On the other hand, the noun "slight" means an insult.
10. Honed in
First, it's important to note that this particular expression is hotly debated. Many references now consider "hone in" an alteration of "home in." That said, it is still generally accepted that "home in" is the more correct phrase. To home in on something means to move toward a goal, such as "The missile homed in on its target."
To "hone" means to sharpen. You would say, "I honed my resume writing skills." But you would likely not say, "The missile honed in on its target." When followed by the preposition "in," the word "hone" just doesn't make sense.
11. Baited breath
The term "bated" is an adjective meaning suspense. It originated from the verb "abate," meaning to stop or lessen. Therefore, "to wait with bated breath" essentially means to hold your breath with anticipation. The verb "bait," on the other hand, means to taunt, often to taunt a predator with its prey.
A fisherman baits his line in hopes of a big catch. Considering the meaning of the two words, it's clear which is correct, but the word "bated" is mostly obsolete today, leading to the ever-increasing misuse of this expression.
12. Piece of mind
This should be "peace" of mind, meaning calmness and tranquility. The expression "piece of mind," actually would suggest doling out sections of brain.
13. Wet your appetite
This expression is more often used incorrectly than it is used correctly — 56% of the time it appears online, it's wrong. The correct idiom is "whet your appetite." Whet means to sharpen or stimulate, so to whet your appetite would mean to awaken your desire for something.
14. For all intensive purposes
The correct phrase should be "for all intents and purposes." It originates from English law in the 1500s that stated "to all intents, constructions and purposes," which basically means "officially" or "effectively."
15. One in the same
One in the same would literally translate that the "one" is inside of the same thing as itself, which makes no sense at all. The proper phrase is "one and the same," meaning the same thing or the same person. For example, "When Melissa was homeschooled, her teacher and her mother were one and the same."
16. Make due
When something is due, it is owed. To make due would mean to make owed, but the phrase to "make do" is short for "to make something do well" or "to make something sufficient." When life gives you lemons, you make do and make lemonade!
17. By in large
The phrase "by and large" was first used in 1706 to mean "in general." It was a nautical phrase derived from sailing terms "by" and "large." While it doesn't have a literal meaning that makes sense, "by and large" is the correct version of this phrase.
18. Do diligence
While it may be easy to surmise that "do diligence" translates to doing something diligently, it does not. "Due diligence" is a business and legal term that means you will investigate a person or business before signing a contract with them, or before formally engaging in a business deal together. You should do your due diligence and investigate business deals fully before committing to them.
19. Peaked my interest
To "pique" means to arouse, so the correct phrase here should be "piqued my interest," meaning that your interest was awoken. To say that something "peaked my interest" would mean that it looked at my interest.
20. Case and point
The correct phrase in this case is "case in point" which derives its meaning from a dialect of Old French. While it may not make any logical sense today, it is a fixed idiom.
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