Raining cats and dogs’, ‘as easy as pie’ and ‘bite the bullet’ are among the most confusing turns of phrase, according to Brits.
A study, of 2,000 adults, found a third have been perplexed by an object’s name or a common-place expression.
‘A dime a dozen’ was the most confusing, according to 24%, while ‘cat got your tongue’ (14%) is also baffling.
When it cemes to ‘misnomers’ or misleading names, ‘tennis bracelet’ (32%), ‘herringbone’ (17%) and ‘koala bear’ (16%) were the top causes of confusion. While ‘wisdom teeth’ (11%), ‘gravy boat’ (13%) and ‘cat burglar’ (10%) also feature.
This has meant 22% have used a misnomer in the wrong context, while 16% have misunderstood what something does.
The study was commissioned by biscuit brand, LU, to mark the launch of its new Le Petit Cookie.
Fred Sirieix, brand ambassador, said: “It’s been great fun finding the unique names, terms and phrases that often cause confusion in the English language.
“You know, English isn’t my first language, so it’s been even more fun to get to the bottom of it all. I’m now on a mission to turn the peculiarly named Piccadilly Circus into ‘Normal English Square’ – makes much more sense.”
The research also found 32% have looked up an unusual saying to find out what it means, although 24% admitted to simply pretending to understand the meaning.
And 27% have simply accepted the definition of a misnomer without questioning it.
Yet despite these confusions, as many as 77% think quirky and funny misleading terms are what makes the English language unique, with ‘funny bone’ (26%), ‘daddy longlegs’ (21%) and ‘blue moon’ (18%) the nation’s favourite misnomers.
Alongside phrases, oddly named locations have caused confusion with Dead Man’s Bottom topping the list of locations and landmarks with the most misleading names (28%).
Leeds Castle (27%) – which is not located in Leeds, but Kent – London’s Isle of Dogs (23%) and Worm’s Head in Rhossili (17%) also featured.
As a result of name misinterpretation, 12% have gone to the wrong place, while 24% have been surprised at what it actually is on arrival.
The research, carried out via OnePoll, also found 38% have been confused by food and menu items, such as the ingredients (54%), form of a dish (35%) and where it originates from (33%). And 17% have even ordered a meal with an unusual name, purely to find out what it is.
But 86% agreed there are lots of quirky names within the world of food, with devilled eggs (25%), toad in the hole (22%) and spotted dick (34%) among the most odd. Sussex pond pudding (29%), Stargazy pie (25%) and spotted dick (34%) also featured.
Kelly Lawrence, spokesperson for LU, said: “Despite the name, there is nothing ‘petit’ about the new cookie but given all the other phrases out there we knowing it’s joining a lot of other things with somewhat perplexing names that people will come to understand.”
