Even Jane can get it wrong
Aug. 5th, 2008 09:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catalyst2When I read Jane Espenson's entry for August 2nd I was confused. She explained the phrase "butter wouldn't melt in your mouth" as about someone who had a very cold expression - which was certainly news to me. I always thought it referred to a person who looked very naive or innocent but acted in the opposite way to that.
Then I see Jane's entry for August 4th and she got it wrong. I knew something that Jane didn't! And then I wondered just how many phrases people use and think they mean something different. I worked with a guy many years ago (Duncan, if you're reading this, you still owe me NZ$10, you cheap bastard!) who thought the phrase "The early bird gets the worm" meant don't turn up early because all you'll get is worms! It took us a lot of persuading before Duncan would believe diferent.
Then I see Jane's entry for August 4th and she got it wrong. I knew something that Jane didn't! And then I wondered just how many phrases people use and think they mean something different. I worked with a guy many years ago (Duncan, if you're reading this, you still owe me NZ$10, you cheap bastard!) who thought the phrase "The early bird gets the worm" meant don't turn up early because all you'll get is worms! It took us a lot of persuading before Duncan would believe diferent.
