Every now and then we hear phrases that give us pause. Some phrases have worked their way into
everyday language. Here are some that
are just plain dumb.
Be careful. These two innocuous words are ones I often
use. I say it out of concern for my
loved ones and after spewing them, is apologize. People do not cast caution to the wind in my
absence. Climbing a ladder, my friends
and family members don’t think, “No one offered any cautionary words so, it’s
off to the top rung that is labeled ‘Not a Step’. “
I ran out of time. This phrase can be heard by people who have
poor time-management skills. Since we
all have 24-hours in a day, we all have the same opportunities to accomplish
things within those parameters.
If only I had known. Used primarily as a vehicle to provide an
excuse for some sort of shortcoming, this saying is a true gem. “If only I had known,” I would’ve picked the
winning lottery numbers; I would’ve used the correct test answers; or I
could’ve taken a cab home.
I found them in the last place I
looked. That’s good. If you had, indeed, found something missing –
keys, wallet, teeth – it would be pointless to continue looking. So, this statement is truer and more accurate
than most, unless you have memory problems.
Ooh, that’s hot! Knowing food was just removed from the oven –
lasagna, for instance – should serve as a clue for everyone older than an
infant that it should not be eaten right away.
Keeping food baking at 400 degrees for two-hours generally makes it
hot. It should come as no surprise that
it needs time – somewhere in the neighborhood of 45-minutes – to sufficiently
cool to avoid serious burns to your mouth.
Ooh, that’s cold! Akin to “Ooh, that’s hot!” this phrase is
heard more often during the winter.
Folks generally rush indoors and, while their eyeglasses are de-fogging,
utter a weather report about the icy temperatures outside. It should come as no surprise to most since
we call that time of year “winter” which denotes generally cold conditions. No one should be amazed.
Did you see this? These words are often heard and said while
reading either a newspaper or book. The
reader traditionally discovers something truly news-worthy and makes the
announcement “Did you see this?” Such an
expression is redundant since the asker usually is the first viewing the
newspaper, precluding the askee from responding with anything but a, “No.”
It’s raining outside. Traditionally it does rain outside making
this statement anticlimactic. If the
true news is supposed to be that rain is actually falling, your wet umbrella or
damp clothes may be a hint. If it’s
raining inside, you need a roofer or plumber.
How do I look? This one needs
no response. No matter what your answer
is, it is wrong. If you say they look
nice, you are lying. If you say awful,
you need to be ready for a fight.
Are you serious? Another example of crazy words can be found when
these three are assembled together. Most
people don’t normally joke about your house being on fire. Create your own crisis and try them by
inserting them in the sentence, “I must tell you that______.” Now follow with “Are you serious?”
How are you? No one really wants to hear the true answer
to this inquiry. This is a casual
greeting between individuals with an anticipated
reply of, “Fine.” The person who tossed
this line out does not want to hear about your sick aunt, dead dog, or unexpected
case of dandruff.
Speed Kills. This is my personal favorite. If this statement were true, all NASCAR
drivers would be dead. They’re not. ‘Nuff said.
This list is only the beginning of more to come. Thanks for reading and come back next week
for a new story.
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