hotsparks
palouse falls, wa.
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Joined: 01/24/2010
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This is just a list of misused common words that melt my brain when I hear them used. Please add to the list if you can think of any.
-On a different post someone used the term "lead pipe". I answered, it's steel pipe not lead. They stopped making lead pipes in the 1920's or whenever.
-A lead pencil. It's graphite, not lead.
My sister even threw away all the pencils in her house because she heard that lead was a toxic material. I did not try to argue.
-A cement floor. It's concrete, not cement. Cement is an ingredient to making concrete.
-A blow torch. "They cut the safe open with a blow torch". A blow torch is a small hand held torch that was filled with kerosene and had a small plunger to build up pressure. I think it was used to solder lead pipes. It would not cut anything and are only found in antique stores and old barns. 
Can you guys and gals think of any others?
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azbound
Rogue River, Or.
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Joined: 10/17/2009
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Irregardless what does it mean. The suffix IR is intended to reverse the word that follows, so again what does irregardless mean.
Gary and Janet (countryrose)
Rogue River, Or.
2009 Bighorn
2008 Chevy 3500 4X4 D/A DRW
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hotsparks
palouse falls, wa.
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The great George Carlin has a whole bit about these types of words that is excellent.
-Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
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trailerbikecamper
eastern Canada
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Joined: 09/06/2004
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Unthaw a roast before cooking. If thaw is to melt, wouldn't unthaw mean to feeze?
Moose is the same in plural as single, one moose two moose but goose is different...one goose two geese.
House is different again...a single house or 2 houses, but a single mouse but two mice...why not two mouses ot should it be two hice?
Is gasoline flammable or inflammable...I've seen both on the back of fule delivery trucks...which is right...or both?
Dan/Mary
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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Joined: 02/23/2002
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Did you eat your ice cream too fast and froze your brain? :-)
Really, you're brain melts?
Isn't that a misuse of melt?
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onehorsehitcher
Donna Tx
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Joined: 04/06/2007
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In certain areas the term 'blow torch' is used for what most call the cutting torch ie: acetylene torch. When one gets the metal hot more oxygen is applied to 'blow' away the molten metal. Thus the term blow torch. What I and most people commonly call the 'blow torch' really doesn't blow at all, when pressure is applied to the burning 'white' gas (unleaded is similar) the flame was hotter and melted the solder faster. I never heard of kerosine being used in such a 'blow torch' but then it may have been in some areas. This type of blow torch was used primarily for heating a soldering iron which in turn was used to solder which was mostly lead to mend radiators and in soldering metal roofs. I used to have a tinning blow torch that had a resevoir for the stick solder and a connection to blow the molten solder onto the seam of a copper roofing material. Alas my wife sold it in her antique shop for a outrageous price. Now that there are plasma cutting equipment the acetylene torch is less used for delicate cutting. Progress.
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hotsparks
palouse falls, wa.
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"White gas" that must be it. I've worked as a welder in a shipyard for over 25 years. I understand how torches work. I have just never needed to use one of the white gas heating torches. I used to have one. I never used it. I don't do much soldering. If I did I would just use the propane torch...progress.  I'm getting older and I forgot what I can't remember.
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Orion
Pacific South West
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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I think mine would have to be the words 'solder' & 'soldering'.
I moved over from the UK many years ago and now have no problems putting things in the 'trunk' rather than the 'boot', now happily walk on the 'sidewalk' rather than the 'pavement' and now no longer knock my friend up early when going fishing. However, there is no way that I will ever say the above two words without pronouncing the 'L'. !!
Where I come from, those words without the 'L' mean something completely different and quite nasty!
I don't believe in astrology. I am a Gemini and
we're very skeptical.
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covetsthesun
missouri
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Joined: 02/24/2007
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Words that people feel the need to add an extra bit.
Realator. It's REAL...TOR...SAY IT!!! Not Reel a tor. ACK!
Nucular. Nuclear. Nuuuuuu Clear. Not Nu Cyah lahr.
Athalete. Athlete. Ath...lete.
Aks. Ask. Ask me a question. No axes allowed.
Phrases..."hurry up pronto"... huh?? Hurry up quick?
And...I know I am going to start the "border wars" all over again... but... once and for all... Missouri is pronounced MissourEEEEE. Not MissourAHHH.
Ok...running for cover now!LOL!
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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Joined: 06/04/2003
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Hot Water Heater????
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
Superman was an illegal alien.
Expedition - Suzuki Grand Viagra
NASCAR 14 - 99
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