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19 Phrases & Words That Have Completely Changed In Meaning

August 13, 2020

Language is always evolving so the origin of an idiom or word is less important than the common meaning, but it still makes for interesting trivia. Read on for 19 instances of semantic drift over time.

20

EGREGIOUS WHAT WE extremely bad THINK IT MEANS remarkably good ITS ORIGINAL The current meaning MEANING derived from using it ironically. CRACKED — Source: Mental Floss

19

MY COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG WHAT WE Nationalism, THINK IT regardless of MEANS circumstance It's my country to change as needed. ITS ORIGINAL My co

18

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT WHAT WE don't stick your THINK IT nose in other MEANS people's business worrying too much ITS will kill you ORIGINAL MEAN — Read more: The 5 Most Frequently Misused Proverbs

17

BIMBO WHAT WE an attractive but not THINK IT intelligent MEANS woman ITS a brutish man ORIGINAL MEANING As in, himbos move aside, a bimbo is comin — Source: The Guardian

16

GIRL WHAT WE female THINK IT a child MEANS ITS a child of any gender ORIGINAL MEANING As in, only girls should play with dolls. CRACKED.COM — Source: The Guardian

15

DAPPER WHAT WE well-dressed, stylish THINK IT MEANS heavy-set ITS ORIGINAL Definitely not MEANING as applicable to Ryan Gosling. CRACKED COM — Source: Mental Floss

14

THE EXCEPTION PROVES' THE RULE WHAT WE One exception THINK IT doesn't undermine MEANS the rule. The rule works in all other circumstances. ITS ORIGINA — Source: Grammarist

13

HANDICAP WHAT WE THINK IT a disability MEANS a medieval process of securing a fair deal, ITS where two tradesman ORIGINAL would drop coins in MEAN — Source: The Guardian

12

BEG THE QUESTION WHAT WE It raises THINK IT a question. MEANS It is a logical fallacy of assuming the ITS conclusion. ORIGINAL It originated with — Source: Urbo

11

AWFUL WHAT WE terrible, bad THINK IT MEANS awe-inspiring ITS ORIGINAL As in, your band is MEANING awful, I swear. CRACKED COM — Source: Mental Floss

10

BUXOM WHAT WE THINK IT full-figured, curvy MEANS ITS meek, obedient ORIGINAL Definitely not MEANING as applicable to Nicki Minaj anymore. CRACKED. — Source: Mental Floss

9

DEFECATE WHAT WE to THINK IT poop MEANS to purify ITS ORIGINAL As in, it's not unusual MEANING to drink defecated water. CRACKED COM — Source: Mental Floss

8

MYRIAD WHAT WE a countless amount THINK IT MEANS 000 ITS ORIGINAL Greek mathematicians MEANING gave it a countable, if still large, meaning. CRACK — Source: Mental Floss

7

JUSTICE IS BLIND WHAT WE THINK IT Justice is unbiased. MEANS Justice is so corrupt it cannot see right ITS from wrong. ORIGINAL MEANING The blindfolde — Read More: 5 Common Sayings You Use All The Time With Awful Origins

6

A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS WHAT WE Don't settle down. THINK IT MEANS Settle down. ITS In it's original ancient ORIGINAL Roman meaning, MEANING mo — Read more: The 5 Most Frequently Misused Proverbs

5

THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING WHAT WE The final results are THINK IT the best judgement. MEANS Judgement can only be reached by ITS experience. ORIGINAL — Read more: The 5 Most Frequently Misused Proverbs

4

MOMENT WHAT WE THINK IT a brief period of time MEANS 90 seconds ITS ORIGINAL As in, I only have a MEANING moment. It's been a minute and half, tim — Source: The Guardian

3

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER WHAT WE Put family first. THINK IT MEANS Your comrades are more important than ITS family. ORIGINAL The blood of the MEAN — Read more: The 5 Most Frequently Misused Proverbs

2

BASKET CASE WHAT WE an emotionally THINK IT disturbed MEANS person a derogatory term ITS for a quadruple ORIGINAL amputee who MEANING would need to us — Source: Grammarphobia

1

For more surprising origins behind common words... The word Villain The phrase Blue Blood originally meant household staff. actually means pale-ski — 22 Ordinary Words With Terrifying Origins

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