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To all English learners, can you share the story of saying something wrong that was funny or caused misunderstanding? My 2 stories are in the description:)

Alien_P3rsp3ktiv
When I came to US 20 years ago, I had a very rudimentary knowledge of English: few words, some grammar understanding. One day, I didn't show up for work, and the next day, talking to my boss, I said: "You can throw me up, if you want to!" He laughed... and I kept my job:) (throw up = vomit; what I meant, of course, was "throw me out" = kick me out, fire me). During some other conversation, I was explaining that "I was *contracepted* in the dead of winter, and born in the dead of summer"... of course, what I meant to say was "conceived.” I will never forget the look on my interlocutor's face:)

8 comments

bitterrootmtg•
My wife is a very fluent English speaker but sometimes makes funny little errors. She was under the impression that “puppy” was a generic term for both young dogs and young cats, so when we adopted kittens she kept calling them “puppies” and I was very confused for a while.
AletheaKuiperBelt•
I am a native speaker, but I still got weird looks for talking to Americans about my pot plants. They say potted plants or house plants. Pot is one of the many slang terms for marijuana.
Alien_P3rsp3ktiv••OP
Another pair of words that always makes me stop and think which one I mean, is „suite” vs „suit”: - hotel **suite**, pronounced the same as „sweet” (a group of rooms occupied as a unit) - an attorney wore a flashy **suit** (two or more usually matching outer garments (such as a jacket, vest, and trousers)
giveitalll•
I used the word "molested" in a conversation with a friend, but I meant "being beat up by someone". In French the verb "molester" means beat up someone.
La10deRiver•
In one of the first forums I've belonged too, I read someone posting something about "going commando" and I thought they meant to say the person has gone all angry and violent, sort like a berserk.
HatdanceCanada•
I was writing an essay in high school and used the phrase “in the annals of time…”. Except I spelled it anals. In a conversation I said that a relative went into “prophylactic shock” when given penicillin. (Anaphylactic = severe allergic reaction. Prophylactic = often means a condom, although it means something that prevents diseases more broadly). I inadvertently suggest that my relative went into shock because of a condom. 🤣
whodisacct•
Sent a slew of people at work an email that included “get our dicks in a row”. Whoops!
Chili440•
A friend once asked a medical professional 'will you come to the game'. It wasn't till later she realized his weird reaction was because she should have said 'are you going to the game'. Yep, she asked out her physiotherapist.