English Phrases Designed To Confuse Non-Natives

Some common English phrases that literally make no sense.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

If you want to confuse a non-native English speaker, there are plenty of ways to do it, but perhaps the most fun method is to utter some of the more commonly used catchphrases that us native speakers tend to take for granted.

When we take these phrases literally, they make absolutely no sense in the context that we use them in. Yet, the meaning behind these weird word combinations are universally understood in America, and oftentimes around the broader English speaking world.

Here are a few examples of some of these phrases, and how bizarre they are when we take them literally:

Let it Ride — Think about this. Let it ride what? Where is it going? Who’s driving? And how long will it take? What if there’s an accident, does whatever we’re talking about have insurance? Does it need a ticket to a ride, and if so, is that ticket refundable?

Dodged a bullet — I’m happy to hear that, but maybe you should think about moving to a different neighborhood.

I’m going to hit the books — Why don’t you try reading them first? You might actually like them. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Unless of course, they’re dusty, then hitting them might be a good idea…