The English language is full of expressions and clichés. Many of these phrases hold a sort of "lesson" to teach. They often aren't literal, but they are so commonly used that most people know what they mean, or at least they think they do. Sometimes when something is repeated several times, it gets a bit altered along the way. Think of the game "Telephone". Almost always, the original person's words get a little shifted. This also happens with expressions. Here are three commonly known phrases that are usually misquoted.
1. "Curiosity killed the cat"
What we hear: "Curiosity killed the cat"
Meaning...
Being too curious is a terrible thing. Curiosity can kill you! Don't ask too many questions.
The actual saying: "Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back"
So...
Curiosity isn't necessarily bad! The cat may have died by being to curious, but the satisfaction of finding an answer brought it back to life. Don't kill your curiosity. It helps you find new knowledge and truth.
What we hear: "Blood is thicker than water"
Meaning...
The relationships we have with our family (blood) are stronger than those we have with anyone else (water).
The actual saying: "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb"
So...
The friendships we make are stronger than our familial relationships. This is completely the opposite of the more familiar saying. I think this one's pretty subjective, but it's interesting how different each of these sayings are.
4. "Jack of all trades, master of none"
What we hear: "Jack of all trades, master of none"
Meaning...
Someone is talented at several things but doesn't take enough time on one certain skill to master it. They have multiple talents, but aren't terrific at anything. This saying discourages pursuing different talents and urges focusing on one. A lot of the time it's meant as an insult.
The actual saying: "Jack of all trades, but master none, but better than a master of one"
So...
Being equally good or average at everything is better than being perfect at one thing and not being very good at anything else. This makes a lot more sense to me. No one wants to only be able to do one thing.
Which versions of these sayings are you familiar with? Has your perspective changed? I tend to lean towards favoring the lesser known versions. They lend more toward my beliefs. Perhaps the beauty of language and cultural phrases are that they are constantly changing and can be interpreted however you want.
