What really obvious thing have you only just realised?

Lingua Franca · 07-12-2014 05:35AM

J Mysterio wrote: »

What?

"Finish the small details of a job now to prevent huge repair jobs in the future".

The word "literally" was arguably misused there but there have most probably been cases where that has been true.

How so Joe · 08-12-2014 01:32AM

Lingua Franca wrote: »

"Finish the small details of a job now to prevent huge repair jobs in the future".

The word "literally" was arguably misused there but there have most probably been cases where that has been true.

The literally is because the phrase is literal - a single stitch will stop a rip from expanding - and the same principle can then be applied to other scenarios.

BadMoonRising · 08-12-2014 01:42AM

Realising that its not beef contained in minced pies...the shock on my friends face when they realised my misunderstanding

J Mysterio · 08-12-2014 01:50AM

How so Joe wrote: »

The literally is because the phrase is literal - a single stitch will stop a rip from expanding - and the same principle can then be applied to other scenarios.

The phrase is not literal, you cannot put a stitch in time, time is a concept.

Ankhyu · 08-12-2014 10:23AM

J Mysterio wrote: »

The phrase is not literal, you cannot put a stitch in time, time is a concept.

I would have taken "in time" to mean before it's too late, no??

Misty Moon · 08-12-2014 12:00PM

BadMoonRising wrote: »

Realising that its not beef contained in minced pies...the shock on my friends face when they realised my misunderstanding

Originally it was and you can check out River Cottage for a traditional recipe if you like. You should make some and serve it to your friends just to prove you're not completely crazy. :pac:

By the way, unless your mince pies are marked vegetarian, they should have beef suet in them, so you're really not entirely wrong.

Dial Hard · 08-12-2014 01:18PM

That the Innocent smoothie logo is not, in fact, a pig's snout.

09-12-2014 01:48AM

Work Colleague: What buses go to Dublin Airport?
Me: The 16 does, the 33 used to, so did the 41, but not sure anymore. Oh, and the 747.
WC: well, obviously the 747 does....i was talking about the other routes
Me (to Myself, quietly): Why is that so obvious?.....:eek:......:o

SeantheMan · 09-12-2014 04:01AM

triple nipple wrote: »

That having steel bars over all your windows isnt normal. Only realised it the other day when I was telling the missus about one of the houses I grew up in.

Grew up in prison ?

anto9 · 09-12-2014 04:32AM

As a child i used see the sign >>Post no bills << on walls .It really confused me ,as i took it literally .

languagenerd · 09-12-2014 02:18PM

So the shortened links you see on Twitter and the like (http:// tinyurl.com/blah) say "tiny URL". I've been reading it in my head as "tin yurl"...

sbsquarepants · 09-12-2014 02:59PM

And you a languag enerd.
You should be ashamed of yourself!

Allyall · 09-12-2014 04:27PM

I didn't just realise it, just read it.
Now that I see it, it seems like it should be pretty obvious

.

An adaptor is something that connects 2 or more things together, that wouldn't normally be possible (e.g. EU to UK plug).
An adapter is a person/creature who is able to adapt to their surroundings (e.g. Camel/Giraffe/Eskimo).

I just assumed it was U.S./EU different spelling.

Michael D Not Higgins · 09-12-2014 04:29PM

Allyall wrote: »

I didn't just realise it, just read it.
Now that I see it, it seems like it should be pretty obvious .

An adaptor is something that connects 2 or more things together, that wouldn't normally be possible (e.g. EU to UK plug).
An adapter is a person/creature who is able to adapt to their surroundings (e.g. Camel/Giraffe/Eskimo).

I just assumed it was U.S./EU different spelling.

Just read it where. The online dictionaries say it's either/or, not that they're different.

Allyall · 09-12-2014 04:50PM

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

Just read it where. The online dictionaries say it's either/or, not that they're different.

Maybe I jumped the gun..

It seemed to make sense to me.

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=151674

I just looked up both words in 3 different dictionaries (not believing the first 2!).

Your Wiki definition is absolutely correct. For the device, one can use either adaptor or adapter.

BUT, for the person, the human being who adapts a novel into a filmscript or a a musician who adapts a composition for particular voices or instruments or for another style of performance, the only acceptable spelling is adapter (which is completely counter-intuitive). I would have bet that, like sculptor and actor, the -or ending suggested a person. But, instead, it appears to follow the "painter" model! Who knew?

Caterer, lecturer, carpenter etc.

Lingua Franca · 14-12-2014 04:12AM

This perhaps isn't really obvious but I was singing "Birdhouse In Your Soul" to a baby I was minding the other day and realised that the lyrics aren't just a load of nonsense words strung together.

It's sung from the point of view of a night light. It's actually really adorable and sweet.

Woshy · 14-12-2014 12:50PM

I only just realised Midge Ure is a man - for years I just presumed Midge was a woman's name and she was some blonde 80s pop star involved with band aid.

The shame!

Ankhyu · 14-12-2014 03:44PM

languagenerd wrote: »

So the shortened links you see on Twitter and the like (http:// tinyurl.com/blah) say "tiny URL". I've been reading it in my head as "tin yurl"...

Me too! :eek:

NIMAN · 14-12-2014 06:34PM

That Brendan Rodgers is a chancer and a spoofer.

GreeBo · 15-12-2014 01:01PM

J Mysterio wrote: »

The phrase is not literal, you cannot put a stitch in time, time is a concept.

That J Mysterio should stick to wrestling.

DavyD_83 · 15-12-2014 02:11PM

I now have a 3 month old baby, and have only very recently realised that Teething is in fact the getting/breaking through of teeth.
Makes perfect sense now;
I always thought it was just an odd word to describe a fussy period babies went through (I may also have spelt it teathing, if made write it),

actually is that a separate word, as in teathing problems when adapting changes? (off ot google i go) Nope, that's teething too..
And now the word sounds wromng in my head cos I keep saying it as teeth-ing;
arg, first world problems n all that

Fresh Pots · 15-12-2014 02:14PM

Didn't realise Elton John was gay until I was about 17. Such an innocent little mind!

recylingbin · 15-12-2014 02:27PM

Fresh Pots wrote: »

Didn't realise Elton John was gay until I was about 17. Such an innocent little mind!

Did he play at your 17th birthday party?

Gloomtastic! · 15-12-2014 02:53PM

Fresh Pots wrote: »

Didn't realise Elton John was gay until I was about 17. Such an innocent little mind!

Now you mention it, I didn't realise Freddie Mercury was gay until it was announced he had AIDS.

rubadub · 15-12-2014 03:47PM

Maybe no so obvious as I never heard it before -the band the scissors sisters are named after a lesbian sex act.

Philo Beddoe · 15-12-2014 04:11PM

Woshy wrote: »

I only just realised Midge Ure is a man - for years I just presumed Midge was a woman's name and she was some blonde 80s pop star involved with band aid.

The shame!

Oh Vienna! :eek:

Steve_o · 15-12-2014 04:43PM

Only recently found out that the numbers on toasters are minutes.... not levels of toastiness!!!! :eek:

OldNotWIse · 15-12-2014 05:45PM

J Mysterio wrote: »

The phrase is not literal, you cannot put a stitch in time, time is a concept.

OldNotWIse · 15-12-2014 05:45PM

I thought Led Zeppelin was a person until about a year ago.

Steve_o · 15-12-2014 05:54PM

OldNotWIse wrote: »

I thought Led Zeppelin was a person until about a year ago.

He was good friends with Steely Dan back in the day! 2 great singers! :pac::P

What really obvious thing have you only just realised?

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