Crossed meanings

Be careful! These 12 words with double meaning might get you in trouble

English is full of surprises, especially the kind that makes you read twice. You’ve probably said or read a word one way your whole life, only to find out it’s got a sneaky second meaning (or even a totally different pronunciation). These words, called homographs, look the same on paper but have two or more meanings. Some even change how they are pronounced depending on what they’re doing in a sentence. Here are 12 classic examples that are sure to amuse, confuse, and maybe even make you question everything you thought you knew.

Here’s one that trips people up in both speech and spelling. "Lead" (rhyming with "reed") means to guide someone or something, like when you lead a group on a walk. But spelled the same, "lead" (rhyming with "red") is a heavy metal once used in pipes and paint.

Same letters, completely different use. One makes you feel like a confident icon, the other is banned from gas and drinking water.

Have you ever cried watching an old movie and then torn up a tissue in frustration? Then, you touched on both of these homographs.

"Tear" (like "tare") means to rip something apart, which is pretty straightforward. But "tear" (like "teer") is also what falls from your eyes when emotions run high. The two meanings couldn’t be more different; one is physical destruction, the other is an emotional outpouring.

Picture this: you’re fishing and catch a bass, then head home and crank up the bass on your stereo. Same word, wildly different scenes.

One refers to a popular fish, often fried and served with hushpuppies. The other is all about that low-end thump in music that rattles your windows. Oddly enough, they’re pronounced completely differently: "base" for the sound, "bass" (like "class") for the fish.

English really takes a turn with "wind." When you feel the wind blowing through your hair, it’s that breezy force of nature. But when you wind your old alarm clock or a jack-in-the-box, you’re giving it a spin.

In this case, the pronunciation changes, and so does the meaning, but only one gets leaves stuck in your teeth.

Few words are as fashionably confusing as "bow." Take a bow on stage after a performance, or tie a bow on a birthday present. In one case, you’re bending forward graciously; in the other, you’re accessorizing.

It’s worth noting there's a third "bow," as in the curved weapon that shoots arrows, just to keep you on your toes.

In America, "row" often brings up images of gently paddling down a stream, singing songs, and enjoying nature. In Britain, however, a "row" (rhymes with "cow") is a noisy argument, like the kind couples have in rom-coms. Add to that the line of chairs in a movie theater or a "row" of houses, and now you’ve got three meanings from one tidy little word. How’s that for polysemy?

Talk about small surprises: "minute" (as in time) is what you watch tick away. But "minute" (rhyming with "my newt") means something tiny, like a minute crack in your favorite mug.

You’d never guess they’re related, but both come from Latin roots about measurement.

You wouldn't want to desert your friend in the desert, but English seems fine with doing just that. "Desert" (DEH-zurt) is a dry, sandy place full of cacti and tumbleweeds. But "desert" (dih-ZURT) means to abandon someone.

It’s a real twist when the same word covers both literal emptiness and emotional betrayal. It also explains why spellcheck can’t always save you.

You might refuse to take out the refuse, and honestly, who can blame you? "Refuse" (reh-FYOOZ) means to decline something, like offers of leftovers or unsolicited advice. "Refuse" (REH-fyoos) is the garbage you’re probably avoiding.

It’s the kind of word pair that hides in plain sight; in any case, both might lead to stinky situations.

There’s something magical about a word that can give a gift and deliver a speech. "Present" as a noun is something you give wrapped with a bow and possibly a gift receipt. "Present" as a verb, and with the accent on the last syllable, means to introduce or showcase something, like an award or a slideshow.

The meanings actually share a root: both involve offering something. But one gets applause, the other gets unwrapped.

A grocery-store homograph; when you produce something, you’re creating that thing. But when you shop for produce (accent on the first syllable), you’re looking for fresh fruits and veggies.

Both meanings involve growth, but one is from a creative mind, the other from soil and sunshine.

Be careful with this one: you can sign a CON-tract… or con-TRACT the flu. The first one, a noun, is a legal document you agree to. The second one, a verb, means to shrink or to catch something unpleasant, like having a virus or a muscle cramp. Again, pronunciation changes, but spelling is the same. So whether you’re dealing with paperwork or pathogens, just know this word has range. And maybe wash your hands either way.

ROYAL EXPRESSIONS

Are You Into British English? Bob’s Your Uncle! Here Are 10 Expressions

Image: Marko Pekić

Speaking the same language doesn’t always guarantee effective communication. For example, the elderly and the young share a language but not a code. In the case of our fellow English speakers across the Atlantic, some words and phrases are quite specific to their culture. Have you ever heard someone say "Bagsy!" or what about "pulling a blinder"? In this article, we’ve gathered 10 British expressions and we’ll tell you all about their origins. Are you ready? Read on!

Image: Marcos Luiz Photograph

Claiming the front seat or the first spot in line can be a messy business, especially when you are a kid. In American English, we call it "dibs." But in British English, the equivalent expression is "bagsy."

You don’t need to be a kid to use this expression, but it's more commonly heard among them in scenarios like claiming the last piece of cake, or that special seating in the front. Shotgun! Dibs! Bagsy! However you say it, claim away!

Image: Alexander Grey

Our article aside, whatever it is one is pulling, it must be really hard to do if one is blind, don’t you think? Well, that is basically the essence behind this British expression.

"Pulling a blinder" describes the result of achieving something that is deemed impossible or difficult but without any kind of effort at all. Skill might be important, but according to this expression, the X factor is good luck, and the person saying this is a bit skeptical about the achievement. Have you ever used it?

Image: kelisa Bernard

This quirky phrase has a quirky backstory, and we’re here to tell you about it! Similar to "et voilá," this phrase is used when you get something done and want to celebrate. For example: "Just press that blue button, create an account, and Bob’s your uncle! You’re on social media!"

Now, as for the backstory, this phrase is believed to have originated in the 19th century, when the British Prime Minister Robert "Bob" Cecil appointed his nephew as Irish Secretary. This led people to believe that having an Uncle Bob makes everything easier and achievable.

Image: Holger Woizick

Yes, you read that right, this expression mentions Mickey. But it has nothing to do with Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse. This playful expression means to tease or make fun of someone, often in a good-natured way.

Lighthearted and mildly irritating as it can be, this expression is a variation of a Cockney rhyme called "Mickey Bliss," but we won’t get into the euphemism behind it. You might hear it as "taking the mick" or even "taking the mickey out of someone."

Image: Maxime Rossignol

Imagine you have to paint your walls and ask a friend to join you in the task, only to find that the walls end up looking like a Pollock painting gone wrong! That is "a botch job".

The word "botch" has been in use since the Middle Ages to refer to the action of repairing something without much skill. Over time, it evolved to mean both a task done badly in a hurry and its obvious disastrous consequences. Have you ever done a botch job?

Image: Peter Conlan

We all know that person who, no matter the time of the day, is always full of energy, coming up with new plans, constantly coming and going, always on the move. Well, for the British, that person is "full of beans."

The origins of this expression go back to the 14th century, and its original version was "full of prunes." As for the use of beans, it refers to the food horses were fed back then. When they had their portion of beans for the day, they became quite energetic, hence this fun phrase was coined!

Image: Pavan Trikutam

The full expression is actually "give me a tinkler on the blower," and it is naturally used in colloquial, informal British English. Now, as for the meaning, it means to call someone on the telephone.

The main component of this phrase is the word "tinkle" which comes from Middle English and refers to a succession of ringing sounds." In that sense, the meaning of the word evolved in such a manner that it came to refer to the sounds made by the phone.

Image: Freysteinn G. Jonsson

The United Kingdom is known for many things, but one stands out the most: the rain! Gray, rainy days are so common that they came up with a quick way to refer to the only object that keeps us protected, the umbrella.

In British English, nobody asks for an umbrella; they ask for the "brolly." This short version of "umbrella" dates back to the 1870s, when it was recorded in Hotten’s Slang Dictionary. So, as you can imagine, this is also a colloquial term. Whenever you visit London, this term will surely come in handy!

Image: Thiago Barletta

You’re meeting with some friends in the park, ready to chat and share. The sittings are limited and sharing now refers to the bench too. In that case, British people don’t say "scoot over," or "move over." Instead, they say "budge up."

The origins of this expression are unknown, but it is a relatively recent one as it can be traced to the mid-20th century.

Image: Gerrie van der Walt

Nobody thinks dog food is particularly appetizing, but the meaning behind this expression takes that feeling to the next level. Similar to "dog’s breakfast," this expression refers to something that is a mess or a fiasco and it dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.

However, there is an alternative meaning: it also refers to someone dressed in a smart and fancy manner. In the UK, the latter is the more frequent meaning, but you can use it in either context. Choose your own adventure!