Tongue slips

What did you just say?! VIP people also have a record of malapropisms!

We’ve all experienced a moment when a word comes out of a word mouth sounding confident, polished… And completely wrong! Maybe no one noticed, maybe everyone did. Whatever the case, that’s called a malapropism, and they happen when a word sounds close enough to the right one. The result can go from charming to catastrophic, especially if it happens in public. Here are some real-life examples of those verbal stumbles.

During a conversation about elections, the then Vice President George Bush was chatting with baseball great Yogi Berra. Berra reportedly mentioned that Texas had plenty of "electrical votes." Can you guess what he meant? The correct words would’ve been "electroral," but the slip was classic Yogi.

After a tough boxing match in 2002, Mike Tyson was asked what came next for him. His answer? He might just "fade into Bolivian." The word he wanted was oblivion, but his version stole the spotlight. Who can blame him? Any of us who make a mistake after receiving a punch or two!

David Letterman once teased Justin Bieber by saying that too many tattoos could make him look like the Sistine Chapel. Bieber shot back that he wasn’t aiming for the "Sixteenth Chapel" look. The reply came fast and confident, which made it even funnier. Although Michelangelo, among others, would not agree, right?

Comedian Norm Crosby leaned into malapropisms so hard that it became his signature. He was known as The Master of Malaprop for a reason. One of his lines famously urged listeners to enjoy the "blabbing brook" instead of the babbling one. But in his hands, the wrong word was never an accident: It was the whole joke.

Shakespeare gave us a lot of new words, and some malapropisms too. For example, in Much Ado About Nothing, his character Constable Dogberry was famous for confidently saying the wrong thing. When Dogberry reports that two men were "comprehended" instead of "apprehended," and calls them "auspicious" instead of "suspicious," the comedy writes itself!

What kind of installation? These malapropism belongs to baseball player Mike Smith, who once praised a new coat by saying it had lots of "installation." He probably just meant "insulation," referring to how warm it was! He meant it as a compliment, besides, he’s a baseball player, what does he know about fashion features!

Former Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley had his share of word tangles. He reportedly referred to tandem bicycles as "tantrum" bicycles and called the O’Hare Airport the "crosswords of the nation." The intent was clear, even if the delivery wandered.

Gib Lewis, who served as Texas Speaker of the House, once described something as "unparalyzed in the state’s history." The word he wanted was unparalleled, as you can imagine. Still, the statement landed with confidence, which is often half the battle. Moreover, it’s a good thing that whatever he was talking about wasn’t paralyzed, right?

Literature is full of malapropisms, and Mark Twain hasn’t got his record completely clean. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he gave Aunt Sally a memorable twist. She says she was "putrified with astonishment," and even if we know he meant "petrified," the picture it paints is clear and brilliant. Twain was fully conscious that these humorous words only contributed to the character’s development.

Archie Bunker from All in the Family was a gold mine for malapropisms. He once asked if he looked like an "inferior decorator" and wrapped things up by saying "Molotov" instead of Mazel tov. His mangled phrases were part of what made the character feel real, stubborn, and unintentionally funny. Did you like him?

What science says

It was false after all: 10 health myths that sound true—but aren't

Image: Alicja Gancarz

Health myths are everywhere! These ideas were simply passed down for so long that they became part of what we believed. But now science has stepped in to clear things up. Does cold weather make you sick? Can lemon detox your body? Is reading in low light really harmful? Let's uncover the truth behind 10 common health myths!

Image: Element5 Digital

Have you ever been told that cutting your hair will make it grow faster? We're sorry to say that's just a myth. Hair grows from the root, not the ends. So, trimming it won't boost growth, though it does help remove split ends that can make your hair look dry or unhealthy.

Image: Thom Holmes

This is one of the most common health myths. Cold weather often gets blamed, but it's not the temperature that makes you catch a cold. During winter, we tend to stay indoors with others and keep the windows closed, an environment that makes it easier for viruses to spread. That's why colds tend to be more common in winter!

Image: Michelen Studios

The idea that eating before bed automatically leads to weight gain is a myth. In reality, it has more to do with what you eat and how much, rather than the time of day. Often, when we eat very late at night, we're tired and more likely to reach for quick, high-calorie, heavy foods. This can disrupt sleep and lead to consuming more calories than we burn, both of which may affect weight. If it's close to bedtime, it's better to have something light and healthy in a moderate portion than to skip a meal altogether.

Image: Bud Helisson

Does wearing glasses weaken your vision? Myth! If an eye doctor prescribes glasses, wearing them as directed helps correct your vision; it won't make it worse. Additionally, the right glasses can help prevent or reduce headaches caused by reading or spending long hours in front of a screen.

Image: Amir Balam

This myth is closely related to the previous one. If you love reading and sometimes have to do it in low light because of the situation, don't worry. According to experts, reading in low light doesn't cause permanent or irreversible eye damage. However, it's not recommended because it can make your eyes feel tired or strained, leading to discomfort or headaches.

Image: engin akyurt

We're all different, and so are our bodies. The idea that everyone should drink exactly eight glasses of water a day is more of a general guideline than a rule. Staying well hydrated throughout the day is extremely important, but how much water you need depends on factors like your weight, age, climate, and overall health. We should prioritize staying consistently hydrated instead of obsessing over the number of glasses we drink.

Image: Tirza van Dijk

Some people say drinking lemon water helps eliminate toxins and cleanse the body. While adding a slice of lemon to your water is a refreshing way to stay hydrated, it doesn't have any special "detoxifying" powers. The vitamin C in citrus fruits is beneficial, but the body has its own natural detox system. The liver and kidneys are the main organs that filter waste and eliminate toxins.

Image: Aneta Voborilova

Not all fats are bad! Just like other food groups, your body needs fats to function properly. The important thing is knowing the difference between healthy fats and those that can be harmful. Foods like avocados, seeds, olive oil, fish, and nuts are rich in healthy fats. On the other hand, the fats found in processed or fried foods are the ones that can have a negative impact on your body.

Image: Elevate

Liver diseases can be serious. While heavy and frequent consumption of alcohol and fats is a major contributor, it's not the only cause. Liver problems can also result from many other factors. These include viral infections, autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, high blood pressure, and exposure to certain chemicals.

Image: Brooke Lark

There's some truth to it: breakfast is important because it replenishes our glucose and energy levels and supports proper metabolism. However, the idea that it's the most important meal of the day might be an exaggeration. Everyone's body has different needs, and all meals are important, so we shouldn't skip any of them!