Each demi-entendre is listed with both of its source phrases, as extrapolated by us, and the original source of the demi-entendre, if known.
Demi-entendre | Phrase 1 | Phrase 2 | Source |
---|---|---|---|
It plays a factor. | It plays a role. | It is a factor. | |
Let's make a clean slate of it. | Let's start with a clean slate. | Let make a clean start of it. | |
This is something we share in common. | This is something we share. | This is something we have in common. | |
It is by far one of the most (adjective). | It is by far the most (adjective). | It is one of the most (adjective). | |
He's gonna feel a huge sigh of relief. | He's gonna breathe a huge sigh of relief. | He's gonna feel great relief. | |
...landed up... | landed | ended up | |
The museum is house to a large Dickens collection. | The museum houses a large Dickens collection. | The museum is home to a large Dickens collection. | |
Things took a change for the worse. | Things took a turn for the worse. | Things changed for the worse. | |
He's got it out for me. | He's got it in for me. | He's out to get me. | |
...and such forth. | ...and such. | ...and so forth. | |
Even still, .... | Even so, .... | Still, .... | |
He tried to pull one over on her. | He tried to put one over on her. | He tried to pull the wool over her eyes. | |
It can't be anything less but perfect. | It can't be anything but perfect. | It can't be anything less than perfect. | |
You'll take notice to what we do down there | You'll take notice of what we do down there. | You'll pay attention to what we do down there. | |
...a disease which precluded his capacity to distinguish right from wrong. | ...a disease which precluded his distinguishing right from wrong. | ...a disease which diminished his capacity to distinguish right from wrong. | |
The flight was bound from Miami to Phoenix. | The flight was going from Miami to Phoenix. | The flight was bound for Phoenix. | |
But first, a story which might not seem to have anything to do about tennis. | But first, a story which might not seem to have anything to do with tennis. | But first, a story which might not seem to be about tennis. | |
Allow me the privilege to congratulate you. | Allow me the privilege of congratulating you. | Allow me to congratulate you. | |
By learning a few simple rules, you can save yourself from hours of time doing (some chore). | By learning a few simple rules, you can save yourself hours of time. | By learning a few simple rules, you can save yourself from doing (some chore). | |
fellow countryman | fellow American | countryman | |
Tomorrow will promise to be less humid. | Tomorrow will be less humid. | Tomorrow promises to be less humid. | |
The weather did not play a big hand (in some result). | The weather did not have a big hand (in some result). | The weather did not play a big part (in some result). | |
He's calm on the outside, but the wheels are churning inside (tennis commentator) | He's calm on the outside, but his stomach is churning. | He's calm on the outside, but the wheels are turning inside. | |
All the running he's had to do may have taken some toll out of the legs of this young athlete. | All the running he's had to do may have taken a toll on the legs of this young athlete. | All the running he's had to do may have taken something out of the legs of this young athlete. | |
Plus which, ... | Plus, ... | In addition to which, ... | |
They were using F-letter words | They were using the F-word. | They were using four-letter words. | |
...if you were. | ...if you will. | ...as it were. | |
[It] seems less and less a reality than a pleasant myth. | [It] seems less a reality than a pleasant myth. | [It] seems less and less real. | |
Until we're sure, we should err on caution. | Until we're sure, we should err on the side of caution. | Until we're sure, we should exercise caution. | |
...and perhaps then you'll stop harping on about it. | ...and perhaps then you'll stop harping on it. | ...and perhaps then you'll stop going on about it. | |
...weather out the storm | ...weather the storm. | ...wait out the storm. | |
Terrorists usually take claim for their acts. | Terrorists usually take credit for their acts. | Terrorists usually claim responsibility for their acts. | |
Someone in my family is talking out of school. | Someone in my family is talking out of turn. | Someone in my family is telling tales out of school. | |
It's not rocket surgery. | It's not rocket science. | It's not brain surgery. | On a commercial; also overheard at an Atlantic City bar |
head-on-head competition | head-to-head competition | one-on-one competition | thanks to Robert Black |
He had barely entered the room than he ordered me to.... | He had barely entered the room before he ordered me to.... | He had no sooner entered the room than he ordered me to.... | Mystery story |
Networks were finally able to go out on a leap.... | Networks were finally able to go out on a limb.... | Networks were finally able to take a leap.... | |
someone who had clocked up fifty years in jail | someone who had clocked fifty years in jail | someone who had racked up fifty years in jail | |
the reason being is | the reason being | the reason is | Thanks to Nicolette Jones |
He has had an ample opportunity to respond. | He has had ample opportunity to respond. | He has had an opportunity to respond. | Thanks to Tom Copeland |
He doesn't have a market on that. | He doesn't have a monopoly on that. | He hasn't cornered the market on that. | One senator talking about another's having grandchildren |
[She needed time to] collect her composure. | [She needed time to] collect herself. | [She needed time to] regain her composure. | Mystery story |
Support for NPR is made possible by XYZ Corporation. | Programming on NPR is made possible by XYZ Corporation. | Support for NPR comes from XYZ Corporation. | Thanks to Chris Hill |
He had them eating out of the palm of his hand. | He had them eating out of his hand. | He had them in the palm of his hand. | Law & Order |
between A to Z | from A to Z | between A and Z | |
...didn't stand a prayer | ...didn't stand a chance | ...didn't have a prayer | "Warlock" (1959) |
A makeable birdie opportunity | A makeable birdie | A birdie opportunity | |
Beyond a reasonable shadow of a doubt. | Beyond a reasonable doubt. | Beyond the shadow of a doubt. | |
When my jig is up, it's up. | When the jig is up, it's up. | When my time is up, it's up. | |
No matter however much she defended him | However much she defended him | No matter how much she defended him | Mystery story |
Give us something to hang our teeth on. | Give us something to hang our hats on. | Give us something to sink our teeth into. | New York Times, quoting someone |
I was under the opinion that.... | I was under the impression that.... | I was of the opinion that.... | New Yorker |
A good enough reason as any | A good enough reason | As good a reason as any | |
Picturesque perfect | Picturesque | Picture perfect | |
Chanced across | Chanced upon | Came across | |
She can name her own ticket. | She can name her own price. | She can write her own ticket. | |
To some extent or another | To some extent | To one extent or another | |
At this juncture in time | At this juncture | At this point in time | |
The weather may have played a factor. | The weather may have played a role. | The weather may have been a factor. | |
Peeve him off | Peeve him | Piss him off | |
Signing her death knell. | Signing her death warrant. | Ringing her death knell. | |
Stepped foot | Stepped | Set foot | Common demi-entendre |
Landed up | Landed | Ended up | |
We will gladly refund your money back within 90 days of purchase. | We will gladly refund your money within 90 days of purchase. | We will gladly give you your money back within 90 days of purchase. | |
All things being relative, we did well. | All other things being equal, we did well. | We did relatively well. | Radio news report (paraphrase) |
... save for Molly | ... save Molly | ... except for Molly | short story |
If that weren't exhilarating enough... | As if that weren't exhilarating enough... | If that isn't enough... | BMW radio ad |
The use of approved portable electronic devices may now be used. | Approved portable electronic devices may now be used. | The use of approved portable electronic devices is now permitted. | Airline safety briefing |
She is nothing but not mannerly. | She is nothing if not mannerly. | She is nothing but mannerly. | New York Times, on Caroline Kennedy |
The thing is is that... | The thing is that... | What the thing is is that... | Very widespread usage |
You can only get so much blood from a stone. | You can only do so much. | You can't get blood from a stone. | Mayor Bloomberg, NYC, re: his austere budget |
You'd need to take 100 [of pill X] to get the same effect of one [pill Y]. | You'd need to take 100 [of pill X] to get the same effect as one [pill Y]. | You'd need to take 100 [of pill X] to get the effect of one [pill Y]. | Radio commercial |
Two thousand and oh-three | Two thousand and three | Twenty oh-three | Radio announcer |
We can't afford to be too careful. | We can't be too careful. | We can't afford not to be careful. | BMW radio ad |
Let's cut to brass tacks. | Let's cut to the chase. | Let's get down to brass tacks. | Caller on radio sports call-in show |
What I wouldn't kill for one of those. | What I wouldn't do for one of those. | I would kill for one of those. | Overheard |
Neither of them had any illusions about the view of politics and, for that fact, history likely to be held by a man who had spent twenty-two years in the military. | for that matter | in fact (or: as a matter of fact) | Donna Leon, "Uniform Justice" |
Nobody blinks twice. | Nobody thinks twice. | Nobody blinks. | a friend, in conversation |
It's been a fast race right from the word getgo. | It's been a fast race right from the getgo. | It's been a fast race right from word go. | Olympic cycling commentator |