Beyond Poll: Play it by ear, play it by year, or both?

[Skyline_Addict]

Originally posted by jwslam

i.e. I could care less about this topic, but here I am posting...


So many stories I hear at work go like this:

Irregardless, this is an informative post.

[carson blocks]

Originally posted by Unknown303


But what if I could care less.

I'm very tempted to start using "I could care less" to accurately describe situations that I do indeed care about, to keep some of my coworkers perpetually perplexed. The only thing stopping me is imagining the hours spent painfully explaining what I actually mean, to people who couldn't care less if their misuse of idioms makes them sound like idiots.

[gogreen]

Sorry, I've never heard "play it by year" used. Not to say it doesn't exist as all these idioms had to come from somewhere and many are outdated, but I'd chalk/chock that one up to someone mishearing.

I do have a friend who was convinced that you "eavestrough" on a conversation, and I grew up in a town where "pumbled" (pronounced pum-bulled) was used in place of "pummelled".

"If Jerome had fought Dion, Dion would have been pumbled."

As for "knock on wood" and "touch wood" I have heard both.

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by carson blocks


I'm very tempted to start using "I could care less" to accurately describe situations that I do indeed care about, to keep some of my coworkers perpetually perplexed. The only thing stopping me is imagining the hours spent painfully explaining what I actually mean, to people who couldn't care less if their misuse of idioms makes them sound like idiots.

Exactly

[sexualbanana]

Should of makes me want to punch the person in the face.

[01RedDX]

.

[FixedGear]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1
Had an interesting office conversation today.

I've always known "play it by ear" is a saying, but what I didn't realize was "play it by year" is technically NOT a saying. I also can honestly say I can not possibly recall a time when someone has said "play it by ear", but everyone I've known has said the latter.

It apparently has become accepted as an idiom as well as teh googles will reveal. Play it by ear is pretty straightforward, improvisation. I've always thought of "play it by year" as "wait and see".

Super curious if its a generational thing, if I am retarded (a distinct possibility most beyonders would agree ), or if both have valid meanings.

You're definitely retarded.

[C_Dave45]

It's a mute point
Don't take me for granite
Statue of limitations
It's a doggy dog world
wreck havoc
tongue and cheek
at my beckon call
Giving you leadway

[revelations]

I used to supervise some new Canadians at work at one time - telling someone "play it by ear" means they will ask you "how can you play something with an ear?"

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by FixedGear


You're definitely retarded.

Love you too buddy

[GTS4tw]

Option 1. Ugh, I weep for humanity.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[TomcoPDR]

It's ok OP in the early 90's when K.D. Lang's Constant Craving hit the charts I was like 9, and always thought she was singing Constipated.

[HiTempguy1]

I think some people don't understand, I know about "both" of the sayings and have said both. I was not for or against either one, somebody was commenting on it in the office and I was all "I've totally heard both". I can also say I've used both. So I'm only half retarded

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by Skyline_Addict


Irregardless, this is an informative post.

It is about to become more informative.

"Irregardless" is generally considered by most not to really be a word. At best, incorrect usage.

"Regardless".

And yes, it is most certainly "ear".... not "year". I think it's one of those wrapped like a douche situations.

[eglove]

Pretty sure skyline_addict was saying that sarcastically

[The_Rural_Juror]

With a 95.35% vote one way, this is becoming a moo point.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by The_Rural_Juror
With a 95.35% vote one way, this is becoming a moo point.

It's Mute, brother. Mute!

[Kloubek]

Originally posted by eglove
Pretty sure skyline_addict was saying that sarcastically

Yeah probably. I have hear "irregardless" so many times it's depressing.

[Mibz]

Originally posted by C_Dave45

It's Mute, brother. Mute!