Brits reveal 10 phrases that confuse them the most – including ‘a dime a dozen’ & ‘cat got your tongue’

‘Raining cats and dogs’, ‘as easy as pie’ and ‘bite the bullet’ are among the most confusing turns of phrase, according to Brits.

A study, of 2,000 adults, found a third have been perplexed by an object’s name or a common-place expression.

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‘A dime a dozen’ was the most confusing, according to 24 per cent, while ‘cat got your tongue’ (14 per cent) is also baffling.

When it comes to ‘misnomers’ or misleading names, ‘tennis bracelet’ (32 per cent), ‘herringbone’ (17 per cent) and ‘koala bear’ (16 per cent) were the top causes of confusion.

While ‘wisdom teeth’ (11 per cent), ‘gravy boat’ (13 per cent) and ‘cat burglar’ (10 per cent) also feature.

This has meant 22 per cent have used a misnomer in the wrong context, while 16 per cent have misunderstood what something does.

The study was commissioned by biscuit brand, LU, to mark the launch of its new Le Petit Cookie.

Fred Sirieix, brand ambassador, said: “It’s been great fun finding the unique names, terms and phrases that often cause confusion in the English language.

“You know, English isn’t my first language, so it’s been even more fun to get to the bottom of it all.

“I’m now on a mission to turn the peculiarly named Piccadilly Circus into ‘Normal English Square’ – makes much more sense.”

The research also found 32 per cent have looked up an unusual saying to find out what it means, although 24 per cent admitted to simply pretending to understand the meaning.

And 27 per cent have simply accepted the definition of a misnomer without questioning it.

Yet despite these confusions, as many as 77 per cent think quirky and funny misleading terms are what makes the English language unique, with ‘funny bone’ (26 per cent), ‘daddy longlegs’ (21 per cent) and ‘blue moon’ (18 per cent) the nation’s favourite misnomers.

Alongside phrases, oddly named locations have caused confusion with Dead Man’s Bottom topping the list of locations and landmarks with the most misleading names (28 per cent).

Leeds Castle (27 per cent) – which is not located in Leeds, but Kent – London’s Isle of Dogs (23 per cent) and Worm’s Head in Rhossili (17 per cent) also featured.

As a result of name misinterpretation, 12 per cent have gone to the wrong place, while 24 per cent have been surprised at what it actually is on arrival.

The research, carried out via OnePoll, also found 38 per cent have been confused by food and menu items, such as the ingredients (54 per cent), form of a dish (35 per cent) and where it originates from (33 per cent).

And 17 per cent have even ordered a meal with an unusual name, purely to find out what it is.

But 86 per cent agreed there are lots of quirky names within the world of food, with devilled eggs (25 per cent), toad in the hole (22 per cent) and spotted dick (34 per cent) among the most odd.

Sussex pond pudding (29 per cent), Stargazy pie (25 per cent) and spotted dick (34 per cent) also featured.

Kelly Lawrence, spokesperson for LU, said: “Despite the name, there is nothing ‘petit’ about the new cookie but given all the other phrases out there we knowing it’s joining a lot of other things with somewhat perplexing names that people will come to understand.”