Specsavers vows to tackle misheard sayings

Writer, broadcaster and famous wordsmith Gyles Brandreth has teamed up with Specsavers to correct the nation’s mishearing of well-known sayings, as new research reveals friends and family are just too polite to tell each other they are wrong.

Launching the ‘Misheard Manifesto’, Specsavers vows to make 2024 the year misheard sayings come to an end. Together with Gyles Brandreth, they’re calling on the nation to finally banish ‘wriggle room’, ‘escape goat’, ‘damp squid’, ‘nip in the butt’, and other incorrect phrases.

Misheard sayings (officially known as ‘eggcorns’) are rife, with nearly half (44%) of those in Ireland admitting to using at least one incorrectly. Over half (52%) have been mishearing them for years and one in 10 for their entire lives. When other people use misheard sayings, at least 1 in 5 find them irritating or annoying.

Gyles, who has revealed he has hearing loss and has been missing clarity and high frequency notes, said: “These misheard sayings have plagued our nation’s conversations for too many years. Clear hearing is the cornerstone of clear conversations.

“So, if you’ve ever heard these treasured sayings as ‘escape goat’ when it’s ‘scapegoat’, or dare I say it ‘nip it in the butt’ when it’s ‘nip it in the bud’, consider getting a hearing check. I recently had one at Specsavers after noticing I had been asking people to repeat themselves more frequently and found out I have some hearing loss. I’ve now got hearing aids and I’m amazed to discover how clear things sound again.”

Part of the problem is a culture of silence around hearing difficulties and the misused words and phrases: Over half (58%) said they wouldn’t want to risk embarrassing or offending someone by pointing out when they’ve got it wrong, and another one third of people (33%) are too polite to correct them. When mishearers are corrected, one quarter (25%) are surprised and 11% are shocked.

Just under half of those surveyed (45%) put their misuse of common words and sayings down to hearing difficulties, yet only 14% had gone for a hearing check in the past five years.

Research suggests that more than 300,00 people in the Republic of Ireland are actively ignoring a hearing issue, just struggling through with unclear or reduced hearing. People often wait 10 years before addressing changes in their hearing, despite the help readily available on high streets across the country. This can result in a reduced quality of life, difficulty communicating and feelings of isolation.

Specsavers Audiology Chairperson of Ireland Martina McNulty added: “300,000 adults in the Ireland have hearing loss and many more don’t realise that they are not hearing things as clearly as they used to. The earlier we recognise this and the sooner we act, the more we can minimise any long-term damage. If there is any hearing loss, we can help you find the hearing technology that suits your needs and lifestyle.”

Commenting on the findings, Martina McNulty said: “Everyone’s hearing changes over time but you shouldn’t have to settle for ‘OK’ hearing. If you’re mishearing things or ‘just getting the gist’ during conversation, there’s no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. Get a free hearing check on the high street to find out what support can put you on track to hearing clearly again.”

Discover The Misheard Manifesto and watch the film at: www.specsavers.ie/misheard-manifesto.

Top 10 misheard sayings

Misheard: Nip it in the butt

Correct: Nip it in the bud

Misheard: Escape goat

Correct: Scape goat

Misheard: Wriggle room

Correct: Wiggle room

Misheard: Biting my time

Correct: Biding my time

Misheard: Tenderhooks

Correct: Tenterhooks

Misheard: Scotch Free

Correct: Scot Free

Misheard: For all intensive purposes

Correct: For all intents and purposes

Misheard: Do diligence

Correct: Due Diligence

Misheard: Chomp at the bit

Correct: Champ at the bit

Misheard: Last stitch effort

Correct: Last ditch effort