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Common phrases that sound terrifying when taken literally
- In this gallery, we look at common phrases that sound absolutely terrifying when taken literally. You could even say we're opening pandora's box...
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
"Beating a dead horse"
- Violence against animals is a crime. Violence against a dead animal is equally as despicable. Sure, the saying is about wasting energy on a lost cause, but just the thought of the literal meaning is pretty nauseating.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
"Skeletons in the closet" - This phrase can be traced back to Victorian-era Gothic novels, and it makes reference to one's embarrassing secrets, or something incriminating. Actually opening your closet and finding a skeleton would be a lot scarier!
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
"Can I pick your brain?"
- Literally picking someone's brain looks as gruesome as it sounds...
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
"An eye for an eye"
- Imagine if we traded eyeballs. I'd give you an eye, and you'd give me an eye back. Just like that!
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
"Fighting fire with fire"
- Instead of using water, imagine firefighters using flamethrowers instead of firehoses to, well, fight fire with fire...
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
"Throwing someone under the bus"
- This idiom is often used to describe someone who puts another in an undesirable situation. Literally throwing someone under the bus would be a lot worse!
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
"Liar, liar, pants on fire"
- What if, every time you told a lie, your pants would catch on fire? We'd all probably be dead, or at least severely burned, by now.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
"He has the heart of a lion"
- How, exactly? Is there such a type of heart transplant? What's next, a head?
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
"Give someone a hand"
- You can help someone, but please don't cut your hand off and give it to them...
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
"Lend me an ear"
- Is there such thing as a rent-a-ear? "Here's an ear. Give it back when you no longer need it."
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
"I'm all ears"
- Sure, the phrase is all about one's eagerness and readiness to listen to the other person. But imagine if it was taken literally!
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
"Open a can of worms"
- This is actually an American idiom dating back to the 1950s. A can of worms should definitely be left alone...
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
"It cost an arm and a leg"
- How's that for bizarre currency? According to the idiom, an arm and a leg certainly pays for very expensive things. By the way, can I have two fingers as change, please?
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
"Throwing the baby out with the bath water"
- Again, a pretty gruesome image, right? This is actually a German proverb that dates back to 1512. It was then adopted by the English in the 1800s.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
"Sweating bullets"
- You'd probably need bulletproof deodorant for this one, right?
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
"Making eye contact"
- What does making eye contact actually mean? Does your eye and the other person's eye touch? Is there actual physical contact between eyes?
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
"Raining cats and dogs"
- This popular idiom has been used since the 17th century. Hollywood could well make a movie based on it. Imagine a sort of 'Sharknado,' but with cats and dogs. It could work, right?
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
"There's more than one way to skin a cat"
- Does this mean that someone tried different methods to skin a cat? Well, just don't! Don't mention it, and definitely don't try it!
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
"His eyes are bigger than his stomach"
- Not easy to imagine. Unless you're a tarsier. Even so, his eyes might not be bigger than his stomach.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
"He wears his heart on his sleeve"
- Yes, it's all about emotions, but imagine someone sewing one's heart onto a sleeve...
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
"Keep your eyes peeled"
- Can you actually peel your eyes? Like you'd do with bananas? That's just gross...
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
"Break a leg!"
- This is a popular expression used to wish someone good luck, mostly among performers. Imagine the person actually breaking a leg. Not cool!
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
"Eat your heart out"
- This expression oozes cannibalism. No amount of jealousy or regret makes up for this image.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
"I'm dead on my feet"
- Luckily the expression doesn't mean you're actually dead and standing on your feet like a zombie. It would be really creepy if it did, though.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
"Cat got your tongue?"
- Many of us have heard this one, but hardly ever imagine a cat literally grabbing our tongue! Yeah, that one would hurt...
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
"I'm dying to find out"
- We just hope it's not too late when you actually find out...
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
"A wolf in sheep's clothing"
- How terrifying a sight would this be, right? Hard to imagine even the most talented of wolves pulling this con off.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
"Heart in one’s mouth"
- This is associated with feelings of fear and dread, but having an actual heart pumping in one's mouth would be pretty gross, right?
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
"It makes my blood boil"
- It might feel like this sometimes when you get really angry or irritated, but the thought of your blood actually boiling is pretty scary!
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
"Knock ‘em dead!"
- Please don't! These are just a few words of encouragement to do your best, not to be taken literally! Sources: (Dictionary.com) (List25) (EC English) See also: Funniest sayings from around the world
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Common phrases that sound terrifying when taken literally
- In this gallery, we look at common phrases that sound absolutely terrifying when taken literally. You could even say we're opening pandora's box...
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
"Beating a dead horse"
- Violence against animals is a crime. Violence against a dead animal is equally as despicable. Sure, the saying is about wasting energy on a lost cause, but just the thought of the literal meaning is pretty nauseating.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
"Skeletons in the closet" - This phrase can be traced back to Victorian-era Gothic novels, and it makes reference to one's embarrassing secrets, or something incriminating. Actually opening your closet and finding a skeleton would be a lot scarier!
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
"Can I pick your brain?"
- Literally picking someone's brain looks as gruesome as it sounds...
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
"An eye for an eye"
- Imagine if we traded eyeballs. I'd give you an eye, and you'd give me an eye back. Just like that!
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
"Fighting fire with fire"
- Instead of using water, imagine firefighters using flamethrowers instead of firehoses to, well, fight fire with fire...
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
"Throwing someone under the bus"
- This idiom is often used to describe someone who puts another in an undesirable situation. Literally throwing someone under the bus would be a lot worse!
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
"Liar, liar, pants on fire"
- What if, every time you told a lie, your pants would catch on fire? We'd all probably be dead, or at least severely burned, by now.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
"He has the heart of a lion"
- How, exactly? Is there such a type of heart transplant? What's next, a head?
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
"Give someone a hand"
- You can help someone, but please don't cut your hand off and give it to them...
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
"Lend me an ear"
- Is there such thing as a rent-a-ear? "Here's an ear. Give it back when you no longer need it."
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
"I'm all ears"
- Sure, the phrase is all about one's eagerness and readiness to listen to the other person. But imagine if it was taken literally!
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
"Open a can of worms"
- This is actually an American idiom dating back to the 1950s. A can of worms should definitely be left alone...
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
"It cost an arm and a leg"
- How's that for bizarre currency? According to the idiom, an arm and a leg certainly pays for very expensive things. By the way, can I have two fingers as change, please?
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
"Throwing the baby out with the bath water"
- Again, a pretty gruesome image, right? This is actually a German proverb that dates back to 1512. It was then adopted by the English in the 1800s.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
"Sweating bullets"
- You'd probably need bulletproof deodorant for this one, right?
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
"Making eye contact"
- What does making eye contact actually mean? Does your eye and the other person's eye touch? Is there actual physical contact between eyes?
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
"Raining cats and dogs"
- This popular idiom has been used since the 17th century. Hollywood could well make a movie based on it. Imagine a sort of 'Sharknado,' but with cats and dogs. It could work, right?
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
"There's more than one way to skin a cat"
- Does this mean that someone tried different methods to skin a cat? Well, just don't! Don't mention it, and definitely don't try it!
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
"His eyes are bigger than his stomach"
- Not easy to imagine. Unless you're a tarsier. Even so, his eyes might not be bigger than his stomach.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
"He wears his heart on his sleeve"
- Yes, it's all about emotions, but imagine someone sewing one's heart onto a sleeve...
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
"Keep your eyes peeled"
- Can you actually peel your eyes? Like you'd do with bananas? That's just gross...
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
"Break a leg!"
- This is a popular expression used to wish someone good luck, mostly among performers. Imagine the person actually breaking a leg. Not cool!
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
"Eat your heart out"
- This expression oozes cannibalism. No amount of jealousy or regret makes up for this image.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
"I'm dead on my feet"
- Luckily the expression doesn't mean you're actually dead and standing on your feet like a zombie. It would be really creepy if it did, though.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
"Cat got your tongue?"
- Many of us have heard this one, but hardly ever imagine a cat literally grabbing our tongue! Yeah, that one would hurt...
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
"I'm dying to find out"
- We just hope it's not too late when you actually find out...
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
"A wolf in sheep's clothing"
- How terrifying a sight would this be, right? Hard to imagine even the most talented of wolves pulling this con off.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
"Heart in one’s mouth"
- This is associated with feelings of fear and dread, but having an actual heart pumping in one's mouth would be pretty gross, right?
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
"It makes my blood boil"
- It might feel like this sometimes when you get really angry or irritated, but the thought of your blood actually boiling is pretty scary!
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
"Knock ‘em dead!"
- Please don't! These are just a few words of encouragement to do your best, not to be taken literally! Sources: (Dictionary.com) (List25) (EC English) See also: Funniest sayings from around the world
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Common phrases that sound terrifying when taken literally
Some of these will make your skin crawl!
© Shutterstock
Every day we use phrases and idioms that don't have a literal meaning. But what if they did? What if "picking one's brain" actually meant picking someone's brain with a toothpick? Or if "giving someone a hand" meant chopping off and handing over your hand? In this gallery, we look at common phrases that sound absolutely terrifying when taken literally. You could even say we're opening a can of worms...
Click through and check out how terrifying these everyday phrases sound when taken literally.
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