“Never Fails to Disappoint” and Other Difficult English Idioms
As language teachers, we are committed to correct grammar. While we appreciate the evolving nature of language and understand that everyone has their slang words, and vernaculars, we can’t help but analyze how people speak and think of how things could be communicated more efficiently.
For example, we can’t help but notice when idioms and expressions are used incorrectly. Sometimes, this is due to misphrasing, using them out of context, or simply because the idiom itself is inherently nonsensical. We often wish we could go back and correct these instances just like we correct a student’s homework!
In today’s blog, we’ll delve into 4 difficult English idioms like “Never fails to disappoint” and explain how they cause trouble among both native and non-native speakers.
Table of Contents
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1. Never fails to disappoint
Meaning: The thing or person you are referring to always disappoints.
Example: “My ex never fails to disappoint, every time I speak to him I am reminded of why I broke up with him.”
Many people misunderstand the phrase “never fails to disappoint,” thinking it means something positive. However, what it actually means is that the thing or person in question always disappoints. This confusion likely stems from the phrase being a double (or even triple) negative.
Let’s deconstruct it to make it simpler: First, we have the word disappoint, which means to let down. This is a negative outcome. Next, add in fails, which also means to not succeed. Combining the two, fails to disappoint, we now have a positive because the disappointment is avoided. However, when we qualify it with never, the phrase “never fails to disappoint” becomes negative again. Essentially, it means the thing in question consistently lets you down.
Bonus: What is the opposite of “never fails to disappoint?”
The opposite of “never fails to disappoint” is “always succeeds in pleasing” or “never fails to please.” These phrases, though not as popular as fixed English idioms, convey a consistently positive outcome, in contrast to the consistently negative outcome implied by the original phrase.
2. I could/couldn’t care less
Meaning: “I could care less” implies that you still have some level of care, though minimal.
“I couldn’t care less” means you have absolutely no care left to give.
Example: “I couldn’t (not ‘could’) care less about what people think of my outfit.”
The phrase “I could care less” often gets misused when people intend to convey indifference. If you could care less, it means you still care to some degree. Imagine a scale of caring where one represents a minimal level of care. If you score a one, you could indeed care less. However, if you score zero, you couldn’t care less, signifying total indifference.
Some argue that “I could care less” is used sarcastically, but this interpretation doesn’t align with its literal meaning. Therefore, to accurately express complete indifference, it’s correct to say, “I couldn’t care less.”
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
3. Make do or make due?
Meaning: “Make do” means to manage with what is available, often in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Example: “During the camping trip, we had to make do with the supplies we brought.”
This phrase often gets confused with a similar-sounding but incorrect version, “make due.” The correct expression is “make do,” originating from the British WWII campaign slogan “make do and mend.” This campaign encouraged people to reuse and repair items, like darning socks and making dresses from curtains, to cope with wartime shortages.
In the UK, “do” and “due” are pronounced differently, which helps avoid confusion. However, this distinction isn’t as clear in other English-speaking regions, leading to frequent misuse online. To maintain clarity and correctness, it’s essential to use “make do” when expressing the idea of managing with what is available.
4. Have your cake and eat it vs. eat your cake and have it
Meaning: The phrase means that one cannot have two incompatible things or that one should not try to have more than is reasonable.
Example: “You can’t expect to have your cake and eat it too; you must choose between saving money and buying luxury items.”
This is one of the most difficult English idioms to understand, at least when you stop to think about them. The phrase “you can’t have your cake and eat it” often confuses people because they assume it means you can enjoy both having and eating the cake. However, the phrase actually implies that once you eat the cake, you no longer have it. The correct understanding is that you can’t enjoy the benefits of both keeping the cake and consuming it simultaneously.
Some people consider the usual form of the proverb to be incorrect or illogical, preferring the version: “You can’t eat your cake and [then still] have it (too).” This was actually the more common expression until the 1930s–1940s, when it was replaced by the “have-eat” version. Another, less frequently used variant, substitutes ‘keep’ for ‘have’.
Improve your English Level Now
Understanding idioms and expressions is crucial for mastering any language, and English is no exception. By delving into phrases like “couldn’t care less” and “have your cake and eat it,” we hope to clarify these commonly misunderstood idioms for both native and non-native speakers.
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