Time to nip it in the butt? Gyles Brandreth urges Plymouth people to fight hilarious misheard sayings we’ve been getting wrong for decades

Writer, broadcaster and famous wordsmith Gyles Brandreth is aiming to correct Plymouth’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 people from Plymstock to Southway 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 33% of those in the region admitting to using at least one incorrectly. In addition, 50% said they have been mishearing them for years, and 10% for their entire lives. When other people use misheard sayings, 26% 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, with 57% saying they wouldn’t want to risk embarrassing or offending someone by pointing out when they’ve got it wrong, and another 43% being too polite to correct them. When mishearers are corrected, 32% are surprised and 21% are shocked.

Research suggests that more than five million people in the UK 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 audiologist Martina McNulty added: “Eighteen million adults in the UK 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, TV’s Dr Zoe Williams 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.”