I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead...
@RichardMeister (5328)
Otis Orchards, Washington
June 7, 2016 2:54pm CST
I was just thinking about the expression, “I wouldn’t be caught dead (doing something–being somewhere–being with someone).” The expression means I wouldn’t be caught doing whatever it is under any circumstances.
When I think about it I would rather be caught dead doing something I wouldn’t want anyone to know I’m doing rather than being caught alive doing it. If I’m dead what is it going to matter? I’ll be dead and nothing that is done to my body will hurt me. And if I’m dead I won’t be embarrass because I won’t have any feelings.
On the other hand if what people who have died and come back say about the experience is true, maybe I wouldn’t feel so cocky about it. So if I feel I would never be caught dead doing something then I better not be.
3 people like this
3 responses
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
8 Jun 16
I'm not trying to make anyone quit using any expression. There are many expressions that don't make sense be everyone knows what they mean.
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
8 Jun 16
@RichardMeister It is because of this that the English language is falling apart. Texting short forms has made it bad in a whole other way.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
8 Jun 16
@patgalca I agree with you there. I believe youngsters of today are going to have problems spelling even the simplest of words because of "shorthand" used in texting. I read a post here where a person used "u" and "r" and when someone pointed out the TOS said not to use "texting" and poster asked, "Can you please tell me where I used 'texting'?"
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
8 Jun 16
Yes, I'm sure that a lot of English expressions makes someone learning English ponder what they mean. Several years ago there was a Japanese exchange student who was shot because he didn't know what someone meant when they told him to "freeze."
2 people like this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
9 Jun 16
@JudyEv That's funny.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jun 16
@RichardMeister That is very sad. How awful! I was helping an Asian lady with her English and had to explain how white tea was called 'white' when it was actually brown.
2 people like this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
8 Jun 16
Oh the English language filled with idioms and expressions and they never really look into. It is one of those things you ponder when you have nothing else to think about.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
8 Jun 16
Yes, some expressions do make you ponder when you have a minute to think about them.
