Wrong end of the stick
An English idiom meaning to get something wrong by one's approach by making stupid assumptions. To think that something you've been offered is the opposite of what it is. To confuse left and right. To turn an ability into a disability, a solution into a problem.
The wrong end, as opposed to the right end of the stick.
It goes back to the medieval, when people use staffs, or a general purpose stick. One end would be held by its owner.
The right end of the stick is the driving seat, the nice, clean, comfy end.
The wrong end is the dirty, ugly pig-swill stirring, beating-dealing, non-walking-enhancing end.
Picking up another's stick by the wrong end is the sign of an idiot, it often signifies a favour turned into a curse by the recipient by of their foolish eagerness to play the game.
The wrong end, as opposed to the right end of the stick.
It goes back to the medieval, when people use staffs, or a general purpose stick. One end would be held by its owner.
The right end of the stick is the driving seat, the nice, clean, comfy end.
The wrong end is the dirty, ugly pig-swill stirring, beating-dealing, non-walking-enhancing end.
Picking up another's stick by the wrong end is the sign of an idiot, it often signifies a favour turned into a curse by the recipient by of their foolish eagerness to play the game.
Example:
"Nice Rottweiler" said Rufus. I told Rufus the guard dog was having a bad day today, had been growling a lot. What did he do? He went skipping right up to it, tried to cheer it up "oooh poor doggie" and it bit him in the face. Totally got the wrong end of the stick.
"Nice Rottweiler" said Rufus. I told Rufus the guard dog was having a bad day today, had been growling a lot. What did he do? He went skipping right up to it, tried to cheer it up "oooh poor doggie" and it bit him in the face. Totally got the wrong end of the stick.
wrong end of the shaft
Idiom, literally meaning: one the receiving end of someone's penis (in slang shaft) rather than the person who possesses the penis (again shaft). In usage this means someone getting fucked figuratively rather than doing the figurative fucking (in which fucking is the preferred position).
Often used in relation to a business transaction which is one-sided.
While uncommon this idiom can be used in a literal sense and would generally refer to not only the act of being on the receiving side but also of a penetrative act that is disliked or not enjoyable (e.g. anal sex, double penetration..)
Often used in relation to a business transaction which is one-sided.
While uncommon this idiom can be used in a literal sense and would generally refer to not only the act of being on the receiving side but also of a penetrative act that is disliked or not enjoyable (e.g. anal sex, double penetration..)
Example:
Figurative:
"I sold my truck for $2K to some idiot."
"Oh man, that shitbox? He was definitely on the wrong end of the shaft on that one."
Literal:
"James and I DP'd this chick last night.. man, was she on the wrong end of the shaft."
Figurative:
"I sold my truck for $2K to some idiot."
"Oh man, that shitbox? He was definitely on the wrong end of the shaft on that one."
Literal:
"James and I DP'd this chick last night.. man, was she on the wrong end of the shaft."
The wrong end of the dog.
The wrong end of the dog to have gotten.
To have completely misunderstood something. The meaning is identical to the more common idiomatic phrase 'The wrong end of the stick.'
The origin of this phrase may be an answer from the Australian edition of The Weakest Link which featured in the satirical magazine Private Eye.
Chair (Cornelia Frances) - "When you have misunderstood something you can be said to have gotten the wrong end of the ... ?"
Contestant - "Dog?"
To have completely misunderstood something. The meaning is identical to the more common idiomatic phrase 'The wrong end of the stick.'
The origin of this phrase may be an answer from the Australian edition of The Weakest Link which featured in the satirical magazine Private Eye.
Chair (Cornelia Frances) - "When you have misunderstood something you can be said to have gotten the wrong end of the ... ?"
Contestant - "Dog?"
Example:
If he thinks that a jump in oil prices means an end to the recession then he has gotten hold of the wrong end of the dog.
If he thinks that a jump in oil prices means an end to the recession then he has gotten hold of the wrong end of the dog.
opens the wrong end of the doritos
A slang term recently developed in Northern California, implies that one is foolish, ignorant, or posesses below-average intelligence