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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

It takes two to: tangle or tango?

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Explainer Sources not specified Context piece
  • The correct English idiom for a situation involving shared responsibility or blame is 'It takes two to tango,' not 'It takes two to tangle.'
  • The phrase 'whet your appetite' means to increase interest, and should not be confused with 'wet your appetite.'
  • When referring to conforming to rules, the correct idiom is 'toe the line,' not 'tow the line,' and praise for achievement is expressed as 'more power to your elbow,' not 'more grease to your elbow.'

Navigating the nuances of English idioms can be a challenge, and common mistakes often lead to misunderstandings. One prevalent error involves the idiom signifying shared responsibility, which is correctly expressed as 'It takes two to tango.' This phrase implies that in any argument or situation involving two people, both parties are equally responsible for its occurrence and outcome. The incorrect version, 'It takes two to tangle,' misrepresents this meaning.

It’s unfair to blame Oshiomhole alone for the NNPC issue. It takes two to tango.

— AuthorIllustrating the correct usage of the idiom 'It takes two to tango' to signify shared responsibility.

Another common point of confusion lies between 'whet' and 'wet.' The idiom 'whet your appetite' is used to describe something that increases a person's desire or interest in something, such as a preview of a book that makes readers eager to learn more. Conversely, 'wet' is typically used in a literal sense, as in watering a garden. Using 'wet your appetite' is therefore incorrect.

The correct idiom is ‘whet your appetite’, meaning to increase someone’s interest and wish for something.

— AuthorExplaining the meaning and correct form of the idiom related to increasing desire.

Furthermore, the article clarifies the distinction between 'toe the line' and 'tow the line.' 'Toe the line' means to conform to rules, policies, or standards set by an authority. In contrast, 'tow the line' is not a standard idiom in this context. Similarly, when offering praise for someone's accomplishments and wishing them continued success, the correct expression is 'more power to your elbow.' The phrase 'more grease to your elbow' is considered non-standard.

When you mean to conform to the rules, policies, or standards set by an authority figure or an organisation, however, you don’t tow the line, you toe it.

— AuthorClarifying the correct idiom for conforming to authority.

Finally, the piece addresses the difference between 'buckle up' and 'buckle down.' 'Buckle down' is an idiom that encourages someone to start working hard, particularly when facing important tasks or challenges, like final exams. 'Buckle up,' on the other hand, primarily refers to fastening a seat belt in a vehicle or aircraft, although it can be used figuratively, its meaning differs from 'buckle down.'

The standard version is ‘more power to your elbow’.

— AuthorCorrecting the non-standard idiom 'more grease to your elbow'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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