Is there an idiom for the phrase 'that's not what I meant'?
I'm looking for an idiom for the phrase
'that's not what I meant'
and Google seems to be of no help whatsoever.
idioms american-english idiom-requests
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
I'm looking for an idiom for the phrase
'that's not what I meant'
and Google seems to be of no help whatsoever.
idioms american-english idiom-requests
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Welcome to EL&U. I've edited your question to improve appearance etc, but I recommend you edit it further to add context - e.g. is this for your general interest, or a book you're writing? Describe the situation you might use it in. Presumably you want an idiomatic expression to replace the sentence (rather than what I first thought - you wanting an idiom for the description of such an expression). For further guidance, see How to Ask and take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
9 hours ago
2
In what sense? Are you saying that you expressed yourself poorly, i.e., “that’s not what I meant to say, let me express it better”; or that the other person is talking about something else than you, i.e., “what are you talking about? That’s not what I said at all”?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
add a comment |
I'm looking for an idiom for the phrase
'that's not what I meant'
and Google seems to be of no help whatsoever.
idioms american-english idiom-requests
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm looking for an idiom for the phrase
'that's not what I meant'
and Google seems to be of no help whatsoever.
idioms american-english idiom-requests
idioms american-english idiom-requests
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
edited 9 hours ago
Chappo
2,62541225
2,62541225
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
asked 9 hours ago
theshapeofletters
11
11
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
theshapeofletters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Welcome to EL&U. I've edited your question to improve appearance etc, but I recommend you edit it further to add context - e.g. is this for your general interest, or a book you're writing? Describe the situation you might use it in. Presumably you want an idiomatic expression to replace the sentence (rather than what I first thought - you wanting an idiom for the description of such an expression). For further guidance, see How to Ask and take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
9 hours ago
2
In what sense? Are you saying that you expressed yourself poorly, i.e., “that’s not what I meant to say, let me express it better”; or that the other person is talking about something else than you, i.e., “what are you talking about? That’s not what I said at all”?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
add a comment |
2
Welcome to EL&U. I've edited your question to improve appearance etc, but I recommend you edit it further to add context - e.g. is this for your general interest, or a book you're writing? Describe the situation you might use it in. Presumably you want an idiomatic expression to replace the sentence (rather than what I first thought - you wanting an idiom for the description of such an expression). For further guidance, see How to Ask and take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
9 hours ago
2
In what sense? Are you saying that you expressed yourself poorly, i.e., “that’s not what I meant to say, let me express it better”; or that the other person is talking about something else than you, i.e., “what are you talking about? That’s not what I said at all”?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
2
2
Welcome to EL&U. I've edited your question to improve appearance etc, but I recommend you edit it further to add context - e.g. is this for your general interest, or a book you're writing? Describe the situation you might use it in. Presumably you want an idiomatic expression to replace the sentence (rather than what I first thought - you wanting an idiom for the description of such an expression). For further guidance, see How to Ask and take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
9 hours ago
Welcome to EL&U. I've edited your question to improve appearance etc, but I recommend you edit it further to add context - e.g. is this for your general interest, or a book you're writing? Describe the situation you might use it in. Presumably you want an idiomatic expression to replace the sentence (rather than what I first thought - you wanting an idiom for the description of such an expression). For further guidance, see How to Ask and take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
9 hours ago
2
2
In what sense? Are you saying that you expressed yourself poorly, i.e., “that’s not what I meant to say, let me express it better”; or that the other person is talking about something else than you, i.e., “what are you talking about? That’s not what I said at all”?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
In what sense? Are you saying that you expressed yourself poorly, i.e., “that’s not what I meant to say, let me express it better”; or that the other person is talking about something else than you, i.e., “what are you talking about? That’s not what I said at all”?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
You can use the idiomatic expression:
a different kettle of fish.
If you say that something is a different kettle of fish, you mean that it is very different from another related thing that you are talking about.
( Collins Dictionary)
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
add a comment |
You're talking apples and oranges.
"A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared. The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges."
source: wikipedia - Apples and Oranges
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
add a comment |
Generally we would say that what was meant has become "wrong"
You got that wrong, I meant …
You've got me/that all wrong, I meant …
That went down the wrong way, I meant …
Your barking up the wrong tree, I meant …
You got the wrong end of the stick, I meant …
You've got the wrong idea about ###, I meant …
If I'm not wrong, there are many others.
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You can use the idiomatic expression:
a different kettle of fish.
If you say that something is a different kettle of fish, you mean that it is very different from another related thing that you are talking about.
( Collins Dictionary)
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
add a comment |
You can use the idiomatic expression:
a different kettle of fish.
If you say that something is a different kettle of fish, you mean that it is very different from another related thing that you are talking about.
( Collins Dictionary)
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
add a comment |
You can use the idiomatic expression:
a different kettle of fish.
If you say that something is a different kettle of fish, you mean that it is very different from another related thing that you are talking about.
( Collins Dictionary)
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
You can use the idiomatic expression:
a different kettle of fish.
If you say that something is a different kettle of fish, you mean that it is very different from another related thing that you are talking about.
( Collins Dictionary)
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
answered 9 hours ago
user240918
24.7k1068148
24.7k1068148
add a comment |
add a comment |
You're talking apples and oranges.
"A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared. The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges."
source: wikipedia - Apples and Oranges
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
add a comment |
You're talking apples and oranges.
"A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared. The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges."
source: wikipedia - Apples and Oranges
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
add a comment |
You're talking apples and oranges.
"A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared. The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges."
source: wikipedia - Apples and Oranges
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
You're talking apples and oranges.
"A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared. The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges."
source: wikipedia - Apples and Oranges
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
answered 9 hours ago
Jeeped
26719
26719
add a comment |
add a comment |
Generally we would say that what was meant has become "wrong"
You got that wrong, I meant …
You've got me/that all wrong, I meant …
That went down the wrong way, I meant …
Your barking up the wrong tree, I meant …
You got the wrong end of the stick, I meant …
You've got the wrong idea about ###, I meant …
If I'm not wrong, there are many others.
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
add a comment |
Generally we would say that what was meant has become "wrong"
You got that wrong, I meant …
You've got me/that all wrong, I meant …
That went down the wrong way, I meant …
Your barking up the wrong tree, I meant …
You got the wrong end of the stick, I meant …
You've got the wrong idea about ###, I meant …
If I'm not wrong, there are many others.
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
add a comment |
Generally we would say that what was meant has become "wrong"
You got that wrong, I meant …
You've got me/that all wrong, I meant …
That went down the wrong way, I meant …
Your barking up the wrong tree, I meant …
You got the wrong end of the stick, I meant …
You've got the wrong idea about ###, I meant …
If I'm not wrong, there are many others.
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
Generally we would say that what was meant has become "wrong"
You got that wrong, I meant …
You've got me/that all wrong, I meant …
That went down the wrong way, I meant …
Your barking up the wrong tree, I meant …
You got the wrong end of the stick, I meant …
You've got the wrong idea about ###, I meant …
If I'm not wrong, there are many others.
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
answered 7 hours ago
KJO
2,434316
2,434316
add a comment |
add a comment |
theshapeofletters is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
theshapeofletters is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
theshapeofletters is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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2
Welcome to EL&U. I've edited your question to improve appearance etc, but I recommend you edit it further to add context - e.g. is this for your general interest, or a book you're writing? Describe the situation you might use it in. Presumably you want an idiomatic expression to replace the sentence (rather than what I first thought - you wanting an idiom for the description of such an expression). For further guidance, see How to Ask and take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
9 hours ago
2
In what sense? Are you saying that you expressed yourself poorly, i.e., “that’s not what I meant to say, let me express it better”; or that the other person is talking about something else than you, i.e., “what are you talking about? That’s not what I said at all”?
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
9 hours ago