Today's tip comes to you courtesy of Tetley tea, who puts short quips on the paper tabs of their teabags. One I got today said "False friends give slight-of-handshakes."
Clever idea, but wrong word.
Slight means small, diminutive, thin, etc. Sleight means cunning, skill, or dexterity. So, false friends actually give sleight-of-handshakes.
CORRECT:
The magician used sleight-of-hand to hide the ball under the table.
We need to take a slight detour to avoid the construction.
INCORRECT:
Don't try to fool me with slight of hand!
At the next intersection, take a sleight right.
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2 comments:
Maybe they meant tiny handshakes.
Maybe!
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