Is it Damp Squid or Damp Squib? / every day English lesson / with Misterduncan

Not all native speakers of English use the language correctly.

Sometimes we make mistakes. These can come in many forms,

such as a grammatical error or a careless slip of the tongue.

A slip of the tongue is a error made whilst saying something.

This can be in the form of a factual error, or just a simple misplaced word.

Some English idioms are often said wrongly. A good example is the phrase – ‘damp squib’.

Instead of ‘squib’, some people say ‘squid’, which is a type of aquatic animal.

The correct word is ‘squib’, which is a small firework.

So a damp squib is something that promises to be exciting or interesting,

but turns out to be a disappointment. A damp firework will not go bang,

so we say ‘damp squib’. ‘’Last night’s party was supposed to

be the best of the year, but it turned out to be a damp squib.’’

Something that promises to be great turns out to be the opposite.

It was ‘a letdown’. But it wasn’t a damp squid...

it was a ‘damp squib’.