Funny Misunderstandings...

Quicken Anja · September 2

Welcome to September! Just as every month before, we like to spark conversations outside of the day-to-day Quicken-talk. For this month, we ask:

What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve ever been part of?

For me, it was back in 2018 when my family and I traveled to Belgium to visit my family. My husband was struggling with jet lag and explaining it to my brother (who speaks English, but not fluently). What my brother meant to say was “if you’re tired in the morning, don’t snooze the alarm—just get up right away.” But because he was translating things literally from Dutch (Flemish) to English, he said, “You just need to stand up.”

So my husband replied, “Yeah, you’re right, I just need to stand up,” and physically stood up out of his chair. They both kept nodding and agreeing with each other, not realizing they were having two completely different conversations. I was cracking up watching them. 😅

Now I want to hear from you—What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve been part of (or witnessed)?

NotACPA · September 2

When my first (now late) wife and I got married in 1974, her mother, Mary, was disabled and unable to perform the typical "mother of the bride" activities.

So, a very good friend of hers, MAAAATHA (emulating southern pronunciation) would consult with Mary and do those things.

Now, my mother was only 19 years older than I am, so at the reception after the wedding, when MAAAATHA is going thru the receiving line, she asks my sister (a bridesmaid), "OH, yo' Motha' is SO young looking, how is it possible that she has a child who's old enough to be getting MAAARRIED?".

My sister, 16 at the time, claims to this day that she INTENDED to say that our mother was precocious.

What she actually said was "Our mother was promiscuous".

Quicken Kristina · September 2

My sister and I look similar enough that people often ask if we're twins. That led to a bit of fun at her wedding, since I was in the choir. I was wearing my nicest dress and carrying my clarinet, headed towards where the choir was setting up when the Minister came running up to me in a panic "The wedding starts in 10 minutes! Why aren't you dressed yet?!?". Dad was nearby and said "Wrong one".

BK · September 2

3rd year in college, we had the new student orientation day (for the upcoming freshmen) and I was helping in various capacities. A volunteer called sick so I filled in for him/her. The school had grouped the students based on some commonalities. The group that I was helping turned out to be Asian freshmen except for one person. He asked me if he was in the right group. I looked at his paper work and pointed out that he responded race=Asian. He said well I am from the Asia continent. We both laughed because technically he was correct in his selection as he was middle-eastern!

Jeff76 · September 7

We went to Italy last Fall and my sister wanted to to get our waiter's attention and meant to say "scusami" which is Italian for "excuse me", but my sister could not say it right and would always say "Gucci"…..I loved the look on the Italian's faces when she would go up to them say "goo-chee me"!

NotACPA · September 7

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20508167#Comment_20508167

In a similar vein, I'd never studied Italian before my family moved to Milano at the start of my freshman year of university.

But I studied the language and went "home" for year-end and summer breaks from school.

In the summers when both were on menus, the 2 words that I kept confusing were "anguilla" and "anguria", respectively "eel" and "watermelon".

Palace · September 8

This sorta involved misunderstanding you could say, so hang on if interested. Back in Navy days, I had 2 guys I most always 'hit the beach with' at liberty call. Sorta like the 3 Amigos, I guess 😁 Anyway, we ended up at a local watering hole while on 6 month Med Cruise (imagine that, sailors at a bar) 😯 on this tropical Isle. One buddy was 'very interested' in the Attractive Lady who owned this bar, but a bit tongue-tied as to best way to introduce himself. I said, 'Just say you find her very attractive and would appreciate if she would consider going out for dinner with you after work? Just be honest, all she can say is no'. Well, he couldn't work up the nerve, so I ask her for him. She just looked at him, said nothing, but did smile (always a good sign 😉) Few drinks later we got up to leave, but that love-struck Amigo stayed behind. Our ship stayed tied up in this port for about 1 week. We had about 4 more liberty calls, but that one Amigo never hit the beach with us again? So down to only 2 Amigos, & we 2 didn't quite understand why he didn't go? I only had about 1 month left in my 4 year hitch in Navy. As I walked down gang plank last time as civilian, this Amigo came running up to me to say Bye for last time. Said, 'Reason I didn't go over with you guys last few liberty calls, I was with my Lady Friend. She didn't want every sailor on ship to know. Make me promise not to tell. Your gone for good, never back on ship, so it's ok'. 'Shore nuff', I replied, 'You'd be a crazy fool not to spend time with her. That's One Fine Lady!!

Funny Misunderstandings...

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