A mondegreen is a misheard word or phrase, often in songs. Learn why it happens and see a classic example of this common mix up.

“Toady” began as “toad eater,” a term for a quack doctor’s assistant. Later, it shifted to mean a flatterer or yes man.

Deadline once referred to a line in Civil War prisons that prisoners could be shot for crossing. Today, it usually means a due date.

“White elephant” comes from stories about sacred elephants in Siam and now means something expensive to keep but not very useful.