I prefer to call it an 'anapot' #linguistics #language #grammar #etymology #idioms

[EgyEmily]

so this is why i've started saying "2 nickels isn't a lot" to reference the Dr. Doofenshmirtz line

[ManWittVan]

"I like your words, magic language man."

[BaileyTheCatUwU]

My brother has shortened “the pot calling the kettle black” to “pot kettle, kettle pot”

[Jade_TheCat]

It's like how we got from "How do you do?" to "How d'ye do?" then "Howdy do" and finally just "Howdy!"

[alexia]

“Great minds think alike, but fools rarely differ.”

I like the full saying because it’s a caution to sit back and critically analyze what everyone is heartily agreeing with you/each other on. Hold ideas up to the test of fact and evidence. And if it’s just a matter of taste, then now you know it’s not worth dying on a hill over.

[BigLichen]

Instead of “even a broken clock is right twice a day” I’ve just started saying “broken clocks and whatever”

[ragingpacifish]

I have never in my life heard the full “when in Rome” quote. I knew what it meant, but never thought there was more. What a trip

[GingieWorm]

"Great minds think alike, but fools rarely differ" is one I'm fond of

[FireStrikerShadow]

People will say "jack of all trades, master of none" and forget "often times better than a master of one" so shortening can sometimes lose the meaning of the phrase itself

[FerousFolly]

there's a really nefarious example of this in retail and hospitality industries; "the customer is always right *_[ in matters of taste ]_* "

[deeplook]

"great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ" is the full quote

[VirtuesOfSin]

Great Minds Think Alike
But Fools Rarely Differ.

[alexnicollette]

I’m always fascinated by phrases that are shortened in such a way that they change the original meaning (like “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”)

[busshock]

Sometimes the bit that gets left out is actually important though, such as "the customer is always right, in matters of taste" or "one bad apple spoils the bunch" or "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness".

[Rose-yxjq]

"Speak of the devil and he doth appear."

I was today years old.

[Chunwun-uo]

Instead of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” I just say don’t break cause we ain’t fixing it.

[louannebvb]

I didn't know that "do what the romans do" came next

[Mynty_Myni]

„curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back“

[MyRegularNameWasTaken]

My personal favorite anapodoton is "If I had a nickel, " because it's become the shortened form of TWO different expressions! The first, "I would be rich, " became so popular that it ended up being parodied by, "I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice." Then that parody became so popular as to overtake the original expression, and again the phrase, "If I had a nickel" is now sufficient to reference it.

[hectorpascal]

The problem with all anapodotons is that they also often get lengthened for humor or to make a different point - thus confusing the original intent Witness: "He who laughs last... didn't get the joke" etc.