You might have heard the phrase "What's in a name?" But when it comes to everyday things, names can play a surprisingly significant role in shaping our perceptions. Can you imagine picking up a product only to discover that its name has led you completely astray? For instance, take "head cheese." You might think it’s some gourmet delicacy, but it’s a meat jelly made from the head of a pig.
So, when someone online asked, "What’s something that has a dangerously misleading name?" People quickly chimed in with some intriguing examples. Keep reading to discover more surprising names that might just leave you scratching your head, Pandas!
#1
Pro-life. Should just be called pro-birth, they don’t care what happens after.
Image credits: Richardson_Easy
#2
Flushable wipes
Ask elbow-deep-in-sewage fixing-the-pump self how I know they aren't flushable...
Image credits: lowcrawler
#3
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Image credits: LittlestSlipper55
When you look around, you might be surprised how many things have names that can really mislead you. Take guinea pigs, for example. Those adorable little creatures have nothing to do with pigs, and they’re not from Guinea either! They’re actually small rodents from South America.
Here’s the thing: names have a way of shaping our expectations. So, when we hear a particular name, we create a clear picture in our minds of what that thing should be.
For instance, when you hear "French fries," you might instantly think of a tasty side dish from France. But surprise—they’re not actually French! They likely originated in Belgium. This goes on to show names can mislead us, painting a picture that doesn’t quite match reality.
#4
I recently learned by speaking with my 5-YO nephew that it can be incredibly distressing to little kids that we use the same phrase (“put to sleep”) for both “human general anesthesia” and “family pet euthanasia.” Buddy boy only knew the dog context and then someone mentioned the doctors would “put grandma to sleep so she wouldn’t feel them cutting her for surgery.” ???.
Image credits: 666ironmaiden666
#5
Air fryer.
Not a fryer. Has no oil.
It is a convection oven.
Image credits: FightMilk55
#6
Ringworm. It's actually a fungus.
Image credits: No_Possible4469
Whether it’s a product name that sounds fancy but turns out to be something completely ordinary, or a term that seems straightforward but leaves you scratching your head, names can definitely play tricks on us.
Like the flight recorder in airplanes—it’s called a "black box," but it’s not even black. It’s actually bright orange, so it’s easier to find after a crash. Makes you wonder, why isn’t it just called the “orange box”?
#7
Barenaked Ladies were a huge letdown for teenage me.
Image credits: MIDalDri
#8
Trickle down economics.
#9
Long Island Iced Tea does not contain any tea at all. And can be very dangerous as it is very easy to drink.
Image credits: Dvc_California
If you've ever ordered Chilean sea bass, you might’ve thought it was some fancy fish from the waters of Chile, right? Well, not exactly; it’s actually a rebranded name for Patagonian toothfish. They gave it a makeover to make it sound more appealing on menus!
#10
Sweetbread is not a pastry.
Image credits: Foxien
#11
Inflammable does not mean not flammable. It means it is flammable.
Image credits: mezasu123
#12
Mothers for Liberty.
You might have heard someone say they have tennis elbow, and it sounds like an injury you'd get from playing too much tennis. But it actually has nothing to do with the sport at all. Tennis elbow refers to a painful condition caused by overuse of the forearm muscles, which can happen to anyone, whether they play tennis or not.
#13
Waterboarding in Guantanamo Bay sounds like a fun time!!
Image credits: realcanadianguy21
#14
Bear spray. I worked in the tourist industry and every year we hear stories of some idiot who think it’s like mosquito spray and spray it on their children and selves.
Image credits: kiathelesbian
#15
A water moccasin isn't a comfortable aquatic shoe.
Image credits: FaberGrad
#16
I’ve been waiting for a question like this!! My answer: the phrase “the jury was hung” meaning they all couldn’t decide on one verdict together. The first thing my mind goes to is “wow! They hung the whole jury by their necks!!”
EDIT: YES I’m aware the correct terminology is HANGED I live down the street from Salem where the witches got HANGED I just immediately think HUNG when people say HUNG JURY I know it’s incorrect it’s just what comes to mind thanks reddit folk.
When you "hit your funny bone," you might expect a chuckle or a lighthearted moment. However, it’s neither a bone nor a joke when you bump it. What you're actually striking is the ulnar nerve, which runs along the inside of your elbow.
When this nerve gets knocked, it sends a jolt of sharp discomfort through your arm, and it’s definitely no laughing matter!
#17
Friendly-Fire.
Image credits: Solid_Deer594
#18
“Right to Work” is one. “Pro-life” is another one.
#19
Greenland.
Image credits: Ill_Refrigerator_593
#20
The Patriot Act.
#21
Truth Social.
Even koalas aren’t quite what they seem at first glance. We often affectionately refer to them as "koala bears," but they’re not bears at all. Instead, koalas are marsupials, belonging to the same unique family as kangaroos and opossums.
This means that, like their larger relatives, female koalas carry their young in pouches, nurturing them until they’re ready to face the world.
#22
I once met a girl named, I kid you not, Sweet Princess Smith (last name changed for privacy). She was a huge b***h. Nothing sweet or princess-like about her.
Image credits: Tough_Stretch
#23
Perusing Door Dash earlier, trying to figure out what I wanted. Came across a place called Hello Cake. Thinking we had a new bakery in town, I clicked. They do not, in fact, sell cake. They sell butt plugs and other assorted sex toys. ?.
#24
Citizens United.
Image credits: schaefer
Now, here’s one for the peanut lovers. If you think you’re avoiding legumes, think again. Peanuts aren't nuts; they're actually legumes, like beans and lentils.
Also, have you ever wondered about "dry cleaning"? It sounds like a process that doesn’t involve water, but in reality, your clothes do get wet—just not with water. Instead, they’re cleaned with special chemicals.
#25
Ectopic pregnancy. Tissue growing outside the uterus in an almost malignant fashion that has no chance of viability and will probably k*ll the afflicted person is not in any sense a “pregnancy”. The name needs to be changed to reflect the medical condition that it is.
Image credits: FeetPics_or_Pizza
#26
**Rocky Mountain Oysters**—they're not oysters at all! They're actually bull testicles, and the name can really throw people off.
Image credits: LeonZhugh
#27
Golytely
If you've had a colonoscopy, you know.
Names can be pretty misleading sometimes, right? These posts remind us that it’s always good to pay attention! What do you think? Do you know of any interesting names that completely mean something else?
#28
Vitamin Water.
#29
Suffrage.
Image credits: Psychological_Tower1
#30
Nutty Putty Cave sounds like such a joyous good time.
Image credits: KarmicPotato
#31
Dyson Ball Cleaner.
Image credits: avadocmomm
#32
Yellowcake.
Image credits: BathshebaJones
#33
Poop deck.
#34
The English Horn:
Not English.
Not a horn.
Image credits: Obvious-Bag73
#35
Red delicious apples.
#36
Literally ANY bill being introduced in American politics.
#37
Sex wax sounds like something used to make certain body parts slippery. In reality, it is used to make a surfboard not so slippery.
#38
Cornhole.
#39
The opposite, but SUPERVISION sounds so much cooler than it actually is.
Image credits: timisstupid
#40
Butterflies are not actually made of butter and you SHOULD NOT COOK WITH THEM.
Image credits: Lootboxboy
#41
The Incredibly Deadly Viper.
Image credits: Mrrandom314159
#42
Spinach artichoke dip SOUNDS healthy. It's got two vegetables right there in the name, but it ain't healthy at all.
Image credits: TheRealOcsiban
#43
Euthanasia is not the young people of Asia.
Image credits: OldMastodon5363
#44
Full self driving.
#45
Misleading name? Salsa dancing.
#46
Airsoft is one, suprised I forgot about that
Image credits: Different-Citron-984
#47
“Unloosen” , as in shoe laces - means the exact same thing as “loosen”. Grammatically correct but logically ridiculous. Absurd even. I might write a letter to my senator.
#48
Warhammer 40k
I have yet to see all 40,000 warhammers.
Image credits: anon
#49
Mineral spirits is not healthy liquor.
#50
Baby aspirin.
