naught » not

Chiefly in:   all for not , come to not

Classification: English – cot/caught merger

Spotted in the wild:

  • “It’s all for not if you don’t have some kind of tree ordinance,” he said. (Hannibal Courier-Post, May 7, 2004)
  • They had Molly as a solid champion for nearly 6 months. There was Trish, Lita, Jazz, Victoria, Gail Kim and Jacqueline. But now it’s all for not. (Daytona Beach News-Journal, Jan. 14, 2005)
  • “I’m never going to believe it’s all for not. I think that there’s a reason. I don’t know that we’ll be able to completely articulate a reason for something as horrific as has occurred now. I don’t know that we’re every going to understand why, but it did,” said Carter. (WISH-TV, Indianapolis, Feb. 14, 2005)
  • I would think that it puts everyone in a bind, including you and all of your workers, to continue to spending the funds that have been appropriated for that and to know that it may all come to not. (Utah Citizens' Advisory Commission on Chemical Weapons Demilitarization, June 15, 2000)
  • But if it is outside the Will of God, it will all come to not. (Lutheran Church Charities)

This eggcorn is presumably more prevalent among speakers with the cot/caught merger.

See also naught » knot.

| link | entered by Ben Zimmer, 2005/02/17 |

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.