If there is anything worse than using a cliche, it’s trying to use a cliche and getting it wrong. You would think we wouldn’t get something wrong that’s been repeated so often! I like to call these instances Close but no cigarette.
One of the more common examples of this is saying It’s a difficult road to hoe instead of It’s a difficult row to hoe. They sound so much alike that the mistake shouldn’t be that surprising, but it’s also a good example of how we so mindlessly use a phrase. If we stopped to think about it even for a second, then we would never talk about how difficult it is to hoe a road.
Not only does it not make any sense, but we already have enough trouble with potholes in the roads—we don’t need people digging more with their farming tools.
–Paul
Everything Language and Grammar 
One of my favorites is ‘Nipped in the butt (bud)’ Do you have any more?
Reply: We certainly do. Stay tuned; we’ll post more of them in the coming weeks and months.
Actually, it’s funnier the first way.
“I could care less” instead of “I couldn’t care less.” Ugh.
My husband drives me nuts when he talks about the bosses at work and refers to them as: “The powers TO be” instead of the powers THAT be.” ( he also says “nipped in the butt”… and he has 2 degrees!)