Today, while making small talk with a veteran, I made the mistake of using the phrase "Cost an arm and a leg". He was a double amputee. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, while shopping, an old man came up to me and told me I should be ashamed for walking around fake limping, and that it's horrible to mock people who actually limp from serious injuries. I wasn't faking, I was born without my right leg and I was getting used to my new prosthetic one. FML
Today, I twisted my knee while cutting firewood with my grandpa. The pain was so crippling, I fell over screaming. His response? "Quit your bitching, I had my kneecaps blown off in Vietnam. They had to stitch 'em back on." He's never been to Vietnam, or even out of the country. FML
Today, I told a guy he should be ashamed of himself for parking in a handicapped space. He hit me with his prosthetic leg. FML
Today, my anatomy teacher was putting together a skeleton model for class. He had misplaced the leg bone, so I thoughtfully asked, "What's the matter, lose a leg?" Unfortunately, there's nothing thoughtful about asking that question to a guy with an amputated leg. FML
Today, at a mind-numbingly boring support session, everyone was talking about their hardships. One guy was talking about losing his leg in a car accident. I was half-asleep and asked without thinking, "Did you ever find it?" I almost shat my pants at the roomful of death glares that followed. FML
Today, as a nursing student, I needed to take a blood sample from someone and the veins on his arms weren't really easy to draw blood from. I asked him, "Can I please look at your legs?" It turns out he was amputated. FML
Today, I was pretending to be a mom with my friends, and I was joking how I bought them candy and that it cost me an arm and a leg, only to realize that the cashier only had one arm. FML
Today, at the airport, my mom began talking about how useless the war in Iraq was, and how dumb the soldiers that serve there were for enlisting during the war. The soldier at the vending machine near us caught my eye. I mouthed, "Sorry" and he mouthed, slowly, "You fuckin' better be." FML
Today, my 6 year-old daughter saw a man in a wheelchair whose leg had been amputated. She walks up to him and says, "What happened?" He answers kindly that he's a war veteran. She then responds, "Well then you deserve to get your leg blown off. You shouldn't be killing people." FML
Today, I accidentally asked a one-armed man which arm he wanted me to take blood from. He asked for a different nurse. FML
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Top comments
j11a01 16
Sorry op if guy took offense. I know a few amputees that would actually laugh and agree if you said that to them. People should stop getting offended so easily.
Tarlachia 33
I just wonder what it was exactly that cost an arm and a leg? I think that knowing this will determine if your use of that idiom is appropriate or not.
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Comments (44)
Jmrox2001 10
Well that doesn't seem right but I'm sure he understood
MikaykayUnicorn 36
You gotta be careful what you say around veterans. Someone made a joke with my dad, I don't remember what is was, but something in the joke gave him a flashback that he had nightmares about for a week after. The person didn't know it would give him a flashback but things happen. Make sure to choose your words carefully.
SOILEDIT 51
That was a very bad use of an idiom.
Death546 25
I can see how that could be an accident, but dude, check what you say before you say it
abhig 14
Are your arms and legs fine.. Coz if i were him i would have amputed you too !!
tj4234 36
Giving that it says it was the veteran who is a double amputee in the FML. I'm guessing it was the veteran, not OP, who is a double amputee.
Forbid21 21
I think #4 meant after OP's conversation with the veteran. Because if he was in the veteran's place, he wouldn't let OP go without losing a leg or an arm apparently.
Tarlachia 33
I just wonder what it was exactly that cost an arm and a leg? I think that knowing this will determine if your use of that idiom is appropriate or not.
cheeeksss 29
I wonder that all the time as well. The way it's put, it sounds like it's worth a hell of a lot of money. Like just going to an open house and say "hmm, how about I give you my left arm, my right leg, and my big toe?" SOLD
j11a01 16
Sorry op if guy took offense. I know a few amputees that would actually laugh and agree if you said that to them. People should stop getting offended so easily.
tygerarmy 35
Most Vets would laugh. His buddies probably give a way harder time than you did.
TheAspieDork 27
Well, I think it was more of a worry that he MIGHT have been offended
FaygoAndMiracles 18
Seems a little ridiculous that a guy has to lose two limbs and isn't even allowed to get upset about people being insensitive about it.
luvlu444 24
Cmon man, you must've known even as u were saying it what u were doing
popularonion 33
Hopefully he had a sence of humour, but you kinda deserve it for not holding your tongue. Sometimes you need to check and see if what you're about to say is appropriate!
GregFML 21
man I cant STAND these jokes, I dont have a LEG to stand on
TheHeirofTime 19
Did you even ******* try?
Kiernan151 25
Saying "it cost an arm and a leg" isn't a joke, its a hyperbole.
scyth3s 13
Hyperbole is often a joke. Checkmate.
writerchic85 26
I'm sure he knows that is a regular phrase and didn't take it personally
chosha_fml 27
So common it's really easy to say without thinking.