That Came Out Wrong.
Cover of That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 1: At Work. The line on the cover reads “I assisted my grandfather's death.”

English edition · B1–C1

That Came Out Wrong · Vol. 1At Work

20 darkly funny English false friends at work, and how never to say them again.

For French, Spanish and Italian speakers. Written in clear English.

  • “I'm embarrassed, so I'll need four months off.”
  • “I want you to know I'm very compromised with this company.”
  • “His death is a terrible disgrace for all of us.”

If you're a French, Spanish or Italian speaker working in English, you may have said something like this. Everyone around you heard something very different.

Vol. 1 turns 20 classic false friends into short illustrated stories set in offices, interviews, meetings and office parties. Each story fits on a double page: the scene, the line that came out wrong, what the speaker meant and what everyone heard, three correct ways to say it, and one line to remember so it never happens again.

PDF ebookA5 · 48 pages · instant download · read on any screen or print at home
€7.90Buy on Etsy
Paperback6 × 9 in · black and white · 48 pages
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Kindle ebookFor Kindle devices and apps
Coming soon

The 20 false friends
in this book

Every story shows who usually falls into the trap, because the mistake comes from their first language.

  1. The Grandfather SituationassistedUsually said by French & Italian speakers
  2. Four Months of ShameembarrassedUsually said by Spanish speakers
  3. Totally ConstipatedconstipatedUsually said by Spanish & Italian speakers
  4. Five Minutes of Your TimemolestUsually said by Spanish speakers
  5. The Honest CandidateactuallyUsually said by French & Italian speakers
  6. One Big DeceptiondeceptionUsually said by French & Spanish speakers
  7. Assault in Meeting Room 3injuredUsually said by French speakers
  8. Very CompromisedcompromisedUsually said by Spanish speakers
  9. A Total ExitexitUsually said by Spanish speakers
  10. Under the CarpetcarpetUsually said by Spanish speakers
  11. The Delay Is FridaydelayUsually said by French speakers
  12. My Ancient ColleagueancientUsually said by French speakers
  13. Engaged to the CEOengagedUsually said by French speakers
  14. A Terrible DisgracedisgraceUsually said by Spanish & Italian speakers
  15. Our Bizarre New BossbizarreUsually said by Spanish speakers
  16. Can I Demand You Something?demandUsually said by French & Italian speakers
  17. Prejudice Against ClientsprejudiceUsually said by French speakers
  18. Eventually, EveryoneeventuallyUsually said by French & Italian speakers
  19. Taking Full ResponsibilityassumeUsually said by French speakers
  20. A Very Sympathetic ManagersympatheticUsually said by French, Spanish & Italian speakers

Look inside

Real pages from the book. Tap a page to see it larger. Story 1 is below, free.

Inside That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 1: The contents: 20 stories, 20 false friends.
The contents: 20 stories, 20 false friends.
Inside That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 1: Story 2, “Four Months of Shame”: the scene on the left, the lesson on the right.
Story 2, “Four Months of Shame”: the scene on the left, the lesson on the right.

Read the first story, free

Story 1 of 20, exactly as it appears in the book.

Story 01 · French & Italian speakers

The Grandfather Situation

A smiling man speaks; the listener freezes and drops his glass.

Pierre is at his first networking event in London. A kind stranger asks why he looked so tired last week. Pierre, eager to share something personal, explains that it was a hard week. Very hard. Family stuff.

The line

“I assisted my grandfather's death.”

What he meantI was there when my grandfather died (assister, assistere).
What they heardI helped my grandfather die. Possibly with a pillow.

Say it right

Neutral“I was with my grandfather when he passed away.”
Casual“I was there at the end with my grandad.”
At the funeral“I attended my grandfather's funeral.”
Never againAssist means help. Attend means be there. Unless you really did help, in which case, call a lawyer, not a teacher.

Who it’s for

  • French, Spanish and Italian speakers learning or using English (B1–C1)
  • Expats, international professionals and travellers
  • English teachers looking for fun classroom material
  • Anyone who has ever said something wrong with total confidence

What you get

  • 20 illustrated stories, one per double page
  • What the speaker meant, and what everyone heard
  • Three correct ways to say it: neutral, formal or casual, and sometimes slang
  • A one-line “Never again” tip for each trap

More from the series

Six volumes in English, one for every place a word can betray you. See them all on Etsy ↗

Cover of That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 2: At the Doctor’sVol. 2 · At the Doctor’sCover of That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 3: Love & DatingVol. 3 · Love & DatingCover of That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 4: At the TableVol. 4 · At the TableCover of That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 5: Home Sweet HomeVol. 5 · Home Sweet HomeCover of That Came Out Wrong, Vol. 6: On HolidayVol. 6 · On HolidayCover of That Came Out Wrong, Teen Slang EditionTeen Slang Edition