An example of what I mean:
I, in China, told an English speaking Chinese friend I needed to stop off in the bathroom to “take a shit.”
He looked appalled and after I asked why he had that look, he asked what I was going to do with someone’s shit.
I had not laughed so hard in a while, and it totally makes sense.
I explained it was an expression for pooping, and he comes back with, “wouldn’t that be giving a shit?”
I then got to explain that to give a shit means you care and I realized how fucked some of our expressions are.
What misunderstandings made you laugh?
Mrs. Ersatz86, native Spanish speaker with (normally) great English skills, to our daughter and I:
Wait, you guys went to the pub without me?
Me: Well, you were at yoga.
Mrs. Ersatz86: Did you at least stop at the liquor store?
Me: Sure did!
Mrs. Ersatz86: Well where’s the booze? What am I, shoplifter?
Me: … blinks…
Me: do you mean “chopped liver”?
Pandemonium.