"All wet" is a colloquial phrase that means to be completely wrong or mistaken. The spelling of the word is interesting, as the letter 'w' is pronounced differently than usual. The word 'wet' is typically pronounced as /wɛt/ with the 'w' sound clearly pronounced at the beginning. However, in the phrase 'all wet', the 'w' is pronounced less forcefully and almost sounds like an 'h' sound. This is known as the "hw" sound and is represented in IPA as /ʍ/.
All wet is an idiomatic expression that is typically used to describe something that is completely mistaken, incorrect, or untrue. It is commonly employed in conversation or written text when referring to a person's ideas, opinions, or assertions that lack factual basis or logical reasoning.
The term "all wet" originated in the early 20th century and draws from the association of being soaked in water, which symbolizes a state of being completely misguided or misinformed. It implies that the subject matter at hand is drenched with errors, falsehoods, or ill-informed reasoning.
In colloquial usage, someone may be described as "all wet" if their understanding, beliefs, or statements are completely unfounded or illogical. For example, if a person claims that the Earth is flat despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, they would be considered "all wet" regarding their understanding of the shape of our planet.
It is important to note that the term "all wet" is informal in nature and is commonly used in casual conversations or informal writing. Its purpose is to highlight the lack of credibility or reliability of a particular notion or opinion.
The origin of the phrase "all wet" is somewhat uncertain, but it likely emerged in the United States in the early 20th century. The term is used to describe someone or something that is completely wrong or mistaken.
One theory suggests that the phrase originated from the sport of baseball. In the early 1900s, fields were often watered to keep the dust down, particularly in dry regions like California. If a field wasn't properly soaked or drained, players sliding into a base would end up soaked or "all wet". Over time, the phrase might have been extended to signify being completely wrong or off-base.
Another theory links it to the notion of being drenched by rain. This interpretation emphasizes the idea of being completely soaked or "all wet", which may have metaphorically evolved into being completely mistaken or misguided.
Ultimately, the true etymology of the phrase "all wet" is unclear.