Name an English saying that makes no sense

Except it is literally true.

"Bought the farm", which has the same meaning.

I understand it's an old pilot's term, but I still don't get it.

FYI: The wooden frame where they hang animals in a slaughterhouse is called a bucket. When the animal is dying, they tend to kick at it.

Same meaning: pop your clogs.

That saying is probably one of the most widely misinterpreted sayings in existence. It makes perfect sense once you know what it's supposed to mean. For example, a sign that says, "No Parking on Sundays" is an exception which proves there is a rule that allows parking on Mondays through Saturdays. There's no need to write on the sign that parking on Mondays through Saturdays is allowed, because the stated Sunday exception proves the Mondays through Saturdays rule.

The way it's commonly misinterpreted makes no sense of course, e.g.:

Person A: "Such and such is always something or other."
Person B: "Here's an example of a such and such which isn't something or other."
Person A: "Well that's the exception which proves the rule!"

Obviously that exception proved no rule, it simply proved Person A wrong.

The misunderstanding rests upon the fact that the word prove has two (or more) distinct meanings.

1. to demonstrate, or establish as fact
2. to test (as in 'proving ground', or 'the proof is in the pudding')

What the statement actually means - the exception that TESTS the rule - rules with too many exceptions, or in some cases even any, lose their standing.

No. The problem here is that almost everyone misuses the word “prove.” It means “to test.” It does NOT mean “to demonstrate.” Think back to math class when your teacher put an equation on the blackboard, then said, “Let’s prove this equation.”

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
I interpret this as, sometimes a sure thing is better than taking a risk.

I thought 9 yards was the length of the 50cal belts loaded into one of those US carrier born aircraft used during WWII.

“Give ‘em the whole 9 yards!”

Nine cubic yards is the capacity of a cement mixer. If you don't buy the full container, they charge a premium (sometimes as high as 200% I've heard) so it better to buy the whole nine yards.

Either word makes sense. Once you eat your cake you no longer have the cake.

Good one, though I suppose it is implicit that its meaning is sarcastic/ironic.

lol

Good catch! LOL

"You wanna have your cake and eat it too?"

Same here! A word like "keep" would do a better job expressing the intention.

Curiosity killed the cat
Seems straightforward to me--sometimes leave well enough alone, or let sleeping dogs lie.

They stole my thunder
Also seems straightforward to me--I got beaten to the punch

I was watching old episodes of Forensic Files. I can't believe how often the narrator used "ironically" when he meant to say "coincidentally".