My brother and his then wife had a similar confusion with her mother.
Son/Daughter-in-law: “We’re going out to see a band tonight”.
Mother/in-law: “Who are you going to see”?
Daughter: “This is serious, mum”
Mother: (now with very concerned look on her face) “Oh! Okay, I’m listening”.
Daughter: “No, mum. It’s ‘This…is…serious”
Mother: “Yes, I understand. Now what’s wrong.
Daughter: “No, mum. The name of the band is ‘This is serious.”
Mother: “Oh! okay. I get it now.”
My brother and his then wife had a similar confusion with her mother.
Son/Daughter-in-law: “We’re going out to see a band tonight”.
Mother/in-law: “Who are you going to see”?
Daughter: “This is serious, mum”
Mother: (now with very concerned look on her face) “Oh! Okay, I’m listening”.
Daughter: “No, mum. It’s ‘This…is…serious”
Mother: “Yes, I understand. Now what’s wrong.
Daughter: “No, mum. The name of the band is ‘This is serious.”
Mother: “Oh! okay. I get it now.”