@starkatt Y'know, I never considered that idiom before. I don't think this one is documented anywhere-- and it's definitely not a given with most folks (I usually have to clarify what I mean when I want the soft one)... but I have known a few people who just knew I meant metal by "tape measure" and fabric by "measuring tape."
Weird.
@mawr @starkatt i call it "tape measure" and "fabric tape measure" haha