Never heard of “eggcorn”? . . . neither had I but now it’s a new favorite:
“A word or phrase that sounds like and is mistakenly used in a seemingly logical or plausible way for another word or phrase.” Merriam-Webster, which included eggcorn among the more than 1,700 words added to its dictionary this past week
Examples:
- “Spread like wildflowers” is an eggcorn when used instead of “spread like wildfire.”
- “Coldslaw” is an eggcorn if you meant “coleslaw.”
- “Self phone” is an eggcorn of “cellphone.”
- A very smart 4 year old was telling me about getting ready for school each day and he had to remember to take his furnace bottle with him. “Furnace bottle?” I asked. “Yes, you know, a furnace bottle………keeps your soup hot until lunch time………
- She seduced him using her “womanly wilds” (womanly wiles).
- “For all Intensive Purpose“
“Eggcorn” itself is an eggcorn. Linguist Geoffrey Pullum is credited with coming up the word, which is the way some people say “acorn.”
click to read other eggcorns which pass the mustard
How did I miss this one? It’s hilarious – and your drawing with your non-dominant hand? Wow, I say, WOW!!! Two goats drawn from a complex angle no less. Definitely escapegoats! BTW, am I missing posts?
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Shari B-P,
You probably missed it just like I’ve missed posting for a week!
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Those are fascinating. Never heard of them.
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Jacqui,
I’d never heard of them either. Missed you last night
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Couldn’t it be “for all intensive porpoise(s)”. But then, aren’t all porpoises intense?!
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Rick,
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroan (my highest compliment)
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