THESE WORK FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES: I learned a new word yesterday: "eggcorn". Says Wiki, it's "an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect. The new phrase introduces a meaning that is different from the original, but plausible in the same context, such as 'old-timers' disease' for 'Alzheimer's disease'. This is as opposed to a malapropism, where the substitution creates a nonsensical phrase."
Other examples include "bold-faced lie", "collaborating evidence", "throws of passion" and "in lame man's terms," and because there is an internet hundreds more have been collected.
This, of course, makes me think of Joey Tribbiani's classic analysis of the term "moo point." "It's like a cow's opinion. It doesn't matter. It's moo."
ReplyDeleteHere, here.
ReplyDeleteit's a doggy-dog world! (that is my most favorite episode of Modern Family ever)
ReplyDeleteWell, who made these people Judge, Judy and Executioner of what is or is not proper English usage?
ReplyDelete