Words or Phrases you always mess up

Davidko19 · Jan 28, 2010

Fun with Spoonerisms!!!

Here is one that happens to me more often than it should...

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it" + "Don't go burning bridges"

==

"We'll burn that bridge when we get to it"

Any other unitentional gaffs or spoonerisms?

Augusto86 · Jan 28, 2010

Originally Posted by Davidko19

Fun with Spoonerisms!!!

Here is one that happens to me more often than it should...

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it" + "Don't go burning bridges"

==

"We'll burn that bridge when we get to it"

Any other unitentional gaffs or spoonerisms?

I have always said that one on purpose, actually.

BCD · Jan 28, 2010

A woman my wife worked with botched "You just need to nip it in the bud" and said "You just have to lick it in the butt." She seriously thought that was the saying. No lie. This is the same woman who passed a "Deer Xing" sign and asked my wife how the deer know to cross there.

why · Jan 29, 2010

Those aren't spoonerisms.

Here's an example from Lolita:

"What's the katter with misses?" I muttered (word-control gone) into her hair.

"If you must know," she said, "you do it the wrong way."

"Show, wight ray."

"All in good time," responded the spoonerette.

Davidko19 · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by why

Those aren't spoonerisms.

Here's an example from Lolita:

My example was close enough. What else would it be called (besides being a dumbass).

Let me use big words. Yes, I'm Sotally Tober.

why · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by Davidko19

My example was close enough. What else would it be called (besides being a dumbass).

Catachresis. More specifically, they're malaproprisms, but that covers sounds as well as words.

I generally go with catachresis as a linguistic descriptor (i.e. people saying 'I could care less', or writing 'toe the line' as 'tow the line') because it demonstrates certain common themes in language change (notably in the former above, root stress causes elision of inflections).

Thomas · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by Davidko19

My example was close enough. What else would it be called (besides being a dumbass).

Let me use big words. Yes, I'm Sotally Tober.

take me drunk, I'm home.

Neo_Version 7 · Jan 29, 2010

What seems to be the officer, problem?

imageWIS · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by Neo_Version 7

What seems to be the officer, problem?

Davidko19 · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by why

Catachresis. More specifically, they're malaproprisms, but that covers sounds as well as words.

I generally go with catachresis as a linguistic descriptor (i.e. people saying 'I could care less', or writing 'toe the line' as 'tow the line') because it demonstrates certain common themes in language change (notably in the former above, root stress causes elision of inflections).

You impressed your internet friends. Congrats.

bencho · Jan 29, 2010

Prell.

RJman · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by Augusto86

I have always said that one on purpose, actually.
So do I, Dear Boy.

I also intentionally say, "Off like the cat's pajamas!" I think it injects a note of wonder ("the cat's pajamas") into that common departure-related idiom.

Originally Posted by why

Catachresis. More specifically, they're malaproprisms, but that covers sounds as well as words.

I generally go with catachresis as a linguistic descriptor (i.e. people saying 'I could care less', or writing 'toe the line' as 'tow the line') because it demonstrates certain common themes in language change (notably in the former above, root stress causes elision of inflections).
Does "phase" for "faze" fall under the heading of catachresis?

I think most of the posts above deal with mixed metaphors, actually.

ssnyc · Jan 29, 2010

nip it in the butt

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why · Jan 29, 2010

Originally Posted by RJman

Does "phase" for "faze" fall under the heading of catachresis?

Yes. N.B. A lot of these terms overlap each other because they originate from different languages or sources.

Originally Posted by RJcatachresis

I think most of the posts above deal with mixed metaphors, actually.

One and the same. [sic]

jrmy0641 · Jan 30, 2010

cite vesus site
break versus brake
etc... i know which i'm intending to use but my brain still ***** me over.

Words or Phrases you always mess up

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