What do you call it when a person uses the wrong word in a sentence, such as "I'm going to get a prescription to the Wall Street Journal," or mangles a phrase, such as "He killed two birds in the bush"?
I'm looking for the verb for that event, or a noun for a person that frequently does that.
2007-02-17 17:07:05 · 6 answers · asked by Gone Galt 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
This may not be quite what you need but it's awfully close and I'm sure it will interest you.
A malapropism is an incorrect usage of a word by substituting a similar-sounding word with different meaning, usually with comic effect.
"He's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile." (i.e., alligator)
"He is the very pineapple of politeness." (i.e., pinnacle)
"If I reprehend any thing in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!" (i.e., apprehend, vernacular, arrangement, epithets)
2007-02-17 17:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by Bethany 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If someone uses a word that is incorrect, but sounds similar to the word in question, it is called a malapropism. Malapropos is an adjective meaning "inappropriate", and entered the English language in 1660. It comes from the French "mal a propos", meaning "ill to the purpose". Malapropism, meaning specifically this kind of language mix-up, was coined after the release of a 1775 play by Richard Sheridan, The Rivals. The play featured a lady named Mrs. Malaprop, a woman who was prone to using "malapropisms" on a regular basis, and with great comic effect.
Someone who mangles a phrase like "He killed two birds in the bush", is "mixing his metaphors".
2007-02-17 17:30:15 · answer #2 · answered by True Blue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Daniel has a great answer. I need add that there is a great old book that deals with all such linguistic phenomena, such as Goldwinisms, Berraisms etc It is called "The joy of Lex"
2007-02-17 22:41:29 · answer #3 · answered by emiliosailez 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the questioners on Yahoo Answers.
2007-02-17 17:09:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks Bethany and Daniel that's the first time I have actually learned something on here except there are many many more idiots on the net than I ever could have imagined.
2007-02-17 21:23:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never heard of a word for that...so let's make one up:
Communodefficiant - He is rather communodeficiant.
2007-02-17 17:33:22 · answer #6 · answered by GoodGuy53 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋