Monday, June 29, 2009

Malaprops

We've lately been running mondegreens in this space. Close cousins to mondegreens are malaprops. As with the mondegreens we've been running here, I have provided the correct wording below each malaprop or other error, for those of you who may recognize an error as such but momentarily cannot think what word was intended.


“The leprechaun will call me from my room.”
(Intended word: intercom.)
Frances Bunn, Snow Hill, NC

After Katrina, many people had to be evaporated from New Orleans.
(Intended word: evacuated.)
-- Stan Kegel

The New Orleans mayor proved to be a very extinguished man.
(Intended word: distinguished.)
-- Stan Kegel

He was arrested and brought before the judge for arrangement.
(Intended word: arraignment.)
-- Stan Kegel

Being a housewife and mother is never monogamous.
(Intended word: monotonous.)
-- Stan Kegel

Live your life as if each morning was the dawn of a new error.
(Intended word: era.)
-- Stan Kegel

Like a bowl in a china shop.
(Intended word: bull.)
-- Richard Lederer

It’s a mute point.
(Intended word: moot.)
-- Richard Lederer

Cut to the cheese.
(Intended word: chase.)
-- Richard Lederer

On the spurt of the moment.
(Intended word: spur.)
-- Richard Lederer

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