Malapropisms are Fun - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BrandonS · 06-29-2003, 10:31 PM

Well this is kind of a dumb thread, and it will probably vanish without a trace, but it's quiet on the boards tonight. A malapropism is when you use a word the wrong way. Examples would be:

"Quiet, I'm consecrating." (instead of concentrating)
"The feeling is paramutual, I'm insured." (instead of "The feeling is mutual, I'm sure."

The above were from "The East Side Kids" movies.

There was a famous British university professor at Oxford named Spooner, who was famous for doing something similar to this. Just after the First World War, he told someone, "When the boys come back from France, we'll have the hags flung out" (flags hung out). And he once referred to Queen Victoria as "the queer old dean" (dear old queen). This kind of mistake is called a "spoonerism." That's a slightly different way of using words incorrectly than a malapropism, which is using the wrong word for soomething.

Has anybody heard anything like this, or can you think one up?

Janice · 06-29-2003, 10:43 PM

Archie Bunker was the king of malaproprisms. He said them constantly.
The company I once worked for received a business letter, and it read, something along the lines of, "There's been a lot of pubic interest in...." lol. Naturally, spellcheck wouldn't pick up on this typo.
Thanks for teaching me a new word Brandon.

BrandonS · 06-29-2003, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
Thanks for teaching me a new word Brandon.

It comes from some character in a long ago play, named Mrs. Malaprop, who did this, but I don't know what play or when.

Janice · 06-29-2003, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrandonS
It comes from some character in a long ago play, named Mrs. Malaprop, who did this, but I don't know what play or when.

Right again.

From www.webster.com
One entry found for malapropism.
Main Entry: mal·a·prop·ism
Pronunciation: 'ma-l&-"prä-"pi-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: Mrs. Malaprop, character noted for her misuse of words in R. B. Sheridan's comedy The Rivals (1775)
Date: 1849
1 : the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context
2 : MALAPROP
- mal·a·prop·ist /-"prä-pist/ noun

Titania · 06-29-2003, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrandonS
It comes from some character in a long ago play, named Mrs. Malaprop, who did this, but I don't know what play or when.

Mrs. Malaprop is from the play The Rivals, eighteenth century i think. Great play if you ever get the chance to see it, one of my friends played her niece in it a few years back.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 06-29-2003, 10:56 PM

I know theres gotta be a few from Laverne & Shirley, but I cant think of any at the moment.

Rockapella722 · 06-30-2003, 12:59 AM

The funniest line ever mumbled by Lenny on Laverne & Shirley...

"Well, Laverne. This is the night we finally get to constipate our marriage."

All ya gotta do is turn to Lenny and Squiggy for malapropisms.

Janice · 06-30-2003, 01:35 AM

There's lots of them on here.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...5&pagenumber=1

PZelda · 06-30-2003, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rockapella722
The funniest line ever mumbled by Lenny on Laverne & Shirley...

"Well, Laverne. This is the night we finally get to constipate our marriage."

All ya gotta do is turn to Lenny and Squiggy for malapropisms.

TheHappyBurgerMeister · 06-30-2003, 02:23 AM

The only one that I can think of is from Back to the Future part one when George McFly walks into the malt shop, walks up to Lorraine and says "You are my density" when he's supposed to say destiny!

GrapeJelly · 06-30-2003, 07:34 AM

Balki on Perfect Strangers used words incorrectly all the time. One of my favorite lines of his is "Don't have a nervous breakdance!"

BrandonS · 06-30-2003, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GrapeJelly
Balki on Perfect Strangers used words incorrectly all the time. One of my favorite lines of his is "Don't have a nervous breakdance!"

That made me laugh out loud!

*PinkLady* · 06-30-2003, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GrapeJelly
Balki on Perfect Strangers used words incorrectly all the time. One of my favorite lines of his is "Don't have a nervous breakdance!"

Or "You're up the river without a poodle." (the only one I can remember at the moment)

Montana Ponine · 06-30-2003, 12:33 PM

Okay, dunno if this counts, but once I asked my grandma if she was going to get a "Rapunzie Barbel" for my cousin. It was funny. My sister still teases me.

06-29-2003, 10:31 PM	#1
BrandonS Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 8,824	Malapropisms are Fun Well this is kind of a dumb thread, and it will probably vanish without a trace, but it's quiet on the boards tonight. A malapropism is when you use a word the wrong way. Examples would be: "Quiet, I'm consecrating." (instead of concentrating) "The feeling is paramutual, I'm insured." (instead of "The feeling is mutual, I'm sure." The above were from "The East Side Kids" movies. There was a famous British university professor at Oxford named Spooner, who was famous for doing something similar to this. Just after the First World War, he told someone, "When the boys come back from France, we'll have the hags flung out" (flags hung out). And he once referred to Queen Victoria as "the queer old dean" (dear old queen). This kind of mistake is called a "spoonerism." That's a slightly different way of using words incorrectly than a malapropism, which is using the wrong word for soomething. Has anybody heard anything like this, or can you think one up?

06-29-2003, 10:43 PM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	It's a cereal feeling (surreal). Archie Bunker was the king of malaproprisms. He said them constantly. The company I once worked for received a business letter, and it read, something along the lines of, "There's been a lot of pubic interest in...." lol. Naturally, spellcheck wouldn't pick up on this typo. Thanks for teaching me a new word Brandon.

06-29-2003, 10:56 PM	#6
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	I know theres gotta be a few from Laverne & Shirley, but I cant think of any at the moment.
	__________________ DAVID COOK FOR AMERICAN IDOL

06-30-2003, 12:59 AM	#7
Rockapella722 .B.A.D.G.E.R. .G.I.R.L. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 28, 2001 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,489	The funniest line ever mumbled by Lenny on Laverne & Shirley... "Well, Laverne. This is the night we finally get to constipate our marriage." All ya gotta do is turn to Lenny and Squiggy for malapropisms.
	__________________ ...Queer Eye For The Straight Guy... "You guys, look. This is my pile of stuff I don't like..... is it getting too big?" -Thom Filicia \| livejournal \| email \|

06-30-2003, 02:23 AM	#10
TheHappyBurgerMeister Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 23, 2002 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,209	The only one that I can think of is from Back to the Future part one when George McFly walks into the malt shop, walks up to Lorraine and says "You are my density" when he's supposed to say destiny!
	__________________ Kristina Thinkin' 'Bout Something Official Music Video Shout it Out- Hanson's 5th studio album in stores June 8th!

06-30-2003, 01:35 AM	#8
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	There's lots of them on here. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...5&pagenumber=1

06-30-2003, 07:34 AM	#11
GrapeJelly Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2003 Posts: 3,542	Balki on Perfect Strangers used words incorrectly all the time. One of my favorite lines of his is "Don't have a nervous breakdance!"

06-30-2003, 12:33 PM	#14
Montana Ponine Tragically Beautiful Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2001 Location: Sondheimville Posts: 4,529	Okay, dunno if this counts, but once I asked my grandma if she was going to get a "Rapunzie Barbel" for my cousin. It was funny. My sister still teases me.