Malapropisms, love 'em or hate 'em

[Also]

I'll get us started:

She gets so easily exacerbated

You'll only exasperate the problem.

When push comes to shovel
(I heard this from an ESL speaker once.)

 

[Louanne Learning]

I had to look up the definition -

A malapropism is the mistaken, often unintentional, use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, resulting in a nonsensical or humorous phrase.

So, I then found out that the character Dogberry in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing had a few -

"Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended [apprehended] two auspicious [suspicious] persons" (Act 3, Scene 5).

"O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption [damnation] for this" (Act 4, Scene 2).

"Comparisons are odorous [odious]" (Act 3, Scene 5).

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Uh-oh. Let's get started:

- Free reign ("Free rein")

- The whole kitten caboodle ("The whole kit and caboodle")

- A grizzly end (No, no! Unless a bear is somehow involved, this should be "A grisly end")

- For all intensive purposes ("For all intents and purposes")

- Take it for granite ("Take it for granted")

- Whatever floats your goat ("Whatever floats your boat")

- Nip it in the butt (Heaven help us -- "Nip it in the bud")

- Dull as dishwater (should be "Dull as ditchwater")

- Chomping at the bit (should be "Champing at the bit" - 'to champ' means 'to chew noisily')

- A hare's breath (should be "A hair's breadth')

And so, to you lovely people, I say: Oh, deer!

 

[Louanne Learning]

A malapropism

Also known as a "Dogberryism!"

Interesting bit of trivia -

Malpropism (noun, 1826), from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Sheridan's play “The Rivals” (1775). Mrs. Malaprop was noted for her ridiculous misuse of large words; her name was coined from the French mal à propos, meaning badly suited to the purpose.

For example:

“Sir, you overpower me with good breeding. He is the very pine-apple of politeness!” (Act III, Scene iii)

“I hope you will represent her to the captain as an object not altogether illegible.” (Act I)

“Why, murder's the matter! Slaughter's the matter! Killing's the matter! But he can tell you the perpendiculars.” (Act V, Scene i)

 

[CatrionaGrace]

- A grizzly end (No, no! Unless a bear is somehow involved, this should be "A grisly end")

In Wyoming, one end is as likely as the other, so we use them inexplicably.

Burn the camel at both ends.

With liver trees and juices for all. (Courtesy of a first grader saying the Pledge of Allegiance.)

 

[Naomasa298]

Whether I love them or not is a mute point.