Best Malapropisms: Funny Misused Words

  • Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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In summary, the food thread reminded me of a sign that advertised "all orgasmically grown vegetables". The best new one I have is from a letter that the apartment manager lady wrote in her good-bye letter to us residents today. She was explaining how the new position was still a part of the same family.
  • #1
Ivan Seeking
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A malapropism (also called a Dogberryism or acyrologia) is the substitution of an incorrect word for a word with a similar sound, usually to comic effect.
- wiki

The food thread reminded me of a sign that advertised "all orgasmically grown vegetables".

I once called the parks department with a question about anadromous fish, but instead asked about androgynous fish. At first I couldn't figure out why the person started laughing hysterically.
 
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  • #2
Oh crap, Ivan. I just sprayed popcorn all over my laptop. Orgasmically grown. Too funny.

There was this old thread back from 2006:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=121390

But Orgasmically Grown is definitely new. The best new one I have is from a letter that the apartment manager lady wrote in her good-bye letter to us residents today (she's moving on to manage a larger apartment complex under the same corporate umbrella). She was explaining how the new position was still a part of the same family...

"I will still be apart of the corporate family..."
 
  • #3
berkeman said:
Oh crap, Ivan. I just sprayed popcorn all over my laptop. Orgasmically grown. Too funny.

Glad to be of service. :biggrin: I think I saw it on some roadstand along the I-5, in California. I assume it was intentional as an eye-catcher. It worked.

Perhaps it should have been orgasmically groan?
 
  • #4
When my daughter was 3 year old, for the teacher appreciation day, we bought a gift for her teacher and taught her to say "Thank you for teaching me". Later we decided to skip the speech part; she kept on saying "Thank you for cheating me".
 
  • #6
I know I've heard loads of these, but I can't think of any pacific examples

...

:wink:
 
  • #7
The police are not here to create disorder, they're here to preserve disorder.
- Richard Daley, former Chicago mayor
 
  • #8
I learned to malapropriate from this lady:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/2364/saturday-night-live-weekend-update-emily-litella-on-violins-on-tv
 
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FAQ: Best Malapropisms: Funny Misused Words

What is a malapropism?

A malapropism is a type of error in which a word is substituted with a similar-sounding word, resulting in a humorous or nonsensical phrase.

Where did the term "malapropism" come from?

The term "malapropism" originated from the character Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The Rivals. Mrs. Malaprop was known for frequently misusing words in a comical manner.

What makes a malapropism funny?

A malapropism is funny because it often creates a humorous misunderstanding or confusion in the listener, as the substituted word may have a completely different meaning than the intended word.

Are malapropisms intentional or unintentional?

While some people may intentionally use malapropisms for comedic effect, they are usually unintentional mistakes made by individuals who are not aware of the correct word or its meaning.

Can malapropisms be harmful or offensive?

In most cases, malapropisms are harmless and simply provide a good laugh. However, depending on the context and the substituted word, they can be considered offensive or inappropriate. It is important to be mindful of the impact of our words and to use them appropriately.

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