Malapropism

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Template:Wiktionary A malapropism (from French mal à propos, "ill to purpose") is an incorrect usage of a word by substituting a similar-sounding word with different meaning, usually with comic effect. The term comes from the name of Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's comedy, The Rivals (1775), whose name was in turn derived from the existing English word malapropos, meaning "inappropriately".

Contents 1 Examples 2 Dogberryisms 3 Other characters from literature who used malapropisms 4 See also

Examples

• "He's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Mississippi." (i.e., alligator)
• "He is the very pineapple of politeness." (i.e., pinnacle)
• "He missed that field goal by a microcosm." (i.e., micrometre)
• "I've gotta consecrate myself on this newspaper." (i.e., concentrate). (All in the Family) (*Note the non-standard use of the reflexive, indicating the Yiddish-German influence on New York City speech.)
• "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)
• "Then he laid prostate on the ground." (i.e., prostrate)
• "I resemble that remark!" (i.e., resent)
• "He drank himself to Bolivia" (i.e., oblivion)
• "You know I get ravishing when I play indoor cricket" (i.e. ravenous)
• "For all intensive purposes..." (i.e., intents and purposes)
• "If it's any consolidation..." (i.e., consolation) (Ken James)
• "What are you incinerating?..." (i.e., insinuating)
• "Worst case Ontario..." (i.e., scenario)
• "Supply and Command..." (i.e., demand)
• "Denial and Error..." (i.e., trial)

Dogberryisms

It may be more appropriate to call such confusions "Dogberryisms" after Sergeant Dogberry in William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, who was making them almost two centuries earlier. Some examples include:

• "Comparisons are odorous." (i.e., odious)
• "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons." (i.e., apprehended; suspicious)
• "Thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this." (i.e., damnation)

Other characters from literature who used malapropisms

• In Neil Simon's play Proposals, Vinnie Bavasi is a South Florida Mafia type who speaks in malapropisms.

See also

• Deliberate misspelling
• Colemanballs
• Fowler's Modern English Usage
• Pleonasm
• Elegant variation
• Trailer Park Boys
• Yogiisms
• Spoonerisms
• Norm Crosby
• Samuel Goldwyn
• George W. Bush and his Bushisms
• Disraeli Gearsnl:Malapropisme

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