Tuesday, December 06, 2005

1858 Eggcorn--another fun language site

Earlier today I mentioned Language Log and the discussion of snowclones. That led me to the site called the Eggcorn Database, which “collects unusual spellings of a particular kind, which have come to be called eggcorns. Typical examples include free reign (instead of free rein) or hone in on (instead of home in on), and many more or less common reshapings of words and expressions.” It takes its name from a misuse of the word acorn--calling it an egg corn.

I’m not sure this would qualify for the Eggcorn Database, but yesterday here in central Ohio there was a hunter’s death (apparently self-inflicted) and several times the reporter in the field said the authorities were going to get to the bottom-line of this.

And then there is "butt-crack of dawn" which is apparently seen and discussed in Iowa and other places with a straight face. Isn't English just the most amazing language?

1 comment:

Chris said...

This isn't an eggcorn in my view, but rather a blend of two set expressions: "get to the bottom of something" and "bottom-line". A related phenomenon but not quite the same.