Spoonerisms

A spoonerism is a play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched, named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner, Warden of New College, Oxford, who was notoriously prone to this tendency. Many "spoonerisms" attributed to Spooner are believed to have actually been made up by Oxford students. Quotes Let us drink to the queer old Dean. As quoted in Robertson Connie Book of Humorous Quotations https://books.google.com/books?id=ISiWjNRHNQQC 1998 Wordsworth Editions 978-1-85326-759-8 186 A play on "dear old Queen". You have deliberately tasted two worms and you can leave Oxford by the town drain. [Alternatively] Sir, you have tasted two whole worms; you have hissed all my mystery lectures and been caught fighting a liar in the quad; you will leave Oxford by the next town drain. As quoted in Wallwork Adrian Discussions A-Z Advanced: A Resource Book of Speaking Activities https://books.google.com/books?id=m93fVetQNY8C 26 May 1997 Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-55979-9 56, also as quoted in Robertson Connie Book of Humorous Quotations https://books.google.com/books?id=ISiWjNRHNQQC 1998 Wordsworth Editions 978-1-85326-759-8 186 A play on "wasted two whole terms", "missed all my history lectures", "lighting a fire" and "down train". The Lord is a shoving leopard. As quoted in https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19801103&id=i3cUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7156,6750556 Spoonerism Message Lost in Translation Toledo Blade 3 November 1980 A play on "loving shepherd". Ladies and Gentlemen, President Hoobert Heever. Attributed to radio announcer Harry von Zell, as quoted in https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19801103&id=i3cUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mAIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7156,6750556 Spoonerism Message Lost in Translation Toledo Blade 3 November 1980 A play on US President Herbert Hoover Runny be quimble, Runny be nick, Runny cump over the jandlestick. Excerpt from the poem, Runny's Jig Bump, from "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein, as quoted in Block Melissa Shel Silverstein's 'Runny Babbit' Tales https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4787324 10 January 2019 NPR August 5, 2005 A play on the nursery rhyme Jack Be Nimble Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things. Attributed to comedian George Carlin, as quoted in Lovinger Caitlin Triple Spoonerisms https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/crosswords/daily-puzzle-2018-04-08.html 10 January 2019 The New York Times April 7, 2018 Leaves no tone unsterned. Attributed to violinist Isaac Stern, as quoted in Freeman Paul Joel Wit in English https://books.google.com/books?id=GXXScjZDj7wC 18 December 2009 Xlibris Corporation 978-1-4691-0589-5 133 A play on "Leave no stone unturned". I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy. Attributed to writer Dorothy Parker, as quoted in Lederer Richard Get Thee to a Punnery: An Anthology of Intentional Assaults Upon the English Language https://books.google.com/books?id=RtjOAgAAQBAJ 6 February 2014 Gibbs Smith 978-1-4236-1203-2 Time wounds all heels. Attributed to comedian Groucho Marx, as quoted in Lederer Richard Get Thee to a Punnery: An Anthology of Intentional Assaults Upon the English Language https://books.google.com/books?id=RtjOAgAAQBAJ 6 February 2014 Gibbs Smith 978-1-4236-1203-2 A play on "Time heals all wounds". Names can be spoonerisms also, like Willie Nelson (Nellie Wilson) and Bobby Hall (hobby ball). External links Spoonerism spoonerisms category:Language