mondegreen

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“
The technical term is mondegreen-originating in 1954 when American writer Sylvia Wright published an essay in Harper's Magazine on her own lyrical disillusionment.

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Definitions (1)

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  1. noun A series of words that result from the mishearing or misinterpretation of a statement or song lyric. For example, I led the pigeons to the flag for I pledge allegiance to the flag.

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Examples

  • The technical term is mondegreen-originating in 1954 when American writer Sylvia Wright published an essay in Harper's Magazine on her own lyrical disillusionment. —  Queen's Journal: Latest stories
  • It might be a mere mondegreen, but it makes a much better song. —  AMERICAN DIGEST
  • I love a good mondegreen, but for the life of me I can't figure out which line you'd mistake for "We all need kung fu." —  Popular Comments Across MetaFilter
  • But I don’t believe he doesn’t feel that pang of annoyance mixed with smug glee when he sees or hears a glaring grammatical error, a malapropism or a mondegreen.
  • Or is it a subset of mondegreen, maybe? —  MetaFilter
 

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Mondegreen has been looked up 277 times, favorited 8 times, listed 78 times, and commented on 11 times.

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Etymologies (1)

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  1. After (Lady) Mondegreen, a misinterpretation of the line (hae laid) him on the green, from the song "The Bonny Earl of Murray”.
 

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