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  1. spoonerism love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A transposition of sounds of two or more words, especially a ludicrous one, such as Let me sew you to your sheet for Let me show you to your seat.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A play on words on a phrase in which the initial (usually consonantal) sounds of two or more of the main words are transposed.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. transposition of initial consonants in a pair of words

Etymologies

  1. Named after the Reverend W. A. Spooner (1844-1930), who is supposed to have habitually made such slip-ups. (Wiktionary)
  2. After William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), British cleric and scholar. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

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Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘spoonerism’.

Comments

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  • Prolagus Spoonerism. May 30, 2010

  • wordlover42 I once received a chain email full of spoonerisms.. my favorite was a waiter trying to say " Let me show you to your seats" that instead said " Let me sew you to your sheets". Jun 24, 2009

  • tbtabby "Haila Stoddard, playing Pauline on The Secret Storm was supposed to say to her mother, 'I always thought she was a bit of a witch.' Instead, there on live TV, in front of millions, she said, 'whit of a bitch.' Her astounded mom, instead of going on with her regular lines, responded, 'Oh dear, Pauline, you didn't mean to say that!' It took the actors ten minutes to get back to the script."

    -Uncle John's All-Purpose Extra Strength Bathroom Reader May 21, 2009

  • bilby
    Once a big molicepan
    Saw a bittle lum,
    Sitting on the sturbcone
    Chewing gubble bum.

    'Hi!' said the molicpan.
    'Bitter simmie gome.'
    'Tot on your nintype!'
    Said the bittle lum.

    - Edward Lear, 'Once a Big Molicepan'. Apr 12, 2009

  • tbtabby It's very hard to fight a liar in roaring pain. Mar 24, 2009

  • johnmperry Q What is the difference between a chorus-girl and a tramp?

    A A chorus-girl has natty knickers.

    (Probably only meaningful to British English speakers). Aug 18, 2008

  • johnmperry Q What is the difference between a sandpiper and a baby?

    A A sandpiper flits along the shore. Aug 18, 2008

  • johnmperry someone I worked with once referred to "the whole matching shoot" Jul 24, 2008

  • skipvia I understand the good Reverend once complained of addressing beery wenches each Sunday morning. Jun 21, 2008

  • asativum I heard these attributed to the Rev. Spooner himself:

    "The Lord is a shoving leopard to his flock."

    and something about the pleasures of riding a well-boiled icicle.
    Jun 21, 2008

  • plethora A shining wit. Jun 21, 2008

  • johnmperry a cunning stunt Jun 21, 2008

  • gangerh a googol of geese Jan 30, 2008

  • bobodod ...I ever heard, was when a friend was reading a copy of "Mother Earth News" magazine and, turning to relate something interesting, instead called the magazine "Mother Nerth Ewws". Jun 25, 2007

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‘spoonerism’ has been looked up 3953 times, loved by 15 people, added to 97 lists, commented on 14 times, and has a Scrabble score of 14.