“A teapot in a tempest”
Posted By Mike Orren in Square Pegs on February 16, 2009
A well-meaning pal just emailed trying to correct a misused aphorism in my Twitter feed: FB TOS = teapot in a tempest.
I had to explain that I consider intentional malapropism to be one of the highest forms of linguistic art. I'm but a rank journeyman, but I've learned from the master: Dallas attorney Mike Boone. The feature we did at D Business on the "Booneisms" is still one of my favorite things that I've had the privilege to publish. Good to see that they've made the archive, although I recall that a great illustration by Dorit made the spread.
My colleagues will notice that few more than more of the Booneisms have found their way into my vernacular. And I try to crank one out every and each day.
Jason Rice, says:
Well, Mike, in a world of numeric phonics and general illiteracy, cleverness based on the understanding of the etymological basis of words and literary history is dead. So working up a lather about the joy of wordplay without a beginner's guide to English literature is really putting the horse before swine.
Verified
9 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Sad but true Jason, except for those petite media types and those tie-browed theater people, no one appreciates it anymore.
Anonymous
9 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal