Today is Reverend William Archibald Spooner's birthday. He was born in 1844. His tendency to get
words mixed up gave us the word "Spoonerism" to describe a
sentence where the words have been jumbled, often to comic effect.
Most of the amusing gaffes Spooner allegedly came out with in his
lifetime cannot be proved to have been said by him. Only two are
properly documented: "The weight of rages will press hard upon
the employer" (rate of wages) and "Kinkering Kongs Their
Titles Take." (Conquering Kings Their Titles Take), a hymn
title. Here are 10 of the non proven ones - can you work out what he
was supposed to be saying?
- Is the bean dizzy?
- The Lord is a shoving leopard.
- Someone is occupewing my pie. Please sew me to another sheet.
- A half-warmed fish.
- A well-boiled icicle.
- A blushing crow.
- Three cheers for our queer old dean!
- Is it kisstomary to cuss the bride?
- A nosey little cook.
- You have hissed all my mystery lectures, and were caught fighting a liar in the quad. Having tasted two worms, you will leave by the next town drain.
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