A malapropism refers to the mistaken use of a certain word in place of one with a similar sound which often results in a humorous or meaninglessly silly quote. The word ‘malapropism’ comes from the name of Mrs. Malaprop, a character in a play called The Rivals by RIchard Brinsley Sheridan. Malapropisms are also referred to as Dogberryisms, after Dogberry, the constable from William Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. In this blog we take a look at some of the most iconic malapropisms with their intended words in brackets. Let’s see how many of them you can identify!

1. “He is the very pineapple of politeness.” - Mrs. Malaprop, The Rivals

(correct word: pinnacle)

2. “I might just fade into Bolivian.” - Mike Tyson, Boxer

(correct word: oblivion)

3. “They misunderestimated me.” - George W. Bush, Former American President

(correct word: misunderstood/underestimated)

4. “We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile.” - George W. Bush, Former American President

(correct word: hostage)

5. “Texas has a lot of electrical votes.” - Yogi Berra, American Baseball Player

(correct word: electoral)

6. “Our watch, sir, have comprehended two auspicious persons.” - Dogberry, Much Ado About Nothing

(correct word: apprehended, suspicious)

7. “What do I look like, an inferior decorator?” - Archie Bunker, All In The Family

(correct word: interior)

8. “Listen to the blabbing brook.” - Noam Crosby, Comedian

(correct word: babbling)

9. “I was most putrified with astonishment.” - Aunt Sally, Huckleberry Finn

(correct word: petrified)

10. “By this hand, they are scoundrels and subtractors that say so of him. Who are they?” - Sir Toby Belch, Twelfth Night

(correct word: detractors)

https://www.oxfordschoolofenglish.in/