Word Play

Most of the people in this family like word play. Any sort will do, but we’re especially fond of:…

malapropisms (noun) Ludicrous misuse of words, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.

and

puns (noun).Play on words: a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning

For instance, coming back from the grocery store this week, Jonathan and I passed a little cemetery. A sheriff’s car was parked there with the accompanying sheriff inside.

I said, “Wonder what the sheriff is doing parked there?” closely followed by, “He must have the graveyard shift.”

Jonathan picked right up with, “Yeah, he’s rounding up all the deadbeats.”

Come on, quit rolling your eyes; you know it’s funny.

Jess was talking to someone earlier this week who for the purposes of this blog shall remain anonymous. She has a daughter, let’s say late teens. They were talking about what she was doing these days, and “Anonymous” said, “Well, she’s not really interested in going to college. She just wants to get her ‘M’-‘R’-‘S’.

Now, you have an unfair advantage, You’re reading this, so it’s immediately apparent what she was saying. But hearing it, well, it takes a second for it to sink in and catch on that M-R-S means she wants her ‘Mrs.’ - she wants to get married!

I thought that was a good one.

Jess frequently mangles words on purpose to make crazy malapropisms. Another member of the family does it quite often too, but doesn’t have a clue they’ve done it, which makes it all the funnier, except you can’t laugh! Don’t want to hurt their feelings.

I reckon if there’s no time for any other play, word play will do.