# Malapropism

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Misuse of a word

A **malapropism** ([/ˈmæləprɒpɪzəm/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English); also called a **malaprop**, **acyrologia** or **Dogberryism**) is the incorrect use of a word in place of a word with a similar sound, either unintentionally or for comedic effect, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous [utterance](/source/Utterance). An example is the statement attributed to baseball player [Yogi Berra](/source/Yogi_Berra), regarding [switch hitters](/source/Switch_hitter), "He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious",[1][2] with the accidental use of *[amphibious](/source/Amphibian)* rather than the intended *[ambidextrous](/source/Ambidextrous)*. Malapropisms often occur as [errors](/source/Speech_error) in natural speech and are sometimes the subject of media attention, especially when made by politicians or other prominent individuals.

## Etymology

[Louisa Lane Drew](/source/Louisa_Lane_Drew) as Mrs. Malaprop in an 1895 production of *[The Rivals](/source/The_Rivals)*

The word "malapropism" (and its earlier form, "malaprop") comes from a character named "Mrs. Malaprop" in [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](/source/Richard_Brinsley_Sheridan)'s 1775 play *[The Rivals](/source/The_Rivals)*.[3] Mrs. Malaprop frequently misspeaks (to comic effect) by using words which do not have the meaning that she intends but which sound similar to words that do. Sheridan chose her name in humorous reference to the word *malapropos,* an adjective or adverb meaning "inappropriate" or "inappropriately", derived from the [French](/source/French_language) phrase *mal à propos* (literally "poorly placed"). According to the *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)*, the first recorded use of "malapropos" in English is from 1630,[4] and the first person known to have used the word "malaprop" specifically in the sense of "a speech error" is [Lord Byron](/source/Lord_Byron) in 1814.[5]

The synonymous term "Dogberryism" comes from the 1598 Shakespeare play *[Much Ado About Nothing](/source/Much_Ado_About_Nothing)* in which the character [Dogberry](/source/Dogberry) utters many malapropisms to humorous effect.[6] Though Shakespeare was an earlier writer than Sheridan, "malaprop/malapropism" seems an earlier coinage than "Dogberryism", which is not attested until 1836.[7]

## Distinguishing features

An instance of speech error is called a malapropism when a word is produced which is nonsensical or ludicrous in context yet similar in sound to what was intended.[8]

Definitions differ somewhat in terms of the cause of the error. Some scholars include only errors that result from a temporary failure to produce the word which the speaker intended.[9] Such errors are sometimes called "Fay–Cutler malapropism", after [psycholinguists](/source/Psycholinguists) David Fay and [Anne Cutler](/source/Anne_Cutler), who described the occurrence of such errors in ordinary speech.[8][10] Most definitions, however, include any actual word that is wrongly or accidentally used in place of a similar sounding, correct word. This broader definition is sometimes called "classical malapropism",[10] or simply "malapropism".[8]

Malapropisms differ from other kinds of speaking or writing mistakes, such as [eggcorns](/source/Eggcorn) or [spoonerisms](/source/Spoonerism), as well as the accidental or deliberate production of newly made-up words ([neologisms](/source/Neologisms)).[10]

For example, it is not a malapropism to use *obtuse* [wide or dull] instead of *acute* [narrow or sharp]; it is a malapropism to use *obtuse* [stupid or slow-witted] when one means *abstruse* [esoteric or difficult to understand].

Malapropisms tend to maintain the [part of speech](/source/Part_of_speech) of the originally intended word. According to linguist [Jean Aitchison](/source/Jean_Aitchison), "The finding that word selection errors preserve their part of speech suggest[s] that the latter is an integral part of the word, and tightly attached to it."[11] Likewise, substitutions tend to have the same number of [syllables](/source/Syllable) and the same [metrical structure](/source/Metrical_phonology) – the same pattern of [stressed](/source/Stress_(linguistics)) and unstressed syllables – as the intended word or phrase. If the stress pattern of the malapropism differs from the intended word, unstressed syllables may be deleted or inserted; stressed syllables and the general rhythmic pattern are maintained.[11]

## Examples from fiction and comedy

The term is named for the fictional Mrs. Malaprop in Sheridan's play *The Rivals*, who frequently replaces words in her speech. For example: declares to Captain Absolute in Act 3 Scene III: "Sure, if I *reprehend* any thing in this world it is the use of my *[oracular](/source/Oracular)* tongue, and a nice *derangement* of *[epitaphs](/source/Epitaph)*!"[12] This nonsensical utterance might, for example, be corrected to, "If I *apprehend* anything in this world, it is the use of my *[vernacular](/source/Vernacular)* tongue, and a nice *arrangement* of *[epithets](/source/Epithet)*",[13] —although these are not the only words that can be substituted to produce an appropriately expressed thought in this context, and commentators have proposed other possible replacements that work just as well.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Other malapropisms spoken by Mrs. Malaprop include "*illiterate* him quite from your memory" (instead of "obliterate"), "he is the very *pineapple* of politeness" (instead of *pinnacle*) and "she's as headstrong as an *allegory* on the banks of the Nile" (instead of *alligator*).[12]

Malapropisms appeared in many works before Sheridan created the character of Mrs. Malaprop. [William Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare) used them in a number of his plays, almost invariably spoken by comic ill-educated lower class characters. [Mistress Quickly](/source/Mistress_Quickly), the inn-keeper associate of [Falstaff](/source/Falstaff) in several Shakespeare plays, is a regular user of malapropisms.[14] In Act 3, Scene V of *Much Ado About Nothing*, Constable Dogberry tells Governor Leonato, "Our watch, sir, have indeed *comprehended* two *auspicious* persons" (i.e., *apprehended* two *suspicious* persons).[15]

Malapropism was one of [Stan Laurel](/source/Stan_Laurel)'s comic mannerisms. In *[Sons of the Desert](/source/Sons_of_the_Desert)*, for example, he says that [Oliver Hardy](/source/Oliver_Hardy) is suffering a nervous "shakedown" (rather than "breakdown"), calls the Exalted Ruler of their group the "exhausted ruler" and says that he and Oliver are like "two peas in a pot" (instead of "pod"); in *The Music Box*, he inadvertently asked a policeman, "Don't you think you're bounding over your steps?" meaning "overstepping your bounds",[16] which has much in common with the transposition of a Spoonerism. Sometimes even Laurel's partner, [Oliver Hardy](/source/Oliver_Hardy), also practiced malapropism, particularly correcting Stan's; in *[The Live Ghost](/source/The_Live_Ghost)* Stan tells a captain that he heard the ocean is *infatuated* with sharks. Oliver is quick to call out Stan's malapropism only to correct him with another: "Not *infatuated*! He means *infuriated*." The correct word in question is actually *infested*.

[Emily Litella](/source/Emily_Litella), a fictional character created and performed by American comedian [Gilda Radner](/source/Gilda_Radner) used malapropism to entertain viewers on the late-night comedy show *[Saturday Night Live](/source/Saturday_Night_Live)*,[17] including one skit in which she was puzzled over the hubbub surrounding the "plight of Soviet jewelry" instead of "Soviet Jewry".[18]

British comedian [Ronnie Barker](/source/Ronnie_Barker) also made great use of deliberate malapropisms in his comedy, notably in such sketches as his "Appeal on behalf of the Loyal Society for the Relief of Suffers from Pismronunciation", which mixed malapropisms and garbled words for comic effect – including news of a speech which "gave us a few *well-frozen worms* (i.e., well-chosen words) in praise of the society".[19][*[non-primary source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research#Primary,_secondary_and_tertiary_sources)*]

[Ring Lardner](/source/Ring_Lardner) used malapropism extensively for comic effect.[20] For example, in his short story *The Young Immigrunts*, the four-year-old narrator repeatedly refers to a bride and groom as the "bride and glum".[21]

[Archie Bunker](/source/Archie_Bunker), a character in the American TV sitcom *[All in the Family](/source/All_in_the_Family)*, used malapropisms frequently: he refers, for example, to "off-the-docks Jews" ([Orthodox Jews](/source/Orthodox_Judaism)) and the "Women's *Lubrication* Movement" (rather than *Liberation*).[22] Intending to refer to the medical specialized field of [gynecology](/source/Gynecology) and to specialist in that field as a gynecologist, he would mispronounce the words as "groinecology" and "groinecologist".[23]

[Tyler Perry](/source/Tyler_Perry)'s fictional character [Madea](/source/Madea) is known for her [Southern](/source/Southern_United_States) dialectical usage of malapropisms, which some critics link to the [mammy archetype](/source/Mammy_stereotype).[24]

[Ricky LaFleur](/source/Ricky_LaFleur) of the [Trailer Park Boys](/source/Trailer_Park_Boys) is known for his constant malapropisms, which are often called "Rickyisms".[25][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] Some of his more notable ones include "worst case Ontario" (instead of "worst case scenario") and "two turnips in heat" (instead of "turn up the heat").[25][26]

A parody by author [Michael Rosen](/source/Michael_Rosen) of the [traditional story](/source/Fairy_tale) of [Hansel and Gretel](/source/Hansel_and_Gretel), entitled "Handsel and Gristle," makes extensive use of malapropisms. For example, the character of the woodcutter becomes the "woodnutter," their "cottage" is replaced with a "sausage" and the word "any" is replaced with the [proper noun](/source/Proper_noun) "Lenny" - who is also treated as an additional character by the narrator whenever this occurs.

## Real-life examples

Malapropisms do not occur only as comedic literary devices. They also occur as a kind of [speech error](/source/Speech_error) in ordinary speech.[9] Malapropisms of a number of notable persons [have individual names](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Terms_for_quotations_of_notable_persons), such as "[Bushism](/source/Bushism)", "[Wałęsism](/source/Wa%C5%82%C4%99sism)", etc. Other notable examples quoted in the media are:

- Former Australian prime minister [Tony Abbott](/source/Tony_Abbott) once claimed that no one "is the *[suppository](/source/Suppository)* of all wisdom" (i.e., *[repository](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/repository)* or *depository*).[27]

- Similarly, as reported in *[New Scientist](/source/New_Scientist)*, an office worker had described a colleague as "a vast *suppository* of information". The worker then apologised for his "*[Miss-Marple-ism](/source/Miss_Marple)*" (i.e., *malapropism*).[28] *New Scientist* noted this as possibly the first time anyone had uttered a malapropism for the word *malapropism* itself.

- [Bertie Ahern](/source/Bertie_Ahern), a former [Taoiseach](/source/Taoiseach) of [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland), once warned his country against "upsetting the *apple tart*" (*apple cart*) of his country's economic success.[29]

- [Richard J. Daley](/source/Richard_J._Daley), a former [mayor of Chicago](/source/Mayor_of_Chicago), referred to a [tandem bicycle](/source/Tandem_bicycle) as a "tantrum bicycle" and made mention of "Alcoholics *Unanimous*" ([Alcoholics Anonymous](/source/Alcoholics_Anonymous)).[30]

- [Beatles](/source/The_Beatles) drummer [Ringo Starr's](/source/Ringo_Starr) idiosyncratic turns of phrase or "[Ringoisms](/source/Ringoisms)", such as "[a hard day's night](/source/A_Hard_Day's_Night_(song)#Title)" and "[tomorrow never knows](/source/Tomorrow_Never_Knows#Title)", were used as song titles by the Beatles, particularly by [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon).[31]

- [Rick Perry](/source/Rick_Perry), a former [Governor of Texas](/source/Governor_of_Texas), has been known to commonly utter malapropisms. For example, he described states as "[lavatories](/source/Toilet_(room)) of innovation and democracy" instead of "laboratories".[32]

- During a Senate hearing, Philippine presidential communications assistant secretary [Mocha Uson](/source/Mocha_Uson) stumbled on the legal phrase "right against self-incrimination" by invoking her "right against self-discrimination" instead.[33]

- In 2016, [Welsh Conservative](/source/Welsh_Conservatives) leader [Andrew Davies](/source/Andrew_R._T._Davies) encouraged the Conservative Party conference to make *breakfast* (*[Brexit](/source/Brexit)*) a success.[34]

- World heavyweight champion boxer [Mike Tyson](/source/Mike_Tyson), upon being asked about his next plans moments after losing in a world title fight with [Lennox Lewis](/source/Lennox_Lewis), declared that "I might fade into [Bolivian](/source/Bolivians)" (oblivion).[35][36]

- During the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), a common [meme format](/source/Internet_meme) was introduced where Internet users feigned malapropism by substituting the word "[pandemic](/source/Pandemic)" with similar sounding words (such as "[panorama](/source/Panorama)", "[pandemonium](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pandemonium)", or "[panini](/source/Panini_(sandwich))"), a practice often attributed to [Black Twitter](/source/Black_Twitter).[37]

- United States congresswoman [Marjorie Taylor Greene](/source/Marjorie_Taylor_Greene) has uttered various malapropisms, including "peach tree dish"[38] ([petri dish](/source/Petri_dish)), "[gazpacho](/source/Gazpacho) police"[39] ([Gestapo](/source/Gestapo)), and "[fragrantly](/source/Aroma_compound) violated"[40] (flagrantly), among others.

- During the lead-up to the [2022 U.S. midterm elections](/source/2022_United_States_elections), Republican Senate candidate [Herschel Walker](/source/Herschel_Walker) was mocked online after stating "this erection is about the people" (election), during an interview on Fox News.[41]

- In March 2024, Maryland Democratic Representative and [Senate front-runner candidate](/source/2024_United_States_Senate_election_in_Maryland) [David Trone](/source/David_Trone), speaking to [Shalanda Young](/source/Shalanda_Young) on the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) floor downplaying Republican concerns about tax rates, stated "So this Republican jigaboo that it's the tax rate that's stopping business investment, it's just completely faulty." Trone faced criticism and later apologized, stating that he had meant to use the word "bugaboo" instead of the racial slur, and ultimately lost the primary election to [Angela Alsobrooks](/source/Angela_Alsobrooks).[42][43]

- In September 2024, at the Labour Party Conference, Prime Minister [Keir Starmer](/source/Keir_Starmer) called for "the return of the sausages" when talking about the [Israeli hostages held in Gaza](/source/Gaza_war_hostage_crisis).[44][45]

- [Ford Motor Company](/source/Ford_Motor_Company) executive Mike O'Brien kept a list of malapropisms he heard while working at the company, such as "let’s not reinvent the ocean", "read between the tea leaves", "I know it like the back of my head", and "he’s going to be so happy he’ll be like a [canary in a coal mine](/source/Canary_in_a_coal_mine)!"[46][47]

## See also

- [Anti-proverb](/source/Anti-proverb)

- [Catachresis](/source/Catachresis)

- [Error (linguistics)](/source/Error_(linguistics))

- [Freudian slip](/source/Freudian_slip)

- [Homonym](/source/Homonym)

- *[Johnny Dangerously](/source/Johnny_Dangerously)*

- [Leo Gorcey](/source/Leo_Gorcey)

- [Mondegreen](/source/Mondegreen)

- [Mumpsimus](/source/Mumpsimus)

- *[Nearest and Dearest](/source/Nearest_and_Dearest)*

- [Norm Crosby](/source/Norm_Crosby)

- [Spoonerism](/source/Spoonerism)

- *[Trailer Park Boys](/source/Trailer_Park_Boys)*

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mlb_1-0)** ["'Yogisms': Yogi Berra's best sayings"](https://www.mlb.com/news/yogisms-best-yogi-berra-sayings). *mlb.com*. [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball). December 8, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-inside-pitch_2-0)** Spoelker, Robert (Fall 2015). ["Last Inning: Here's to you, Yogi!"](https://www.abca.org/magazine/magazine/2015-4-Fall/Last_Inning_Heres_to_you_Yogi.aspx). *Inside Pitch Magazine*. American Baseball Coaches Association. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140625/https://www.abca.org/magazine/magazine/2015-4-Fall/Last_Inning_Heres_to_you_Yogi.aspx) from the original on 2022-10-02. Retrieved March 17, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-oxforddict_3-0)** "malapropism, n.". *Oxford English Dictionary* (3 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2000. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-957112-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-957112-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "malapropos, adv., adj., and n.". *Oxford English Dictionary* (3 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2000. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-957112-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-957112-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "malaprop, n. and adj.". *Oxford English Dictionary* (3 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2000. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-957112-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-957112-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Berger, Harry (2005). *Situated Utterances*. Fordham University Press. p. 499. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8232-2429-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8232-2429-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Dogberry, n.2"](http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/56415). *Oxford English Dictionary online*. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2010. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-957112-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-957112-3). Retrieved 2013-09-09.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AitchisonStraf_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AitchisonStraf_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AitchisonStraf_8-2) Aitchison, Jeanne; Straf, Miron (1982). "Lexical storage and retrieval: a developing skill?". In Anne Cutler (ed.). [*Slips of the Tongue and Language Production*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ILBaZpZIyXEC). Walter de Gruyter. pp. 197–242. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-11-082830-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-11-082830-6). Retrieved 2013-09-12.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FayCutler_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FayCutler_9-1) Fay, David; Cutler, Anne (1977). ["Malapropisms and the Structure of the Mental Lexicon"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160816141201/http://www.mpi.nl/publications/escidoc-68653). *Linguistic Inquiry*. **8** (3): 505–520. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [4177997](https://www.jstor.org/stable/4177997). Archived from [the original](http://www.mpi.nl/publications/escidoc-68653) on 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2015-10-31.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Zwicky_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Zwicky_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Zwicky_10-2) Zwicky, Arnold (1982). ["Classical malapropisms and the creation of the mental lexicon"](http://www.stanford.edu/~zwicky/malapropism-mental-lexicon.pdf) (PDF). In Loraine Obler and Lise Menn (ed.). [*Exceptional Language and Linguistics*](https://archive.org/details/exceptionallangu0000unse/page/115). Academic Press. pp. [115–132](https://archive.org/details/exceptionallangu0000unse/page/115). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-12-523680-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-12-523680-5). Retrieved 2013-09-12.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aitchison_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aitchison_11-1) Aitchison, Jean (2012). *Words in the Mind: An Introduction to the Mental Lexicon*. John Wiley & Sons. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1118170960](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1118170960).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rivals_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rivals_12-1) Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (2008) [1775], [*The Rivals: A Comedy*](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24761), retrieved 2012-07-10

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Quotations from Richard Brinsley Sheridan"](http://www.poemhunter.com/quotations/famous.asp?people=Richard%20Brinsley%20Sheridan&p=2). Poem Hunter. Retrieved 2012-07-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Fergusun, Margaret (2007). *Dido's Daughters: Literacy, Gender, and Empire in Early Modern England and France*. University of Chicago Press. p. 17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Shakespeare, William (1997) [1598], [*Much Ado About Nothing*](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1118), retrieved 2012-07-10

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Gehring, Wes (1990). [*Laurel and Hardy: A Bio-Bibliography*](https://books.google.com/books?id=VcVohkED9e4C). Greenwood Publishing Group. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-313-25172-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-313-25172-6). Retrieved 11 December 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Word of the Day: Malapropism"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/malapropism-2020-05-17). *Merriam-Webster*. 2020-05-17. Retrieved 2021-06-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Higgins, Sean (January 1, 2009). ["The Censorship Doctrine: Silencing Talk Radio in the Name of 'Fairness'"](https://capitalresearch.org/article/the-censorship-doctrine-silencing-talk-radio-in-the-name-of-fairness/). *Foundation Watch*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Ronnie Barker monologue: Pismronunciation"](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/04/bbc.arts). *The Guardian*. October 4, 2005. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2026-02-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Lardner, Ring (2017). Rapoport, Ron (ed.). *The Lost Journalism of Ring Lardner*. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. p. 531. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0803269736](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0803269736).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Lardner, Ring (2013). Frazier, Ian (ed.). *Ring Lardner: Stories & Other Writings*. New York: Library of America. p. 310. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1598532531](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1598532531).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Shapiro, Marianne; Shapiro, Michael (2005). ["Chapter 21: The semiotics of Archie Bunker"](https://books.google.com/books?id=Vkww4u5BnU0C&pg=PA471). *From The Critic's Workbench: Essays In Literature And Semiotics*. Peter Lang. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8204-7915-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8204-7915-6). Retrieved 2012-07-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Examples of Malaproposism"](https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-malapropism.html). YourDictionary.com. Retrieved April 2, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Merritt, Bishetta D.; Cummings, Melbourne S. (2013). "The African American Woman on Film". In J.S.C. Bell; R.L. Jackson II (eds.). *Interpreting Tyler Perry: Perspectives on Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality*. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4324/9781315889832](https://doi.org/10.4324%2F9781315889832). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781315889832](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781315889832).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Elizabeth_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Elizabeth_25-1) Elizabeth, Hilary; Colin McCormick. ["Trailer Park Boys: 15 Hilarious Rickyisms We've Added To Our Vocabulary"](https://screenrant.com/trailer-park-boys-hilarious-ricky-quotes/). *ScreenRant*. Retrieved 8 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** McCormick, Colin; Kristy Ambrose; Shawn S. Lealos. ["Trailer Park Boys: 30 Hilarious Ricky Quotes That Are Just Sweet Empowered"](https://screenrant.com/trailer-park-boys-ricky-quotes-sweet-empowered/). *ScreenRant*. Retrieved 8 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Swan, Jonathan (August 12, 2013). ["Liberals squirm as Abbott refers to 'the suppository of wisdom'"](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberals-squirm-as-abbott-refers-to-the-suppository-of-wisdom-20130812-2rryy.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20250920022132/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberals-squirm-as-abbott-refers-to-the-suppository-of-wisdom-20130812-2rryy.html) from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-15.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** Colias, Mike (March 26, 2025). ["The Ford Executive Who Kept Score of Colleagues' Verbal Flubs"](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ford-motor-mike-obrien-malaprops-6e560520). *The Wall Street Journal*. [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20260206060449/https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ford-motor-mike-obrien-malaprops-6e560520) from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved 2025-04-23.

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## Further reading

- Weingarten, Gene (2014-02-16). ["Word up! Grammarian Gene Weingarten goes after add homonym attacks"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/2013/09/27/b5434fd2-8511-11e3-bbe5-6a2a3141e3a9_story.html). *The Washington Post*. Retrieved 2014-02-25.

## External links

- The dictionary definition of [*malapropism*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/malapropism) at Wiktionary

Authority control databases National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Malapropism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.