I came across this recently and was reminded about the fun I had in the classroom with spoonerisms. Of course, you’d be just fine if you never heard about a spoonerism, but hey, fun is important. At least this brings the odd smile to one’s face.
When I’m tired I tend to fruit salad my words and out comes … spoonerisms 😳
spoonerism SPOO-nuh-riz-uhm, noun:
The transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.
Some examples:
- We all know what it is to have a half-warmed fish [“half-formed wish”] inside us.
- A well-boiled icicle [“well-oiled bicycle”].
- It is kisstomary to cuss [“customary to kiss”] the bride.
- Is the bean dizzy [“dean busy”]?
- When the boys come back from France, we’ll have the hags flung out [“flags hung out”]!
- Let me sew you to your sheet [“show you to your seat”].
A little bit of history. Spoonerism comes from the name of the Rev. William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), a kindly but nervous Anglican clergyman and educationalist. All the above examples were committed by (or attributed to) him.