Spoonerisms are funny expressions created by a transposition of the first letters or sounds of two words. They can occur unintentionally by a slip of tongue or by deliberately turning words somersault for a funny effect. Spoonerism is also known by the name metathesis.
Origin of the word Spoonerism: The originator of this play with words was the great Rev. William A. Spooner (1844-1930) who was Warden of New College, Oxford University for more than two decades. His slips of tongue sometimes assumed hilarious dimensions. Once, during a church service, he announced that the next hymn to be sung would be, “Kinkering Kongs Their Titles Take”. What the preacher should have read was, “Conquering Kings Their Titles Take”. Many of the Spoonerisms ascribed to Dr. Spooner were actually invented by the students of his college.
Spoonerism in other languages: Spoonerisms also exist in other languages. For instance, a Malayalam news reader had the ill-fate to read ‘varanda kalavastha’ (dry weather) as ‘karanda valavastha’ (the state of a tail having been bitten off by a rat) in his weather forecast. Now get ready to enter this treasure house of truly inspired nonsense that Dr. Spooner and his admirers have left behind.
List of Spoonerisms in English
| Spoonerism | What Spooner Meant |
|---|---|
| A blushing crow | A crushing blow |
| A lack of pies | A pack of lies |
| A well-boiled icicle | A well-oiled bicycle |
| As mean as custard | As keen as mustard |
| bedding wells | wedding bells |
| belly jeans | jelly beans |
| Clue of tubs | Two of Clubs |
| damp stealer | stamp dealer |
| eye ball | bye all |
| fight in your race | right in your face |
| Flock of bats | Block of flats |
| go help me sod | so help me God |
| Hate of Arts | Eight of Hearts |
| He shook a tower | He took a shower |
| Hen of tarts | Ten of Hearts |
| I am delighted to see you, looking as hairless and cappy as ever. | careless and happy |
| I have been chewing the doors. | doing the chores |
| I have in my bosom a half-warmed fish. (Spooner, in one of his speeches) | half-formed wish |
| I have never before addressed so many tons of soil. | sons of toil. |
| Is it kisstomary to cuss the bride? | customary to kiss the bride? |
| Is the bean dizzy? | Is the Dean busy? |
| It's roaring with pain. | It's pouring with rain |
| know your blows | blow your nose |
| Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Eddie Playbody will now pee for you. (Spooner, introduing a stage performer) | Mr. Eddie Peabody will now play |
| At the lead of spite | speed of light |
| mad bunny | bad money |
| Many thinkle peep so. | Many people think so. |
| Mardon me padom, you are occupewing my pie. May I sew you to another sheet? | Pardon me madam, occupying my pew, show you to another seat |
| mend the sail | send the mail |
| My dear lady, will you please take me? | make tea? |
| nicking your pose | picking your nose |
| no tails | toe nails |
| Plaster man | Master plan |
| ready as a stock | steady as a rock |
| Sale of two titties | Tale of Two Cities |
| sealing the hick | healing the sick |
| shout of the hour | out of the shower |
| Soap in your hole | Hope in your soul |
| Space of aids | Ace of Spades |
| Tease my ears | Ease my tears |
| tease my ears | ease my tears |
| The Lord is a shoving leopard | loving shepherd |
| The weight of rages will press hard upon the employer | rate of wages |
| this is the pun fart | fun part |
| This vast display of cattleships and bruisers. | battleships and cruisers |
| Those girls are sin twisters. | twin sisters |
| Three cheers for our queer old dean! | dear old queen |
| wave the sails | save the whales |
| We'll have the hags flung out. | flags hung out |
| Whore of farts | Four of Hearts |
| Will nobody pat my hiccup? (Spooner, when his hat fell down) | pick up my hat |
| Would you like a nasal hut? (Spooner to a guest) | hazel nut |
| You are a disgrace. You have hissed all my mystery lectures. You have, in fact, tasted a whole worm. Please leave Oxford on the next town drain. (Spooner to a lazy student) | missed all my history lectures, wasted a whole term, down train |
| You have a nice cottage on a nosy little cook. (Spooner congratulating a friend) | cosy little nook |
| You have very mad banners. | bad manners. |
| You were fighting a liar in the quadrangle. | lighting a fire |
| Coffee always weeps me a cake | keeps me awake |