MALAPROPISMS VI

The Word's The Thing

Dr. Louis D. Appel

Identify the malapropism in each clue below and supply the correct word.

1. She's a true non-conformist, a real limerick.

 

2. He's enjoyed a metaphoric rise in political circles.

 

3. The woman applied for a position as personal manager.

 

4. It was disgusting to see those teenagers oscillating in the theater.

 

5. Mark Twain has an illimitable writing style.

6. His behavior is strange. He's quite concentric.

7. He's been confined to bed for a month, evanescing from surgery.

8. Because their parents objected, the lovers had to meet incandescently.

9. She's fascinated by insects and wants to study etymology.

10. The world is in a sorry state, but all will be well after armadillo.

Answers:

 

1. limerick - maverick

2. metaphoric - meteoric

3. personal - personnel

4. oscillating - osculating (kissing)

5. illimitable - inimitable

6. concentric - eccentric

7. evanescing - convalescing

8. incandescently - clandestinely

9. etymology - entomology (etymology - study of words)

10. armadillo - Armageddon