The Preverbal Nail

As in: the preverbal nail in the coffin.

Other examples, picked up here and there:

  • Living in Georgia is the eternal pit of the preverbal Hell
  • The preverbal hell on earth
  • End up in the preverbal dog house

I’m tempted to classify “preverbal” for “proverbial” as an eggcorn, but on second thought it’s more of a malapropism. You can understand why someone who doesn’t read much might mishear “for all intents and purposes” as “for all intensive purposes.” But “preverbal” for “proverbial”? No way. That’s a different cattle of fish.

I love eggcorns – they’ve always peaked my interest. I haunt internet forums and e-mail lists, waiting with baited breath for fresh examples. I know, it goes against social morays to belittle the subliterate. After all, not all of us are to the manner born. And anyway, when it comes to language, no one wants to have to tow the line under marshall law, at the beckoned call of snotty English majors. I certainly don’t! So rather than letting people who commit eggcorns drive me star craving mad, I take their mistakes with a grain assault, and when I poke fun at them, I do it tongue and cheek.

Just one more, then I’ll quit, I promise – Donna and I have been trying to lower our cholester oil. Last night we had black and red fish!

Different subject: In an earlier entry I mentioned how shocked – shocked – I was to learn that the lady who “found” the finger in her bowl of Wendy’s chili most likely put it there herself. Now I’m reading about a British boy who opened a box of breakfast cereal and found a live snake. And who was the sole witness to this horrifying event? His mother!

I suspect we’ll be seeing this family again. On Jerry Springer.

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