Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
You are not logged in.
Registrations are currently closed because of a technical problem. Please send email to
The forum administrator reserves the right to request users to plausibly demonstrate that they are real people with an interest in the topic of eggcorns. Otherwise they may be removed with no further justification. Likewise, accounts that have not been used for posting may be removed.
Thanks for your understanding.
Chris -- 2018-04-11
The non-word ‘swarmy’ gets over 20,000 ghits. Many refer to bees, but quite a few are substitutions for ‘smarmy.’ The semantic connection is unctuous > ingratiating > going with the crowd -> going with the swarm. (Also, eggcornistas will enjoy Jan Freeman’s column in today’s Boston Globe on the drift and diffusion of the meaning of ‘smarmy.’ It’s at http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/ … marmy_now/ ) . Examples:
A swarmy medicine man, Dr. Terminus, comes to town, and learning of the dragon
decides to capture him and become rich.
www.epinions.com/content_40321715844
Brian Green (formerly known as Brian Austin Green from “Beverly Hills 90210”)
tries his hardest to get chuckles as Freddie’s swarmy neighbor…
www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/10/05/ … n03_tv.txt
I think Larry Miller has a monopoly on “swarmy slimeballs” in movies.
www.movie-montage.com/image/400.php
Tom does his swarmy act and Buffy once again buys it.
www.boilsandblindingtorment.com/Reptile_Boy.htm
Geez, thanks for all your condescending, swarmy attitude, Martino.
forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=24909&page=4
He’s a swarmy little liar and deserves to be attack like the rest of the cartel.
www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/ … 19301.html
Offline