Eggcorn Forum

Discussions about eggcorns and related topics

You are not logged in.

Announcement

Registrations are currently closed because of a technical problem. Please send email to if you wish to register.

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

#1 2007-08-29 01:25:05

obsidianring
Member
Registered: 2007-08-29
Posts: 1

Plum>>Plumb

As in

“Apple stores in San Francisco were supposed to have models available on Monday, although AT&T stores are plum out.”
-as posted on News.com at <http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9738538-7.html>

I see this usage of “plum” instead of the correct “plumb”(“Utterly; completely” -American Heritage Dictionary) very often. Perhaps it is an eggcorn, by way of the meaning of “plum” as in the American Heritage Dictionary “An especially desirable position, assignment, or reward.”

I am new to the concept of eggcorns, having just heard of them today 8/29/07.

Offline

 

#2 2007-09-04 08:55:13

AdamVero
Eggcornista
From: Leeds, UK
Registered: 2007-09-04
Posts: 69
Website

Re: Plum>>Plumb

Hmmm.
My understanding of “plumb” is usually true or accurate (as achieved by lining something up against a plumbline)

However, in the phrases “plum tuckered out” or “I plum forgot” where plum means “completely” this spelling would be my instinct.
The use of plum to mean desirable as in “he got a really plum job at the bank” seems to me to come from the children’s rhyme in which Jack Horner sticks his thumb in a pie and pulls out a plum. He gets the best, sweetest part of the dish.

However, I am not a linguist so someone may be able to correct me.


Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will buy a ridiculous hat – Scott Adams (author of Dilbert)
Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day; set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life – Terry Pratchett
http://blog.meteorit.co.uk

Offline

 

Board footer

Powered by PunBB
PunBB is © 2002–2005 Rickard Andersson
Individual posters retain the copyright to their posts.

RSS feeds: active topicsall new posts