Eggcorn Forum

In a post yesterday I mentioned a David Vinson blog page on eggcorns. One the eggcorns he cites on that page, a good one, doesn’t seem to have made it into this forum.

An “ultimatum” is a last-ditch demand, often a threat. Some people hear this as “untilmatum,” a permutation that highlights the threat (“You have until tomorrow to pay the loan in full.”).

On a St. Louis Cardinals forum: “maybe he got an untilmatum today” (http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2008/5/27/5 … 3-overflow)

Marriage advice letter: “Eventually I gave him an untilmatum -choose her or me.” (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Marriage-322 … eaking.htm)

Marriage advice from a Dr. Irene: “I’d give him an untilmatum….he either puts you first or I’d send him back to mommie.” (http://www.drirene.com/forms/comments_outside.htm)

From an online journal: “He always has one excuse or another for why his work isn’t done, so today I finally gave him an untilmatum.” (http://www.shannonigans.com/africa/letters.htm)

In all, about a dozen unique instances on the web. Including two that use it in a movie title (Bourne Untilmatum).

Last edited by kem (2008-06-16 21:48:08)