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
In my work with students who have language based learning difficulties, I had many opportunities to witness what my old boss called “manguage” or mangled language. Figures of speech were notoriously tricky.
I was reading a personal statement in an admissions essay and the student—a very lovely, smart young woman—referred to her low “self of steam”.
Indeed, many of us have had to create a sense of self out of pretty ethereal material.
Some other favorites:
“to nip it in the butt”
“pull the wool out of your eyes”
“to shoot at the hip”
I wish I could think of more!
Offline