Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Three times in the last month someone has asked me about having a criminal record “sponged off” instead of expunged.
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There may also be a movement afoot to expunge Sponge Bob.
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Expunge comes from the same roots as pungent and punchy. It was imported from L. expungere “mark (a name on a list) for deletion”, by pricking out holes above or below it, in the days of scribes, before white-out. Sponge as a verb for “imbibe with a sea-animal’s flexible endoskeleton” precedes it by at least 60 years. To have a criminal record exsponged is a very common desire on web advice boards. Exsponge Bob as a friendly brand name is still up for grabs.
Free advice site
If I have a D.U.I on my record does mean I will be unable to hold a liquor license? Also can I ecsponge my record then obtain the license?
Young writer’s society
Skin covered in words – Like blood – That I wrote And cannot ecsponge.
Legal advice
Is there anyway I can exsponge a felony record? I have did time in jail but had gotten out a couple of years now and I would like to get a better job but I would like to exsponge my record
Last edited by David Bird (2010-07-28 11:22:56)
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Interesting. So all those people who expunch a record/case/conviction are returning to the etymological root of the mutilated word.
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