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 2006-08-21 21:16:28

Hench
Member
Registered: 2006-08-21
Posts: 1

Sponged off for Expunged

Three times in the last month someone has asked me about having a criminal record “sponged off” instead of expunged.

Offline

 

#2 2006-08-21 21:33:54

jorkel
Eggcornista
Registered: 2006-08-08
Posts: 1456

Re: Sponged off for Expunged

There may also be a movement afoot to expunge Sponge Bob.

Offline

 

#3 2010-07-28 10:21:55

David Bird
Eggcornista
From: The Hammer, Ontario
Registered: 2009-07-28
Posts: 1690

Re: Sponged off for Expunged

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 10:22:56)

Offline

 

#4 2010-07-28 11:25:15

kem
Eggcornista
From: Victoria, BC
Registered: 2007-08-28
Posts: 2851

Re: Sponged off for Expunged

Interesting. So all those people who expunch a record/case/conviction are returning to the etymological root of the mutilated word.


Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.

Offline

 

#5 2013-02-28 08:30:53

kem
Eggcornista
From: Victoria, BC
Registered: 2007-08-28
Posts: 2851

Re: Sponged off for Expunged

If expunging does not work, try explunging. You can hear the satisfying sucking sound of a well-executed legal service.

Bulletin board question: “How long do I need to wait to explunge my criminal record in UK?”

Complaint to webmaster: “I think that the expunge option for the memo service is a bit hard to remember… If it’s changed to something easy like clear or something, it’d be a lot easier to clean my recycler. I’ve always typed ” explunge ”, then find out that I got it wrong”

Software support forum: “ [I] then clicked on explunge, and now for some strange reason i’ve lost all my mail from every single folder.”

Phone scan forum: “ we ard workin to explunge these harrasing rude money hungry savages”

Cruise ship discussion: “ I am in process of trying to find out if I need to file forms to explunge record or some other type of papers.”


Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.

Offline

 

#6 2013-02-28 11:24:57

burred
Eggcornista
From: Montreal
Registered: 2008-03-17
Posts: 1112

Re: Sponged off for Expunged

I know the sucking sound of working with lawyers. Explosive sponging is not too far off the mark. Not to be confused with the Cambridge Society of Explungers, who are (or were) plunging explorers.

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