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Chris -- 2018-04-11

#1 2012-11-17 14:58:51

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

Key fops, flops, throbs, and phobes

Look at the shiny collection of eggcorns I uncovered by poking about in the undergrowth where the key fob was lost. The word ‘fob’ entered English as a small pocket for valuables, from Ger. words for pocket, before being applied to the chain attached to the watch carried in the fob. The “foist” variant is no relation.

First, if you find the electronic opener for cars to be an elegant idea, you might believe you carry a key fop.

Yes I still need help. The wireless Key Fop does NOT lock the doors.
http://www.justanswer.com/jeep/44sua-96 … h-put.html

I have visions of half a dozen U.S. border guards drawing their weapons thinking that my key fop is actually a remote switch for an explosive devise.
http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=48217.240

The way it hangs loosely from the ring, or spills from your pocket, suggests that it is a key flop.

I am having trouble programing my key flop after changing the battery. It was working before I changed the battery. I tried by holding down the unlock button then turning the key to the on postion then off two times. Then holding down the lock and unlock buttons on the key flop for 15 seconds.
http://www.justanswer.com/1g5z-wireless … nging.html

Not only did they not find the cause of the problem after keeping my car for over a week, they put over 80 miles on it and they lost my key flop. So I’m using my ma[s]ter key flop now and they’re ordering a new key for me.
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-seco … rface.html

The emission of radio signals suggests a key throb. This one is so apt that it must be intentional.

I thought I’d hit the lock on my key throb but must have hit the wrong button and we were running late and I didn’t do a double check to make sure.
http://milesandus.blogspot.ca/2010/09/n … today.html

My car tells me when my key throb battery is low.. ha. Now that’s winning.
https://twitter.com/megan_rees2012

I pressed the button on the key throb to open the car and nothing happened.
http://togs.proboards.com/index.cgi?act … 965&page=1

The radio emitter that unlocks the door without the need for a solid key is perfect for the key phobic. The first hit is a first perp account indicating that she at least does not associate a key phobe with phobia. The sheer number of hits for “key phobe”, however, does favour the possibility that at least someone out there makes the leap.

key phobe
(noun) : pronounced “faahb”, not the same as phobe as in phobia. It is a remote control device used to lock and unlock automobile doors and activate and deactivate alarms or security systems. Used in the automobile and home alarm industry.
Ex: Sally used her key phobe to unlock her trunk to load her groceries. —jennifer l. adams, I have seen it used many times and just had a fight but could not find it in m-w
MW open dictionary submission

A fun one for the non-rhotic.

Q: The car has a factory remote starter with (2) key farbs. [...] Initially I thought the remote starter key farbs were all I needed.
A: My remote starter key farb looks exactly like that.
Car forum

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#2 2012-11-18 12:26:26

kem
Eggcornista
From: Victoria, BC
Registered: 2007-08-28
Posts: 2850

Re: Key fops, flops, throbs, and phobes

“Key flop” seems like the best eggcorn candidate.

Odd expression, “key fob.” Seems to have appeared out of nowhere about 1964, probably based on some kind of analogy with a watch fob (= a watch chain) which was itself an extension from the name of the vest pocket where a watch was kept.


Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.

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#3 2012-11-19 10:02:02

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

Re: Key fops, flops, throbs, and phobes

Yes, I guess key flop is the most likely eggcorn. It’s my least favourite among these though. I like key fop. Or maybe phobe.

You can get pretty far afield with this one if you suspend disbelief. Some think it’s a key forb, for example. It must be spell-checking that produces the following hits:

alarm..1998 model..doors with an aftermarket key phoebe
Just tried to open the doors with an aftermarket key phoebe. {...] I have tried the unlock button on the key phoebe, no joy.
http://www.justanswer.com/nissan/2sk4f- … leman.html

actually you dont need to stick the key Phoebe in the slot. Thats for when the battery in the key is dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bS1IXITO0s

Or maybe they think it sings like a small bird.

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