Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2018-04-11
As a child I was obliged to collect marbles made of various materials, usually porcelain or glass; all the boys did so, and proceeded to play against each other in a variety games with stringent rules, all of which I’ve long forgotten. I do remember one of the words used for cheating though: moving the hand forward as the thumb propels the marble is “fullucking” and was frowned on by all.
The expression “lost his marbles” may have initially described the rage and tantrums experienced by one who has lost his cherished hoard when playing against a more experienced player. The game of marbles may be moribund – I don’t want to think it entirely dead – but the expression lives on and is used figuratively to describe those whose mental faculties are diminished or temporarily absent.
Some listeners may think they are hearing about a loss of marvels which may qualify as eggcornish usage.
Los otros dichos como: “she’s lost her marvels, she’s lost her mind, she’s nutty as a fruit cake, etc” son todos estados mentales más …
That was better than what I heart from most commentators, who had collectively lost their marvels, rallying blindly behind the US flag.
Small children see life as full of marvels, but far too many adults have lost their marvels. Kind, unscripted words that flow from the heart of …
“Punishment?” asked Febronia looking at Constantino as if he lost his marvels.
I’m leaving this house. He’s lost his marvels. I want to be treated like the other kids.
I did have a friend who lost his marvels, but he could have lost them also without this substance
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‘Smarvelous. I had a marble hoard as a kid – catseyes, boulders, crystals, and another name for the porcelain ones that I can’t remember – but I’ve long since lost all and any marbles. I have a fondness for the phrase “to lose your marbles”. My mother, when she was in a long term care home, after lamenting various ills: “But at least I’ve still got all my marbles.”
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Some of us didn’t have many to start with, David, but your last shot dislodged a few of mine from the sediment: liggies they were called, and one called a penka which has the distinction of being the subject of a folk song – “Wor Geordie’s Lost His Penka.”
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