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Chris -- 2025-05-10
Documentation! From a primary source!
In the online advice column “Annie’s Mailbox” by Kathy Mithcell and Marcy Sugar, on Creators.com, a reader explains it all (his contention: “beck and call” is the eggcorn, though of course he doesn’t use that term):
http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatur … 06-22.html
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Dear Annie: You recently used the term “beck and call.” I’ve heard this expression all my life and I think everyone is getting it wrong in written form.
Here’s my crackpot theory (I have a lot of those): The correct expression should be “beckon call.” You call me to you, by beckoning, and I will rush to your service. That makes sense. But “beck and call”? Seriously, I don’t think “beck” is even a word.
This may not rank with the great toilet paper debate, but it’s one of those niggling little language things that drive me nuts. — Daniel
Dear Daniel: You’re not too far off. “Beck” is actually a shortened form of “beckon.” But the term is indeed “beck and call,” and the word “beck” means a silent gesture such as a nod or wave. The phrase dates to the late 19th century. We hope you are feeling calmer now.
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Okay, now I’m confused. I spent my whole childhood and adolesence saying “beck and call” and changed to “beckon call” as a maturing adult trying to clean mistakes from my language. I had no idea what a beck was, but I knew what beckon was. Now it appears beck was right all along, but I would like some more confirmation from my fellow eggcornites if I’m going to keep changing.
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it is “beck”
there’s a long history in English of idiomatic phrases in which two synonyms or near synonyms are used.
beck and call
kit and kaboodle
spit and image (“spit” being a word that meant “likeness”)—this one morphed into “spitting image” through folk etymology
ways and means
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Yeah, my wife just explained to me what an idiot I’ve been. Somehow, I was caught up with the countless hoardes of unsuspecting eggcorn carriers and I fear I may have already infected others. I’m better now, but it may be too late for them.
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TootsNYC wrote:
there’s a long history in English of idiomatic phrases in which two synonyms or near synonyms are used.
...
beck and call, ..., ways and means
whys and wherefores
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In today’s Daily Mail:
What a pity that reporters do not know how to write ‘beckon call’, rather than ‘beck and call’.
On the plain in Spain where it mainly rains.
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I like booboo’s “hoarde”: either a WTFT or a portmanteau.
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