Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
You are not logged in.
The Eggcorn Forum and the Eggcorn Database are currently in the process of being converted into static sites.
Once the conversion is complete, all existing posts are expected to still be accessible at their original URLs. However, no new posts will be possible.
Feel free to comment on the relevant forum threads.
Chris -- 2025-05-10
3. by Jove! (an exclamation used to emphasize an accompanying remark or to express surprise, approval, etc.): It was a good fight, by Jove!
[Origin: 1325–75; ME < L Jov- (obl. s. of compound nom. Juppiter father Jove), akin. to deus god; c. Gk Zeús (gen. Diós) Zeus]
A friend of mine frequently uses expressions that she has
probably been exposed to aurally thus often spelling
them in imaginative[phonetically similar]ways.
Portion of email example:
“Thanks EK!
By Joe I think you have got it!”
Offline
I kinda like the reshaping better than the original.
-Joe
Offline
Despite any arguments for the wholesale diefication of all persons named Joe (our beloved Jorkel included), this actually could have some eggcornish undercurrents. Mainly I’m thinking of how often the name “Joe” is used to signify a typical American, especially in a military context.
...hmm, I’m hardly finding an example, though. Just this one:
How about we build a digital camera that works just like a film based camera?’ “By-joe Watson, I think you’ve got it!” Posted by andrej at 09:02 PM.
andrej.mobileduo.com/archives/2003/12/
and this one;
One of the things that can mean the difference between sickening fluff and perfect fluff is the presence of humour – and by Joe, girl, I think you’ve got it …
fanfiction.mugglenet.com/reviews.php?sid=63196 – 30k
Although, now I’ve discovered Joe is getting some competition:
From George…
Posted by Joe Gandelman | Permalink | Technorati Trackbacks. (link). KathyK (mail) (www): ... By George, I think you’ve got it! 2.6.2005 7:30pm. (link) ...
www.deanesmay.com/posts/1107719336.shtml – 35k
Offline
By George, you’re right!
Eliza Doolittle: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!
Henry Higgins: By George, she’s got it!
Question is, whether this is an eggcorn, or an intentional “genteel” reshaping, like “Oh, fudge!” and similar interjections.
Offline