Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2025-05-10
Getting to Europe from the States during the war wasn’t easy if you weren’t in the service, so the only transportation she could find was a ship carrying explosives. Undaunted, she booked herself a birth and made it over—go, Marty! You can imagine her husband’s surprise when she showed up (especially since he already had his eye on another correspondent, Mary Welsh, who would be the fourth and last—and bitchiest—Mrs. H.).
From “In the Bookroom,” the libraryjournal.com blog.
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There are a few examples of “giving someone a wide birth” (a common usage of the word) on Google, but the usage seems to be somewhat limited, and it seems more like a misspelling than an eggcorn. “Berth” is nautical in origin, so most people won’t be familiar with the term, and maybe they’ve heard it but not read it. But I just can’t think what they’re picturing if they say “booked a birth” or “give someone a wide birth.”
Last edited by JonW719 (2007-10-18 15:05:22)
Feeling quite combobulated.
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Canada might once more bring forth, after a long gestation of 35 years since our last glorious delivery in 1986, the pitter-patter of tiny cleated feet onto the pitch of international soccer, for World Cup 2022 in Qatar. And might we hope for twins (Rugby World Cup 2023).
Canada shoots for World Cup birth
St. Catharines, Ontario, The Standard (wrt rugby)
Canada seek their first World Cup birth since 1986 by facing Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and the United States.
Vancouver FC
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