Eggcorn Forum

It’s nice when you get a firsthand account of an eggcorn. (It’s even nicer when you can go back and interview the utterer for the imagery). I’m guessing these utterers are long gone, but perhaps we could discuss the imagery a bit.

Something of a classic, even though its eggcorn status may be uncertain. Long before I heard the term “eggcorn,” I was seeing this on lists of students’ malapropisms gathered by English teachers. I’ve had the privilege of encountering “take it for granite” a few times on student papers, but “self of steam” has so far eluded me.

There’s a somewhat eccentric early Database comment on this term:

#64 Commentary by hobodog , 2005/02/25 at 1:53 pm
“self of steam”/”self-esteem” [English]: an elusive (allusive?) and nebulous concept which is slowly losing theoretical ground in the varied attempts by sociology to isolate and define the root factors and formative causes of less than optimal levels of personal performance by certain underachievers on the world (whirled?) stage.
example: “The social worker blames my low self of steam for my failing grades in English.”

Last edited by patschwieterman (2007-11-07 12:43:19)

“Self of steam” is one of the earliest entries to this site, and a true classic. Here are some related versions that are common enough to clinch its eggcornicity. Don’t miss the last example.

Iranian democrat, Ali Akbar Dehkhoda:
Interestingly, the people of Kerman had never seen Dehkhoda but held him in high steam because of his writings and his taunting of the deputy governor, Nosrat-al-doleh, who was an eighteen year old political appointee despised by the people of Kerman.
(http://athir.blogfa.com/post-143.aspx)

Pakistan-China relations:
The speaker NA said that the people and the present democratically elected government keep Sino-Pak relations in high steam as China is our most trusted friend.
(http://newspakistan.net/pakistan-china- … -24-04.php)

Filipina celeb site:
I hold Bea in high steam.
(http://www.noel9.com/blog/bea_ayaw.html)

Ultimate guitar dot com:
Maybe it’s not overrated it’s simply one of the best guitar designs ever made and thats why everyone holds them in high steam and the sound is really great I have one myself and it kicks everything else i ply on on ass
(http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/ … index.html)

Life things blog:
I also want to share with you all my personal struggles, which I hope may peak some people’s interest. [...] They have seen their values emerge out, and even the perverts have founded a sign off resurrection in its nest. The people is waiting with hope! Because life will be hold in high steam.
(http://www.galissialifethings.com/2009/ … -land.html)

Straight-acting gay pop musician:
BEEP…. BEEP…. BEEP….....back away from the low self-steam, I am better than those queens gay guy.

Iowa biographies, 1918:
They were highly steamed people of the community and left behind them a large circle of warm friends.
(http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabio … 1918-b.htm)

There are over 800 “low self steam”, 25 “high self steam” leghits. See also inesteemable/inestimable

I resuscitate this thread to report:

My friends say i have no self a steam

One of many that can be googled. Semantics anyone?