Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2018-04-11
Google counts on Dec 19, 2007
16,300 “ripe for the picking”
133 “right for the picking”—eggcorn
Analysis by Joe Krozel
“Ripe for the picking” is an idiomatic usage indicating that the time is right for something to happen. No surprise that the expression might morph to “right for the picking.” There are many instances where the latter usage is strictly correct, but the examples below seem to indicate an eggcorn usage…
Software firms look to go small for right deal: Infommersion…
It’s just gotten to the point where the fruit is right for the picking." Business Objects, a public company with dual headquarters in Paris and San …
goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4939375/Softwar… – 27k – Similar pages
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199 … to-go.html
CNN.com – Transcripts
HEMMER: So you got a governor here who Republicans would say is right for the picking. Wait for ‘04 and give it your best go to try and knock him off of his …
transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0306/17/ltm.13.h… – 30k – Similar pages
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ … tm.13.html
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I guess one could also extend this to the idiom “the time is ripe” ...
Google counts on Dec 19, 2007
43,400 “The time is ripe” (idiomatic expression)
159,000 “The time is right” (mostly legitimate construction)
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