Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2018-04-11
In AusEnglish a purler is a fine example or specimen; in BrEnglish it is a spectacular fall or mishap. Both varieties are frequently respelled pearler suggesting, for the former, something appropriately precious but for the latter no immediate eggcornish interpretation suggests itself. It could, I suppose, be the confident hurling of oneself into space associated with pearl -divers, or something to do with the cinematic cliche of a broken string of pearls. The use of marbles to topple the horses of sabre or stick-wielding oppressors also comes to mind, but I have little confidence in it.
I’d recommend this car to anyone – heck, my mate’s already snagged one after I told him it was a pearler. It is a fantastic lifestyle car; ...
www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_repo … os-review. htm – 63k – Cached
The weekend before daylight saving was a pearler and I must have heard a dozen people in that two-day period comment on how great it was the weather was …
www.theaucklander.co.nz/home/story.cfm?storyID=3786469 – 15k – Cached
This is a pearler of a pre-dinner drink, with racy acidity ensuring the taste buds are raring to go. « Previous Review | Next Review » « Back to Awards …
www.tyrrells.com.au/winedetails.aspx?id=189 – 33k – Cached
And on those steep cobbles streets I almost came a pearler in the rain (an old lady overtook me at speed). The mountains around the town looked like Mordor. ...
www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Al … rokastres/ Gjirokaster…/General_Tips-Gjirokaster-BR-1.html – 65k – Cached
I too came a pearler in some wet mud trying to avoid a fallen tree across the track, funnily enough I was using the same tyres as you (old pattern …
www.xrv.org.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-23132.html – 11k – Cached
One memorable day I was running full pelt and went a pearler, one knee hit the floor first and my stocking had a huge hole. I had a bad cut with gravel in …
forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1281 – 92k – Cached
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The Australian reshaping seems nearly inevitable given the existence of the phrase “a pearl of a [x]”—which would be used in the same context.
I’ve never heard of the British acorn before, so thanks for that—always nice to learn new vocabulary. Structurally, it reminds me of “comes a cropper”—didn’t know there was a family of ‘em.
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I’m reminded of knitting and purling, of which I was once familiar with only in a (?) children’s rhyme: “knit one, purl two” or something like that. I could never figure what a “pearl” had to do with anything, and further, I didn’t hear “knit” or “pearl” as verbs but as nouns. I thought it was like a game score. Knit one [Team Knit has one point], pearl two [Team Pearl has two points].
Edit:
I just found that “Knit One, Purl Two” was a popular Glenn Miller song, which I don’t know that I’ve ever heard, but my parents certainly would have. But I’d guess the phrase came before the song:
Knit one, purl two
This sweater, my darling’s for you
While vigil you‘re keeping through rain and storm
This sweater will keep you warm
Purl two, knit one
Our trials I know have begun
And while you are fighting each battle through
My darling, my heart’s with you
Last edited by JonW719 (2009-02-06 12:53:42)
Feeling quite combobulated.
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