Almost But Not Quite
The malapropism moment: we’ve all been there. Someone is talking and they use an expression that isn’t quite right—close in sound, but just off enough to make you hide a smile—or hide your cringe. English is filled with idioms and descriptive phrases, and if they are learned through speaking rather than through reading and writing there can be quite hilarious misunderstandings. Sometimes the mental image is just a little too vivid!
What Is a Malapropism?
A malapropism is a word or expression that is easily mistaken for another word or expression. When it’s used, the effect is often humorous. English is full of potential malapropisms just waiting to ambush you. While using an expression incorrectly isn’t usually too serious, it’s good to avoid the situation altogether if possible.
Butt Naked vs. Buck Naked
✗ Malapropism: Butt naked
✔︎ Correct: Buck naked
This is one instance where the malaprop is actually more intuitive than the actual phrase. While “butt naked” is very vivid, the correct expression is “buck naked”. The origin of this idiom is less than clear, but “buck naked” originated in the 1920s , while “butt naked” wasn’t used in print until about fifteen years later. So for all your needs to talk about people in the nude, don’t forget: buck naked.
Take a Turn for the _____
✗ Malapropism: Take a turn for the worst
✔︎ Correct: Take a turn for the worse
If you take a turn for the worse, it means that you are suddenly doing more badly than before. It’s a matter of degree, in this situation: if you took a turn for the worse, that’s one thing, but taking a turn for the worst would really put you in the most terrible possible situation. A good thing to remember is that things can always get worse. So use the correct phrase: take a turn for the worse.
For All _____ Purposes
✗ Malapropism: For all intensive purposes
✔︎ Correct: For all intents and purposes
Whenever I hear this malaprop all I can picture is a person doing something with a really serious expression on their face. The correct expression refers to “intents and purposes”, or the goals and uses of something – which makes much more sense than someone doing something really intensely. Enunciate with me: for all intents and purposes.
Mind Your Malapropisms!
Knowing the correct phrase will not only save you from awkward moments of people snickering at you, but will help you to have a clearer understanding of the murky ocean that is the English language. The next time someone asks you, “What did you say?” you can answer with confidence, knowing you are using these phrases correctly.