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Malaprops and Eggcorns
A malaprop is a wrong word that makes no sense in context. Its cousin, the eggcorn, by contrast, is a wrong word or phrase that makes its own sense. An eggcorn is an error by a speaker who’d defend it, hence it is kin to a mumpsimus. And also like “mumpsimus”, the word “eggcorn” is an example of itself.
Examples
- crutch of the matter (eggcorn)
- dance a flamingo (malaprop)
- decease and desist order (malaprop)
- duck tape (eggcorn)
- flush it out as in “a good plan, now we need to flush it out…” (eggcorn)
- for all intensive purposes (eggcorn)
- knock me over with a fender (malaprop)
- mute point (eggcorn)
- opinions which are diabolically opposed (malaprop)
- wolf in cheap clothing (eggcorn)