Concept: A dead metaphor (or nearly dead metaphor) that is so poorly understood that people say it wrong (usually a small phonetic/phonological change) to help it make sense in their cognitive-linguistic domains. Two examples follow.
- The IT Crowd, Season 4, Episode 6, "Reynholm vs. Reynholm"
- http://video.yandex.ru/users/lina-friebus/view/643/ (Russian site, hopefully legal)
Scene 1 (starting about 7:00 minutes, office scene)
Jen: I mean, I don't expect to be put on a pedal stool, but please... Show a little respect.
Roy: Oh, I'm sorry, you don't expect to be put on a what?Jen: On a pedal stool.Roy: A pedal stool. What's a pedal stool?Jen: Oh you know, you put women on it when you admire them. You know, the phrase.Roy: Oh yeah, no, the famous phrase: to be put on a pedal stool. PEDESTAL!Jen: What?Roy: PEDESTAL is the word! What's a pedal stool? Did you really think there was such a thing as a pedal stool?Jen: Shut up, everyone has blind spots....Roy: A pedal stool!
Scene 2 (starting about x 15:00 minutes, courtroom scene)
Roy: That's right, and furthermore, I would like to say at this point that I think this whole case to be a damp squid.Lawyer: Thank you. No further questions.Jen: Oooh, I have one more question, your honor.Judge: Yes?Jen: Eh, what did you say?Roy: What?Jen: What did you say the case was? May I have it read back please?Court Reporter: "I believe this entire case to be a bit of a damp squid."Jen: A damp squid? What does that mean?Roy: Oh, oh Jen. It's um... It's an expression. Eh, it means that I, uh, believe, that everything that's been said in this case, everyone already knew.Jen: Hmm, yes. But did you say "damp squid?"Roy: That's right.Jen: Did you not mean "damp squib?"Roy: No it's squid. What's a squib?Jen: It's not squid. Squids are already damp.Roy: Hence the phrase.Jen: Your honor, please.Judge: It is squib. I must say, I find it extraordinary that you, a man in your early thirties, could have reached this point in your life without knowing that it is squib.Roy: I think it's squid!Jen: I have no further questions, your honor.Roy: Your honor, no, wait wait wait!Jen: That will be all.Roy: Everyone has their blind spots!Jen: I said, THAT WILL BE ALL!...Jen: [closing arguments] Think of the simpleton who thought the phrase "damp squid" was correct.
What's this really called???? Does it have a name????
