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Malapropisms, Berraisms, and Bushisms

In Richard Sheridan’s "The Rivals", Mrs. Malaprop famously refers to her niece as being, "as headstrong as an allegory (sic) on the banks of the Nile." This example is merely one of many such abuses of meaning by the well-meaning Mrs. Malaprop- hence our term malapropism.

 

However, she is not alone:

Yogi Berra:

"Sometimes you can observe a lot by watching."

"It ain’t over till it’s over."

"A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore."

"Half the lies they tell me aren’t true."

"No wonder nobody comes here, it’s too crowded."

Mickey Mantle: "What time is it?"  Yogi Berra: "You mean now?"

"Ninety nine percent of this game is half mental."

And most recently by politicians, such as George Bush:

Commenting on the state of the economy on Thursday, February 28th-

"…it’s getting hard for Americans to put money on the table."

"I can press when there needs to be pressed; I can hold hands when there needs to be — hold hands." –George W. Bush, on how he can contribute to the Middle East peace process, Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 2008

"In the State of the Union a couple of years ago, I addressed the issue of steroids, and the reason I did so is because I understand the impact that professional athletes can have on our nation’s youth. And I just urge our — those in the public spotlight, particularly athletes, to understand that when they violate their bodies, they’re sending a terrible signal to America’s young." –George W. Bush, on the baseball steroids scandal, Dec. 14, 2007

"The decisions we make in Washington have a direct impact on the people in our country, obviously." –George W. Bush, New Albany, Ind., Nov. 13, 2007

"If you’ve got somebody in harm’s way, you want the president being — making advice, not — be given advice by the military, and not making decisions based upon the latest Gallup poll or focus group." –George W. Bush, New Albany, Ind., Nov. 13, 2007

"I don’t particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by the way, unless I say it." –George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Nov. 10, 2007

One has a stronger hand when there’s more people playing your same cards." –George W. Bush, on holding six-party talks with North Korea, Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 2006

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." –Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 "

Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.”