Friday, February 22, 2008

Tom Swift or More Fun With Words

The Random House Dictionary of the English Language (1st edition, 1966) defines a Tom Swifty as ... a play on words that follows an unvarying pattern and relies for its humor on a punning relationship between the way an adverb describes a speaker and at the same time refers significantly to the import of the speaker’s statement, as in “I know who turned off the lights,” Tom hinted darkly. Named after a narrative mannerism characteristic of the Tom Swift American series of adventure novels for boys.


Below are a few of my favorites:

“This is just like a fairy tale,” Tom said grimly.

“I only have diamonds, clubs and spades,” Tom said heartlessly.

“I voted against Clinton in his last election run,” Tom said dolefully.

“I need a drink,” Tom said drily.

“The prisoner escaped down a rope,” Tom said condescendingly.

“I think I broke my leg,” Tom said lamely.

"The situation is grave," Tom said cryptically.

"I don't like hot dogs," Tom said frankly.


And my favorite:


"That is remarkable," remarked Tom.



© 2008 Barry T Horst

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