Eggcorn

[jack]

How the hell is "nip in the butt" (for "nip in the bud") an eggcorn? I thought the point of eggcorns was that they were supposed to make sense?

Saying "old-timer's disease" for "Alzheimer's disease" or "Egg-corn" for "acorn" seems more than just wrong, it's a mistake than shows a certain wit and understandability. If you've never heard of "cord" or "ado" then "Vocal chords" and "Without further adieu" make a certain sense, are even inspired.

But who the hell hasn't heard of a bud? "Nip in the butt" doesn't even make any sense, it's as bad as most phrases that get changed away from.

Comments

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Maybe nipping someone in the butt is equivalent to kicking someone under the table, to get them to stop talking before they put their foot in it...