The "favorite words" thread!

[Zen]

SK,

I was chortling in my joy as I went galumphing down the road on my way to work today. Though there were a few times I went snicker-snack through the traffic. (OK, not really, but I love those words. I make my 7th graders read that poem every year.)

I remember my seventh grade teacher reading that aloud to us, I think it's my favorite poem. All that drama and action!


One of my most un-favorite favorite words is
BRASSIERE

[mimitabby]

what poem is that?
I hate brassiere too.

[teigyr]

Favorite word? Ensure, when it's used correctly. Bothers me when people write insure when they mean ensure.

Least favorite word? MOIST. I don't know why but it disturbs me greatly

[Zen]

Mimi, that would be this poem

[Mr. Bloom]

I hate "R U R A L"; I just can't ennuciate it without sounding like RuRRRRWral Ugh!!

I also detest the phrase "Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary...". Kinda makes me think I'm being snowed...

Favorite Words:
- Silver
- flummoxed

[RolliePollie]

I hate "R U R A L"; I just can't ennuciate it without sounding like RuRRRRWral Ugh!!

Too funny...I've always hated the work "rural" as well...impossible to say. I used to work for the County Office of Procurement & Contracts...and I can't say "procurement." So I just called it "Purchasing" because that's what we did.

I get a kick out of words that you can accidentally spell wrong but then they become another word. These can be dangerous (and hilarious) words. Example: At work, I once wrote a contract for janitorial services for the Pubic Defender's Office. Spell checker can't tell the difference between Pubic and Public! Unfortunately we also have County departments called Public Health, Public Guardian, and Public Authority.

Another word I just discovered which also has this nightmarish spelling issue is "pines." Switch the vowels...you'll see what the problem is.

[Starfish]

This isn't a real word, but when we were kids, a friend of mine used to hear our family talk about moral fiber. One day, she tried to say it and is came out: morbal fire.

I always felt that the weighty implication of something called "morbal fire" to be much more intriguing!

[mimitabby]

Mimi, that would be this poem

thanks! I clearly never got past the 3rd stanza! (gulp)

[Zen]

Rural Juror (a la 30 Rock)
Is someone feeling better?

[7rider]

Favorite words?

"Sale"
and even better still...
"Free"

[Wahine]

Where is my vorpal sword??

So I read Brassiere as Brasserie and thought, yeah, I like that word too. Tells you where my mind is.

Another favorite from my Sheffield born Grandma...

"Holy shamilligans, we're going to have a donny brook." Not sure of the spelling, I only ever heard her say it.

[margo49]

"Donnybrook" is one word and Irish for stooshie (see Bruno28's post)
My parents used it in New Zealand, although it was "a real donnybrook" meaning a more serious one I guess.