Kempting secrets

David Bowie db.list at PMPKN.NET
Sat Oct 7 00:55:18 UTC 2006


 From yesterday's washingtonpost.com politics chat, available about
2/3rds down the page at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/09/28/DI2006092800961.html?nav=topnav,
a possible eggcorn i don't see in the eggcorn database:

   "Salinas, Calif.: Peter, one more point on Redlands' entry:
    If your front page feature on Foley's aide going to House
    Republican leaders three years ago in an effort to stop Rep.
    Foley's behavior is correct, then this story must have been
    the biggest unkempt secret in D.C. for years. It seems to me
                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    that many members on both sides of the aisle could have broke
    this story long ago. Or better yet, take responsibility for
    the "alleged" behavior from continuing. Accountability in the
    nation's capitol seems to be in very short supply these days."

If you read this as phonological confusion between unkept and unkempt,
and the meaning of unkempt as involving messiness (and this is certainly
a messy situation for a number of people!), it works.

--
David Bowie                               University of Central Florida
     Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
     house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
     chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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