Eggcorn or tip of the slung?

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Aug 10, 2005, at 12:14 PM, Wilson Gray wrote:

> "He was shouting, 'Eff you!' and other explicatives."

oh lord!  ca. 1,190 raw google webhits for "explicative deleted" (as
against ca. 63,700 for "expletive deleted")!  looks eggcornish.  i'm
guessing the sound-symbolic value of the /plIk/ plays some role.

there are even 4 hits for "shout explicatives" (as against ca. 650
for "shout expletives").

i'm still in amazement at "woeth me" and "valevictorian".  and now this.

arnold