Fwd: Eggcorn

[Arnold Zwicky]

meant for the whole list:

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Arnold Zwicky <zwicky at stanford.edu>
> Date: July 4, 2009 9:03:14 AM PDT
> To: ronbutters at aol.com
> Subject: Re: Eggcorn
>
>
> On Jul 4, 2009, at 8:17 AM, Ron Butters wrote:
>
>>
>> Did anyone find "free rain"?
>
> no mention of it in ecdb discussion.  there is an entry for reign >>
> rain, as in "rain supreme" ("rain of terror" is also attested).
>  http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/english/37/rain/
>
> and there is discussion on the forum of ring >> rain, as in "rains
> true".
>
> but "give free rain" does occur:
>
> Cradle of Rome: Give Free Rain to Your Inner Emperor
>  http://www.gamershell.com/companies/awem_studio/402141.html?gr_i_ni
>
> To “reign” is what God and kings and queens do. And, of course, to
> “rain” is what cats and dogs do. (Joke!) However, I’ve actually seen
> “free rain” written: “I would hate to give free rain to executors
> and administrators ...” That mistake is bizarre. I mean, as far as I
> know, rain is free to everyone. [Barbara Walraff answering a query
> on Word Court]
>  http://www.wordcourt.com/archives.php?show=2008-12-17
>
> But there are internet sites where you can make reservations only
> several hours before a flight departs and even book a hotel or rent
> a car. So give free rain to your imagination, forget that you are a
> respectable citizen and fly off.
>  http://www.syl.com/travel/getawayfromeverydayroutine.html
>
> there are more.
>
> arnold
>

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