Tebowing

[Ben Zimmer]

On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 10:34 AM, Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at ling.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
> On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 9:59 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> >
> > http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpps/sports/introducing-tebowing-fad-inspired-by-qb-tim-tebow-dpgonc-20111028-fc_15689011
> >
> > Big news on CNN.
> >
> > It means to get down on one knee to pray (or pretend to pray) in the
> > manner of Tim Tebow.
> >
> > Thousands of hits in the last few days.
>
> The word even has proponents angling to get it some WOTY consideration.
>
> http://news.lalate.com/2011/10/27/tebowing-definition-battles-for-word-of-the-year-2011-recognition/
>
> ...but I think it would have to get in line behind "planking,"
> "owling," "horsemaning," et al. (Hmm, special category, anyone?)

For a roundup of this odd neologistic category, see Erin McKean's
Boston Globe column from 10/30 ("Tebowing" must have cropped up too
late for inclusion):

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2011/10/29/let-owling/GDacQWWVy6nYZi6WdY1YfK/story.html

--bgz


--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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