# "'Stand back,' Tom ejaculated!" Origin of the "Tom Swifty"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267 "2005-12-06T00:07:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/101 "2009-11-17T21:52:00Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > “Good morning”, Tom said woodenly. > > Am I doing this right? **Now that I understand what TYPE of wood you meant, I think so.** “I’m on pins and needles”, Tom said pointedly. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/102 "2009-11-17T21:53:51Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > “This is a zombie, but I don’t have a problem leaving it open,” twicks said moderately. “I don’t see the problem”, Tom said blindly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/103 "2009-11-17T21:56:57Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > “it’s a Black thing,” Tom said darkly, then lightened up. “Like Sammy Sosa!” “You are going to Hell for THAT Swifty”, Tom said devilishly. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/104 "2009-11-18T01:16:19Z")
“Touché,” Tom said, with a pronounced accent. ---
**Author:** ![Recliner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Recliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recliner)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/105 "2009-11-18T13:58:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Multiple authors wrote Tom Swift: it was a product of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, and there were several series (a later one feature Tom Swift, Jr.). > > While the except of the earliest books doesn’t have much in the standard “he said adverbly,” the speech tags are extremely awkward to modern ears: “replied the young man,” “went on the man,” “advised Tom Swift,” “advised Mr. Sharp,” “answered the lad,” etc. I can’t find a instance of a simple “he said.” This is funny, because I remember reading a bit of a few Hardy Boys books some years ago and chuckling at the Tom-Swifty-esque usage – exactly as its being mentioned here. Very blatant, noticeable stylistic thang. And lo-and-behold – this appears to be the source. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/106 "2009-11-18T14:21:12Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > “Touché,” Tom said, with a pronounced accent. “Touché on using née on your résumé,” Tom said gravely. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/107 "2009-11-18T14:24:24Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > [Tom Swift books up the wazoo.](http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/a#a267) > > I read a few, but I can’t stand to read anymore of them. You swiftly tired of them? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KittenKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kittenkat/32/306_2.png) [@KittenKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KittenKat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/108 "2009-11-18T15:34:18Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > “Touché on using née on your résumé,” Tom said gravely. Shouldn’t that be “Touché on using née on your résumé,” Tom said _acutely_? “I’ve broken my pencil lead,” Tom said pointlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/109 "2009-11-18T16:20:08Z")
“My arm fell asleep,” Tom said numbly. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/110 "2009-11-18T17:11:24Z")
“Which should I read first: _Garfield_ or _Blondie_?” Tom dithered. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/111 "2009-11-18T17:52:00Z")
“I can’t wait to watch that new show on Fox about the high school singing club!” said Tom with glee. … That may be pushing it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/112 "2009-11-19T02:37:35Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > “I can’t wait to watch that new show on Fox about the high school singing club!” said Tom with glee. > > … That may be pushing it. “But I watch Fox News exclusively!” Tom said ignorantly. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267/113 "2009-11-19T14:42:49Z")
“Don’t blame me; I voted for McCain,” Tom said conservatively. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stand-back-tom-ejaculated-origin-of-the-tom-swifty/334267.md?page=5)