# What is this "word game" called? And do you have any examples? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979 "2006-06-01T03:56:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/1 "2006-06-01T03:56:26Z")
I think I heard Michael Caine once explain that it’s a British word play game. The first time I ever saw it was on the Benny Hill Show, when Benny plays a director trying to get hopelessly bad actors to say their lines right. Actor: Look…up the road…a head. Benny, as the director: No, no…it’s: ‘Look, up the road ahead.’ Michael Caine’s example was: “It’s all over my friend!” instead of, “It’s all over, my friend.” Does this have a name? What other info do you know about it? Any more good examples? ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/2 "2006-06-01T04:22:07Z")
I’m tempted to say it’s a malapropism, though that’s more commonly the (mis)use of the wrong but similar word or phrase with humerous results. This is more a case of the rearrangement of speech patterns (oral punctuation, if you will) to achieve a meaning different than the intended context despite all the correct words being present in the right order. ---
**Author:** ![Agonist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@Agonist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agonist)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/3 "2006-06-01T19:00:08Z")
It reminds me of the “importance of punctuation” example: A woman without her man is nothing. add punctuation (or the appropriate intonation when speaking): A woman: without her, man is nothing. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/4 "2006-06-01T19:07:59Z")
Or that man’s laughter is quite difference from manslaughter. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/5 "2006-06-01T19:52:07Z")
> [@brian\_ax](#): > > I think I heard Michael Caine once explain that it’s a British word play game. The first time I ever saw it was on the Benny Hill Show, when Benny plays a director trying to get hopelessly bad actors to say their lines right. > > Actor: Look…up the road…a head. > Benny, as the director: No, no…it’s: ‘Look, up the road ahead.’ > > Michael Caine’s example was: “It’s all over my friend!” instead of, “It’s all over, my friend.” > > Does this have a name? What other info do you know about it? Any more good examples? Don’t forget the immortal “You’ve gone far Ted.” ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/6 "2006-06-01T23:27:20Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > I’m tempted to say it’s a malapropism, though that’s more commonly the (mis)use of the wrong but similar word or phrase with humerous results. This is more a case of the rearrangement of speech patterns (oral punctuation, if you will) to achieve a meaning different than the intended context despite all the correct words being present in the right order. :smack: I am my own malaprop. That should read **humorous**. But while I’m here, the phrase “a pen is just what I need” comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/7 "2006-06-01T23:31:34Z")
“What is _this_ thing called, love?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/8 "2006-06-01T23:42:27Z")
[Celebrity Jeopardy! skits on SNL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_Jeopardy%21_%28Saturday_Night_Live%29). ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-word-game-called-and-do-you-have-any-examples/358979/9 "2006-06-02T02:19:35Z")
> [@Agonist](#): > > It reminds me of the “importance of punctuation” example: > > A woman without her man is nothing. > > add punctuation (or the appropriate intonation when speaking): > > A woman: without her, man is nothing. **Lisa Simpson** : But it says here in your ad, _WORKS ON CONTINGENCY / NO MONEY DOWN_! **Lionel Hutz** : Oh, they left out all the punctuation. It should read: _WORKS ON CONTINGENCY_\*?\*\* / NO\*\*,\*\* MONEY DOWN\*\*!\*\*\*