# Whoah . . . cool word trick **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279 "2004-04-27T14:53:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/1 "2004-04-27T14:53:31Z")
I just noticed cool something while reading another thread. Somebody said, in part "nowhere does he mention . . . ". And I fixated on the word “nowhere”. As in, no-where. In no place. But, if English weren’t your native tongue, you might be tempted to parse it as “now-here”. Right here, right now, in the moment. No-where; now-here. In no place; in the moment. Cool. I am a simple man, of simple people. These things amuse me. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/2 "2004-04-27T15:26:18Z")
It IS cool, actually. Well, I think so anyway. I can remember this crucial to the plot of two books. One was by the great children’s books writer Diana Wynne Jones and I think it was Homeward Bounders but I’m not completely sure. The other one I can’t remember at all and it’s probably obscure. All I remember about it is that when I read it I thougt of the Diana Wynne Jones book and how it used the same now-here joke. It’s is just about possible it was a Russell Hoban novel, but that might be completely and utterly wrong. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/3 "2004-04-27T15:48:15Z")
Cow-orkers? ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/4 "2004-04-27T16:12:25Z")
I want **to get her** so we can be **together**. The name of Cleveland (OH) rock act [Raven Slaughter](http://cleveland.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ravenslaughter.com) can be recast as **Raven’s Laughter**. An **incandescent** Peruvian may be of **Incan descent**. Solve [cryptic crooswords](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/crosswords/index.html?D=11354&T=0) on a regular basis, and you’ll become adept at spotting these examples of wordplay. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/5 "2004-04-27T16:36:25Z")
My **therapist** turned out to be **the rapist** that had been terrorizing the city. And let’s not forget the famous anti-tobacco lobbyist, **Nosmo King.** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/6 "2004-04-27T16:50:00Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > The name of Cleveland (OH) rock act [Raven Slaughter](http://cleveland.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ravenslaughter.com) can be recast as **Raven’s Laughter**. Many years ago, I was sitting in my studio happily tripping on LSD (funny how much that’s coming up lately) and thinking about what a versatile group of letter U-G-H is, and how slightly different contexts completely altered the pronunciation. (eg: _rough = uff / trough = off / through = ooh / thought = awe / bough = ow_, etc.) As my mind wandered in this direction, I eventually got to Laughter/Slaughter, which I’d never noticed before. I thought “Whoa-- that’s heavy! I really ought (heh) to _do_ something with that.” So I sat there, trying to think of how I could play with it. I sat, staring straight ahead. Staring straight ahead at an oversized poster I’d had blown up from a collage I’d made a few years before (also tripping.) Mostly photo-montage of Bette Davis done over as a sort of besieged earth-goddess. Pasted over this, the only text elements: “HA HA HA – Carnage.” Definite “whoah.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/7 "2004-05-09T01:49:09Z")
Just remembered another one courtesy of James Joyce: Isinglass - Is in glass. (Isinglass is a substance extracted from the float-bladders of sturgeon, is used to guard delicate beers, ales, and wines against the harmful effects of light.) ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/8 "2004-05-09T02:20:48Z")
Don’t forget things like " I deserted my dessert in the desert" Or “The dove dove into the tree” And the there, their, and they’re. God I feel bad for people who have to learn English as a second language. ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/9 "2004-05-09T03:09:32Z")
I’m a native speaker of English, and I read all the time. One day, a few years ago, the word “nowhere” came up in something I was reading. It stopped me cold for about five minutes, while I sat dumbfounded, mumbling, “Now? Here?” ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/10 "2004-05-09T04:33:12Z")
More in the spirit of “the dove dove” [http://seminar.jura.uni-sb.de/publ/ss00/seminar/ss2000/ext/cafe/data/813.html](http://seminar.jura.uni-sb.de/publ/ss00/seminar/ss2000/ext/cafe/data/813.html) Tough Coughs as he Ploughs the Dough (by Dr. Seuss) [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0688065481/ref=pd\_sim\_books\_1/102-4381436-1960117?v=glance&s=books](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0688065481/ref=pd_sim_books_1/102-4381436-1960117?v=glance&s=books) I think I heard that “ough” has 17 pronunciations in English… let’s see: tough (uff) cough (off) through (oo) though (oh) plough (ow) That’s all I can think of… ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/11 "2004-05-09T04:40:18Z")
How about “nonetheless” to trip you out. One word made out of three. I know what it means, but I can’t figure it out, you know? Then again, it’s 12:40 am and I’m five red dogs down. But I swear it still looks odd sober. Nevertheless Somehow However Inasmuch Whatthehell? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/12 "2004-05-09T18:26:58Z")
And of course there is Diagon Ally in Harry Potter’s world. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/13 "2004-05-09T18:33:29Z")
[OT] Are there other languages where words can be re-arranged as they can be in English to create the same meaning? “Nowhere is it mentioned” “It is not mentioned anywhere” “It is mentioned nowhere” ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/14 "2004-05-09T18:37:44Z")
I read Sthephen King’s “The Shining” before I saw the movie. I swear, til I saw it, I thought it was re-drum… ---
**Author:** ![ReadMore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@ReadMore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReadMore)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/15 "2004-05-09T19:59:01Z")
Not quite the same level of cuteness, but… I remember befuddling someone, years ago, with a note that included “noone”. After they asked me what a mispelled time-hack had to do with the rest of the note, I started spelling it “no-one”. Peace. ReadMore ---
**Author:** ![Sofis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Sofis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofis)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/16 "2004-05-09T20:42:24Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > One was by the great children’s books writer Diana Wynne Jones and I think it was Homeward Bounders but I’m not completely sure. You’re thinking of **Fire and Hemlock**. Lovely book. > [@Lobsang](#): > > [OT] > > Are there other languages where words can be re-arranged as they can be in English to create the same meaning? > > “Nowhere is it mentioned” > > “It is not mentioned anywhere” > > “It is mentioned nowhere” Yes. Better question: are there any where you can’t? ---
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/17 "2004-05-09T21:38:02Z")
One of my fave sentences ever, from Tom Robbin’s _Even Cowgirls Get the Blues_ : “When she said “But,” her butt was on the butte” ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/18 "2004-05-10T00:06:47Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > More in the spirit of “the dove dove” > I think I heard that “ough” has 17 pronunciations in English… let’s see: > > tough (uff) > cough (off) > through (oo) > though (oh) > plough (ow) I’ve heard only 8. That list was: through though thought tough plough thorough hiccough lough (pronounced like “loch”) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/19 "2004-05-10T05:12:17Z")
I don’t know how related this is, but does anyone know the feeling when you’re copying by hand over and over one phrase or word that suddenly you feel like the word doesn’t look right… You must be spelling it wrong, you think. But a quick look at the dictionary shows you’re right. Or am I nuts 😉 ---
**Author:** ![angelicate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@angelicate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angelicate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279/20 "2004-05-10T05:34:38Z")
> [@clayton\_e](#): > > I don’t know how related this is, but does anyone know the feeling when you’re copying by hand over and over one phrase or word that suddenly you feel like the word doesn’t look right… You must be spelling it wrong, you think. But a quick look at the dictionary shows you’re right. > > Or am I nuts 😉 I do that quite often. I learned to read when I was pretty young, and hadn’t heard a lot of words yet. This tripped me up sometimes, and I clearly remember arguing with my mom that we’d just driven by a sign that said “Off Ice.” She tried to tell me that it said “Office” but I kept arguing about it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoah-cool-word-trick/242279.md?page=2)