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Jackson6612 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Tom swifty

Hi

I was reading Wikipedia article on "Tom Swifty" and I couldn't understand the definition. For instance, the sentences under the "Examples" sound perfectly 'normal' to me. Please help me. Thank you

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swiftie
A Tom Swifty (or Tom Swiftie) is a in which a quoted sentence is linked by a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pun to the manner in which it is attributed. Tom Swifties may be considered a type of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellerism.

Examples:
  • "I'll have a martini," said Tom, drily.
  • "Who left the toilet seat down?" Tom asked peevishly.
  • "Pass me the shellfish," said Tom crabbily.
  • "Adverbal puns are fun," said Tom swiftly.
  • "That's the last time I'll stick my arm in a lion's mouth," the lion-tamer said off-handedly.
  • "Can I go looking for the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail again?" Tom requested.
  

Top answer

Hi, I was reading Wikipedia article on "Tom Swifty" and I couldn't understand the definition. For instance, the sentences under the "Examples" sound perfectly 'normal' to me. Please help me.

— Clive

  • Hi, I was reading Wikipedia article on "Tom Swifty" and I couldn't understand the definition.
  • For instance, the sentences under the "Examples" sound perfectly 'normal' to me.
  • Please help me.
  • Thank you They are normal and correct sentences.
  • They just include a pun.
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2 Answers
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Hi,

I was reading Wikipedia article on "Tom Swifty" and I couldn't understand the definition. For instance, the sentences under the "Examples" sound perfectly 'normal' to me. Please help me. Thank you

They are normal and correct sentences. They just include a pun. Do you know what a pun is?

I have
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"Let us go home," said Tom, crisply. (let us = lettuce)

CJ
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