Visit A&E Television's online store.

  Issue 162, page 3

Search Home FAQ Links Site map Book Store

BackIssues

New Ask Us Theory About

curmdgeon.GIF (1254 bytes) Curmudgeons' Corner

Don Pelto wants to pelt people who say laxadaisical

I have heard a painful merging of two, perfectly good words into one malaphonious (new coinage, the opposite of euphonious) term. It is most often heard in the play by play of a sporting event, where one team is not putting out a full effort. The announcer will describe their performance as laxadaisical. While lax and lackadaisical may both be appropriate, the combination does not exist! We must stop this abomination!

You are correct, the combination does not exist.  Clearly people are confusing lax and lackadaisical.  They are not related.

Though we heartily endorse the sentiment, we cannot entirely approve of malaphonius as it combines Latin and Greek. How about dysphonic... or even cacaphonic?

Have you heard or read similar or equally distressing usages?

Do tell us. 

Read this before commenting on this week's Curmudgeons' Corner

PREVIOUS  |  NEXT

Comments, additions? Send to Melanie & Mike: melmike@takeourword.com
DO NOT SEND QUERIES TO THAT ADDRESS.  Instead, ASK US.
Copyright © 1995-
2002 TIERE
Last Updated 07/12/02 10:29 PM