October 12, 2003

Strange Similes

Posted by Brian

The third line of the latest Powderfinger album is:

You’re swollen like a lexicon.

If that’s the best they can come up with it seems to imply not swollen at all.

By the way, the album isn’t particularly good. If you were going to buy it because you’re still hoping they can recapture the quality of their early work, save your dollars and be spared some disappointment.

Posted on October 12, 2003 06:46 PM UTC
Comments

Sir, the plural of ‘simile’ is ‘similes’.

Smilies :)

Posted by enthymeme · October 12, 2003 11:11 PM

Oops! My bad. Corrected now.

Posted by Brian Weatherson · October 13, 2003 12:04 AM

The Random House Unabridged could, I think, be described as swollen (among many other adjectives). The OED is merely overstuffed. The American Heritage certainly has a swelled head, but that is probably not what they are getting at. For ten points extra credit, which lexicon (if any) merits the epithet “tumescent”?

Posted by Frank Wilhoit · October 13, 2003 02:59 AM

Youthful braggadocio. I’m sure all of our lexicons displayed impressive turgidity when we were that age.

Posted by andrew · October 13, 2003 11:45 AM

For ten points extra credit, which lexicon (if any) merits the epithet “tumescent”?

I would propose any “College” dictionary of “American” “English”. Such a lovely word, tumescent.

Posted by daniel-mark · October 13, 2003 10:14 PM
Followups

This discussion has been closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.