A spoonerism is a where consonants and vowels are swapped in speech. They are named after the Reverand William Archibald Spooner, a nineteenth-century warden of New College, Oxford.
The reverend was prone to getting his words mixed up and many a spoonerism has been attributed to him.
Here are some of the more amusing spoonerisms that we know of:
- We must drink a toast to the queer old dean [dear old queen]
- We’ll have the hags flung out [the flags hung out]
- It is kisstomary to cuss the bride [customary to kiss]
- Cattle ships and bruisers [Battle ships and cruisers]
- A blushing crow [crushing blow]
- A well-boiled icicle [well-oiled bicycle]
- The Lord is a shoving leopard [a loving shepherd]
- You were fighting a liar in the quadrangle [lighting a fire]
- Is the bean dizzy [dean busy]?
Why not send us your spoonerisms for inclusion in this list!