Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 10:44:27 -0500
From: Scott Ann M ams8950[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]USL.EDU
Subject: push the envelope etc
Can anyone tell explain the phrase "push the envelope?" I've been hearing it
for some time in contexts where it appears to mean something like "to push
or stretch one's limits."
Also, I need to know about any published work on such speech errors as
"Hail Mary full of grapes, The Lord's whisky" for Hail Mary full of grace,
The Lord is with you, or "frost teeth" for floss teeth, or Mary had a little
lamb, her fleas (or feets) was white as snow.
I know Victoria Fromkin has done speech error work, but not this sort I think.
Anybody know anything or have any ideas on this kind of error. It appears
common among the illiterate or semi-literate, and of course children. Cases
where the speaker is not familiar with the written version of the song,
prayer, phrase or whatever.
Ann Martin Scott