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Tom Swifties

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May 08, 2003, 18:33
Hic et ubique
Tom Swifties
Since almost seven months have passed, it seems appropriate to revisit Tom Swifties. (I almost said, "revisit again".) This is inspired by Kalleh's use of the words immensely and enormously..

"I missed my period," wailed Tomasina immensely.
"I can't be pregnant, I just can't," she added, enormously alarmed.
May 08, 2003, 18:37
haberdasher
"I really don't care if there's a flower missing from my bouquet," said Tom lackadaisically...
May 09, 2003, 01:35
arnie
"I love the novels of D. H. Lawrence," said the lady chattily.
May 09, 2003, 05:21
the_bear
"...and then I fell off my bicycle," said she, carelessly.

"We could do with another Gothic doorway here," said he, archly.

"Here's the vinegar," said I, acidly.
"And I've found the other dressing ingredients," said Susan, oleaginously.

Stephen.
May 09, 2003, 06:38
<Asa Lovejoy>
"I've hung out the wash," Tom said dryly.

"I'll have a hot dog," said Tom frankly.

And, if I may use a gerund instead of an adverb: "Won't anybody give a little fellow a ride?" asked Tom, thumbing.
May 09, 2003, 07:27
jerry thomas
"I'm free to use gerunds whenever I want," said Asa Love, joyfully.
May 09, 2003, 19:45
Kalleh
All my good ones are in the other thread! Frown

"I'm burning up with fever", she said, coolly.
May 10, 2003, 09:41
Hic et ubique
quote:
Originally posted by haberdasher:
"I really don't care if there's a flower missing from my bouquet," said Tom lackadaisically.

What a dandy line. Wink
"Haberdasher! Are you a gardener too?" Hic asked indignantly.
"I too love flowers," he added rosily.
May 10, 2003, 09:47
jerry thomas
quote:
"All my good ones are in the other thread!" Confused
... said Kalleh, listlessly.
May 10, 2003, 10:05
the_bear
quote:
Originally posted by Hic et ubique:

What a _dandy line_. Wink
"Haberdasher! Are you a gardener too?" Hic asked indignantly.
"I too love flowers," he added rosily.


"I see no reason you should ask such questions," replied he, aeratedly.

I thought that trug-ulently was a little too contrived.

Stephen.
May 10, 2003, 10:22
haberdasher
quote:
Originally posted by Kalleh:
"I'm burning up with fever", she said, coolly.

...or maybe "I told you you'd get a fever if you went out without your coat!" she said, hotly.
May 10, 2003, 10:32
jerry thomas
"You're both delirious," I gasped, feverishly, my breath coming in short pants.
May 10, 2003, 19:55
Kalleh
"I have the measles", he said rashly.
May 11, 2003, 18:35
shufitz
"Look! There's Pamela Anderson," said Tom disparagingly.
May 13, 2003, 06:35
TrossL
"Your voice just grates on my nerves," said Tom shreddingly.
May 13, 2003, 06:38
is completely nuts!
"The prisoner went down the stairs," said Tom condescendingly.
May 13, 2003, 06:44
is completely nuts!
"The enemy of the Sandinistas have agreed to a cease-fire," Tom said contrarily.
May 13, 2003, 09:33
jerry thomas
"I'm talking about fibers, filaments, threads, yarns, twines, strings, ropes, and hawsers, and I'm also talking about an important part of my vocal anatomy," said Tom, cordially.
May 13, 2003, 10:19
jerry thomas
"I'll leave a word telling HOW it was said, hoping you will supply WHAT was said," suggested jerry, playfully.



WHOLEHEARTEDLY
May 13, 2003, 10:23
Hic et ubique
"Honey, I can't find the tickets to the symphony," said Tom, disconcerted.

(Jerry, I like your game, but I'm leaving it unanswered pour encourager les autres. Big Grin)
May 13, 2003, 11:58
TrossL
"The prisoner may not stand," said the bailiff conceitedly.
May 13, 2003, 12:02
TrossL
"But," said Tom contestingly, "The prisoner is taking an exam right now."
May 13, 2003, 12:14
jerry thomas
"I'm innocent, Your Honor," said Tom, pleadingly.



".... pour encourager les autres," said Hic,


ENCOURAGINGLY
May 13, 2003, 12:32
jerry thomas
"You can say that again," Tom Tom reiterated repeatedly.
May 13, 2003, 17:14
Kalleh
I am thirsty for a Hog's Back T.E.A., said Tom dryly.
May 16, 2003, 10:48
C J Strolin
"I'm horizontal in bed," Tom said, though he was lying.
May 16, 2003, 13:45
haberdasher
To be self-referential, shouldn't it be
"I'm standing up straight," said Tom, though he was lying." ?

I'm not sure that self-referential is necessarily any better than self-contradictory, but it's always seemed to me that the essence of a Swifty is its linking the phrase to the adverb in as many ways as possible. Thus in "I lost my lawsuit, said Tom plaintively..." we have simultaneously plaintive/sad-over-loss (with ... to emphasize the sadness) and plaintiff/lawsuit-filer.

[edit: Come to think of it, I'm not even sure which of the standing/lying examples above is the self-contradictory one!]
May 16, 2003, 13:57
jerry thomas
"I'm lying," quoth Tom, notwithstanding.
May 16, 2003, 15:00
haberdasher
Bravo!
May 16, 2003, 21:45
Hic et ubique
quote:
Originally posted by TrossL:
"The prisoner may not stand," said the bailiff conceitedly.
"But," said Tom contestingly, "The prisoner is taking an exam right now."


"He'll be executed at 12 noon," said Tom concurrently.

[mutters: shocking; simply shocking]
May 16, 2003, 22:02
Hic et ubique
quote:
Originally posted by C J Strolin:
"I'm horizontal in bed," Tom said, though he was lying.

Originally posted by haberdasher:
To be self-referential, shouldn't it be
"I'm standing up straight," said Tom, though he was lying." ?

Perhaps this?
"I'm prone to uprightness," said Tom, lying.
May 17, 2003, 08:17
TrossL
"The prisoner was taken to that island near Greece," said Tom, concretely.
May 18, 2003, 07:00
Kalleh
"Let's mend that broken bone", said Tom, staring fixedly.
May 18, 2003, 07:04
shufitz
"When the victim reviews the police line-up, be sure to put this guy in it," said Officer Tom inconsequentially.
May 18, 2003, 07:37
jerry thomas
Tom said, "I'm everywhere. Hic!" ubiquitously.
May 18, 2003, 09:21
Kalleh
"Time for your surgery", said Tom, cuttingly.
May 21, 2003, 14:50
Kalleh
"He needs a heart transplant", said Tom, halfheartedly.
May 29, 2003, 13:27
shufitz
"It's the middle of my semester at Oxford," said Tom indeterminably.

"I'm joining the church choir," said Tom indecorously.
May 30, 2003, 06:41
TrossL
"The prisoner has to make stencils today," said Tom contemplatingly.
May 30, 2003, 08:42
shufitz
"I'm in jail," said Tom independently.

"And i feel no remorse," said Tom impenitantly.
May 30, 2003, 08:46
shufitz
PS:
"But I won't be anybody's jail-lover," said Tom impenetrably.
May 30, 2003, 09:41
Kalleh
Hmmm, just remember, your wife posts here as well! Wink
May 30, 2003, 13:22
TrossL
Kalleh, it's just a Tom Swifty... I'm sure yours and Shu's nightly roleplay game of "You be the warden and I'll be the naughty prisoner" is still on... Wink Eek Wink Big Grin
May 30, 2003, 13:40
haberdasher
...Actually, I thought the choir's "indecorous" remark was the best we've seen lately. Bassically I liked the tenor of that remark. (Alto I haven't been able to find a good way of working in the soprano section.)
May 30, 2003, 18:44
Kalleh
quote:
I'm sure yours and Shu's nightly roleplay game of "You be the warden and I'll be the naughty prisoner" is still on

Big Grin Wink Smile Cool
June 06, 2003, 15:08
jerry thomas
"The Genie drank the entire contents of the urn," said Tom, ingeniously.
June 06, 2003, 15:43
jerry thomas
"Don't say I didn't warm you," said Tom, heatedly.



"Sorry, I don't play bridge," he said, whistfully.



"I'll not be with you wherever thou goest," she said, Ruthlessly.



"These animals are much too large to be fish or dolphins," he wailed.

[This message was edited by jerry thomas on Fri Jun 6th, 2003 at 16:39.]
September 10, 2003, 19:22
shufitz
"My cardiac surgery was a success!" exclaimed Tom wholeheartedly.
September 10, 2003, 20:04
WinterBranch
"No, I'm not wearing makeup!" he said, blushingly.
September 11, 2003, 06:48
Ros
"I like conifers" he opined...