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A Tom Swifty

Average: 3.3 (4 votes)
Fri, 05/02/2008 - 14:56 — Chris McCarthy

This play on words is known as a 'Tom Swifty'. It is a type of pun (joke) that plays on the relationship between the adverb and an action spoken in the dialogue. The sentence is usually in reported speech. Tom Swifty is a character who appears in a series of adventure stories written by the author Edward Stratemeyer. The pun in this case is on the adverb 'abstractly' as modern art is sometimes abstract.

  • "Fire!" yelled Tom alarmingly.
  • "I need a pencil sharpener," said Tom bluntly.
  • "I don't work here on a regular basis," said Tom casually.

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Comments

Tue, 11/11/2008 - 15:08 — Kaltoumi

Whatz up!

I finished reading and yet have not concluded anything!

Wed, 11/19/2008 - 08:21 — nihatyavas

swifty

I think you mean, altough 'swifty' is an adverb, sometimes, as in Tom Swifty example it can be used as a nickname (noun).

Mon, 11/24/2008 - 08:31 — israa emam h

Thanks

Thank you for this lesson. It was usefull to me.

Thu, 12/18/2008 - 06:58 — gvm05

Sorry

I cant understand anything from this lesson
By
GVM

Tue, 03/10/2009 - 02:37 — vulivosa

Connect subject to adverb

Peace on earth

Jokapeci

I think u need to see the connection between the subject and the adverb at the end of the sentence, for example, 'fire!' yelled tom alarmingly - u see, we connect fire to fire alarms? And the next sentence is similar - this knife is not sharp, said Anne bluntly. u see, a knife that is not sharp is blunt! I hope u get it. Sorry if I've confused u more.

Thu, 12/18/2008 - 09:48 — suhrob

me too

me too Sad

Sun, 03/15/2009 - 11:59 — suez2225

it's really puzzles me

I don't understand

Thu, 03/19/2009 - 06:08 — pramodhini

i don't understand

i don't understand

Tue, 04/14/2009 - 19:02 — Yura

Nice lesson. 'Pity, there

Nice lesson. 'Pity, there are only three sentences",said Tom regretfully. Is it Ok?

Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:25 — ynastia

I've got it But what are

I've got it Smile But what are the cases of using such play on word? Could native speaker (Englishman, for instance) get me wrong or don't undestand me at all? Is it widespread?

Sun, 09/06/2009 - 06:53 — olka20

english way to make jokes

english way to make jokes

Sun, 11/01/2009 - 16:26 — kate_blackbutterfly

"Pass me the shellfish,"

"Pass me the shellfish," said Tom crabbily.
"That's the last time I'll stick my arm in a lion's mouth," the lion-tamer said off-handedly.
"Can I go looking for the Grail again?" Tom requested.
"I unclogged the drain with a vacuum cleaner," Tom said succinctly.
"I might as well be dead," Tom croaked.
"We just struck oil!" Tom gushed.
"They had to amputate them both at the ankles," Tom said defeatedly.
"Who discovered radium?" asked Marie curiously.
"Hurry up and get to the back of the ship," Tom said sternly.

Thu, 11/26/2009 - 18:44 — abshandra

So today lesson is about

So today lesson is about play on words. It is nice lesson. I don't know if in English, often play on words too. It's funny and worth to read, if you can get the meaning. But, it's shame, there just very little examples. But, thanks for adding it more, dude (my previous commenter). -