Palindromes, anagrams, and spoonerisms Palindromes Definition: palindromes are words or phrases that read the same forwards as backwards. The adjustment of punctuation and spaces between words is generally permitted. Palindromes have been found throughout history, some as old as 80BCE. The word palindrome was coined from Greek roots pali, back anddromos, direction way by English writer Ben Jonson in the 1600s. Above: a milled sculpture of Toyota, designed by Frank Nichols of New York City. "Mom, dad, sis, I'm not like you. I'm not a palindrome." Some classic palindrome samples Madam, I'm Adam. Madam, in Eden, I'm Adam. A man, a plan, a canal: Panama. Other samples Race car Snack cans Navy van Space caps Trapeze part No melons, no lemon Step on no pets Gateman's nametag Never odd or even Party booby trap A slut nixes sex in Tulsa Stella won no wallets No, it is open on one position Dennis never even sinned Rats live on no evil star Oozy rat in a sanitary zoo "Dammit I'm Mad" by Demetri Martin Links to websites Palindromelist.com Thinks.com Jim Kalb's palindrome list Anagrams Anagrams are rearranged letters in a word or phrase to make another word or phrase. From the Greek wordanagramma 'letters written anew'. Technically, any word or phrase which exactly reproduces the letters in another is an anagram; e.g., saltine = entails. However, the goal of serious or skilled anagrammists is to produce anagrams which reflect or comment on the subject. Such an anagram may be a synonym or antonym of its subject, a parody, a criticism, or praise. Example: George Bush  =  He bugs Gore. Some other fun ones dormitory  =  dirty room Presbyterian  =  best in prayer astronomer  =  moon starer the eyes  =  they see slot machines  =  cash lost in 'em snooze alarms  =  alas! no more z 's eleven plus two  =  twelve plus one election results  =  lies let's recount a decimal point  =  I'm a dot in place Babe Ruth  =  He rub bat. William Shakespeare  =  I am a weak speller. Theodore Roosevelt  =  svelte hero rode, too evangelist  =  evil's agent Claim, "Heck, I sent it! = the check is in the mail Attaineth its cause, freedom  =  United States of America desperation  =  a rope ends it The Morse Code  =  Here come dots Mother in Law  =  Woman Hitler circumstantial evidence  =  can ruin a selected victim a stitch in time saves nine  =  this is meant as incentive intoxicate  =  excitation Spoonerisms A reversal of sounds in two words. Named for William Spooner, an English clergyman and scholar, around 1900. American English has over 600,000 words (and growing), more words than any other language. Therefore, there's a greater chance that any accidental transposition of letters or syllables will produce rhyming substitutes that make some sense. Three cheers for our queer old dean! = dear old queen, referring to Queen Victoria Is it kisstomary to cuss the bride? = customary to kiss You were fighting a liar in the quadrangle. = lighting a fire Is the bean dizzy? = dean busy Someone is occupewing my pie. Please sew me to another sheet. = occupying my pew...show me to another seat You have hissed all my mystery lectures. You have tasted a whole worm. = missed...history, wasted...term A lack of pies = A pack of lies A blushing crow. = crushing blow A well boiled icicle = well oiled bicycle It's roaring with pain = It's pouring with rain Wave the sails = Save the whales cattle ships and bruisers = battle ships and cruisers nosey little cook = cosy little nook a blushing crow = a crushing blow we'll have the hags flung out = we'll have the flags hung out know your blows = blow your nose go and shake a tower = go and take a shower nicking your pose = picking your nose you have very mad banners = you have very bad manners sealing the hick = healing the sick go help me sod = so help me God bowel feast = foul beast I'm a damp stealer = I'm a stamp dealer chipping the flannel = flipping the channel on TV mad bunny = bad money lead of spite = speed of light this is the pun fart = this is the fun part I hit my bunny phone = I hit my funny bone cop porn = popcorn it crawls through the fax = it falls through the cracks would you like a nasal hut? = would you like a hazelnut? belly jeans = jelly beans fight in your race = right in your face Lexophile: one who loves sentence word play You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish. To write with a broken pencil is pointless. I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now. England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes. This girl said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I swear I've never met herbivore. I know a guy who's addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months. When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A. I got some batteries that were given out free of charge. A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail. A will is a dead giveaway. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress. Police were summoned to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest. A bicycle can't stand alone; it's just two tired. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine last week is now fully recovered. He had a photographic memory, but it was never fully developed. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye. Acupuncture is a jab well done. That's the point. I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me. Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils? When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble. When chemists die, they barium. I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me. I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.