Daffynition

A daffynition (portmanteau of daffy and definition) is a pun format involving the reinterpretation of an existing word, on the basis that it sounds like another word (or group of words). They are similar to transpositional puns, but often much less complex and easier to create. Some daffynitions may be puns. For example, "raisins are the wrath of grapes" is a play on the title of the book The Grapes of Wrath. A subclass of daffynition is the goofinition which relies strictly on literal associations and correct spellings, such as "lobster = a weak tennis player".

Under the name Uxbridge English Dictionary making up daffynitions is a popular game on the BBC Radio 4 comedy quiz show ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

Examples

• avoidable: What a bullfighter tries to do. (avoid-a-bull)
• buccaneer: too much to pay for corn ([a] buck an ear)
• dandelion: A fashionably dressed big cat (dandy lion)
• decadent: Possessing only ten teeth. (deca-dent)
• dilate: live long (die late)
• fortunate: Consumption of an expensive meal. (fortune-ate)
• impolite: A flaming elf. (imp-alight)
• indistinct: where one places dirty dishes (indistinct/in the sink)
• innuendoes: Italian suppositories. (in-you-end-os)
• isolate: Me not on time. (I-(am)-so-late)
• legend: A foot. (leg-end)
• oboe: An English tramp. (hobo)
• paradox: Two doctors. (pair of docs) OR Where one ties two boats. (Pair of docks)
• protein: In favour of youth. (pro-teen)
• propaganda: A gentlemanly goose. (proper gander)
• quack doctor: One who "ducks" the law.
• relief: What trees do in Spring. (re-leaf)

External links

• Daffynitions (Funny Definitions)
• The Odford English Dictionary (Daffynitions)
• Daffynitions
• Goofinitions