In grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a
compound word, now generally done for humorous effect
compound word, now generally done for humorous effect
by Teqcknologiqck June 20, 2003
The art of breaking one word into two parts, inserting a different word (often an expletive) in between those two parts, hence forth turning two different words into one in order to give extra emphasis
from Greek, a cutting, from temnein, to cut (see tem- in Indo-European roots)
from Greek, a cutting, from temnein, to cut (see tem- in Indo-European roots)
Examples of tmesis are found in the following, well-known quotes:
La-dee-freakin-da, a less offensive alternative, was made famous via Chris Farley on SNL.
Wel-diddly-elcome, one of many ri-goddamn-diculous phrases Ned Flanders often drops on the Simpsons.
Other famous phrases include:
Fan-fucking-tastic (The Departed)
Ala-fucking-bama (My Cousin Vinny)
Viet-fucking-nam! (Forrest Gump)
I'm not o-fucking-kay (My Chemical Romance)
That makes him a lia-fucking-bility (Boondock Saints), and
A whole 'nother' (insertion of "whole" into "another," rather than "a whole new")
La-dee-freakin-da, a less offensive alternative, was made famous via Chris Farley on SNL.
Wel-diddly-elcome, one of many ri-goddamn-diculous phrases Ned Flanders often drops on the Simpsons.
Other famous phrases include:
Fan-fucking-tastic (The Departed)
Ala-fucking-bama (My Cousin Vinny)
Viet-fucking-nam! (Forrest Gump)
I'm not o-fucking-kay (My Chemical Romance)
That makes him a lia-fucking-bility (Boondock Saints), and
A whole 'nother' (insertion of "whole" into "another," rather than "a whole new")
by Erkworm November 26, 2007