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Joined: Jun 2005
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1 |
I think I read a word in one of the A.Word.A.Day's and I have tried to search for it in the archives.
I haven't had any luck and now I wonder if indeed such a word exists.
I am looking for a somewhat elegant word for a person who always (and I mean ALWAYS) has to make a pun based on your pun thus somehow improving yours. They try and "top" you but not in an aggressive way, it just comes naturally.
My Dad always did it (he was a master punster) and now my brother does it.
The difference is, Dad was funny; my brother is NOT.
Have you the word I want?
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6 |
I don't know the word, but your query reminded me of something from My Education, A Book of Dreams by W. S. Burroughs: There is someone there who is a former student of Bill's. I manage to coax a reasonable group of shots out of him. Back to the house for a drink, and he turns out to be a topper: everything I say, he has to top it. Invites us for a gourmet meal in Kansas City. I hem and haw about consulting my schedule. This brings up the subject of food. I say, "Making curry, you season the curry a shade too hot, then smooth it out with fresh peaches or plums or honey."
"Oh yes," he says, "that's Sri Lanka curry."
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
jenifer I felt your query wasn't getting the attention it deserved, but OneLook has a "reverse dictionary" feature you might try; eg,
http://onelook.com/?w=*&loc=revfp2&clue=better+pun
dalehileman
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Joined: Jan 2002
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veteran
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veteran
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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>I am looking for a somewhat elegant word..
FF> ass
brilliant!
-ron irony
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
I am looking for a somewhat elegant word for a person who always (and I mean ALWAYS) has to make a pun based on your pun thus somehow improving yours. They try and "top" you but not in an aggressive way, it just comes naturally. You mean like Abbott and Costello or the Marx brothers in those old movies? The nearest I can think of is oneupmanship
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