eg. idle eyes - idolize

[ctanderson]

what is it called when 2 words of meanings when put together sound like 1 word with it's own meaning? ie. idle eyes - idolize. the interesting part is that idle eyes on it's own makes sense. need some help please.

thanks

[RonBee]

Perhaps it's a type of homophone.

(its own)

~R

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by ctanderson

what is it called when 2 words of meanings when put together sound like 1 word with it's own meaning? ie. idle eyes - idolize. the interesting part is that idle eyes on it's own makes sense. need some help please.

thanks

In some cases, it is a mondegreen:

mon·de·green (mŏn'də-grēn', môn'-)
n.
A series of words that result from the mishearing or misinterpretation of a statement or song lyric. For example, I led the pigeons to the flag for I pledge allegiance to the flag.
[After (Lady) Mondegreen, a misinterpretation of the line (hae laid) him on the green, from the song “The Bonny Earl of Murray”.]


The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.