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Old 25-Nov-2006, 20:32
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Default eg. idle eyes - idolize

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.

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Old 25-Nov-2006, 20:43
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Default Re: eg. idle eyes - idolize

Perhaps it's a type of homophone.

(its own)

~R
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Old 25-Nov-2006, 21:53
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Default Re: eg. idle eyes - idolize

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Originally Posted by ctanderson View Post
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.
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