crash blossom

noun

1. an ambiguously worded headline whose meaning can be interpreted in the wrong way, as “Missing Woman Remains Found.” garden-path.

Word History and Origins

Origin of crash blossom¹

First recorded in 2009; from “Violinist Linked to JAL Crash Blossoms,” misleading headline of article about successful violinist whose father died years before in plane crash

Example Sentences

"Brogrammer," a macho man who works in computer programming, and "crash blossom," a cringe-worthy headline, also made the cut. 

From US News

Crash blossom: an ambiguously worded headline whose meaning can be interpreted in the wrong way, as “Missing Woman Remains Found.”

From US News