When a TV character says something so wildly outlandish that you’re hustling for your Dictionary.com app to see if that’s really a word, let’s just say we’re solid fans of the act.
It turns out we’re not exactly alone. Some of television’s most lovable characters (and a few unlovable ones too) are known to trip over their tongues.
Sometimes, it’s an accident. Other times, well, let’s just say these characters could use some screen time with Dictionary.com themselves. So, put your Netflix on pause for a few minutes and dive into some of the biggest word offenders on the small screen.
Nell Crain
The Netflix hit The Haunting of Hill House served up a recent favorite thanks to little Nellie Crain. As a young girl, she called the types of puffy envelopes sent to Santa puffalopes, thanks to her mom, who told her the puffier envelope would keep the letters from getting cold.
Joey Tribbiani
He’s the kind of guy who’ll always ask “how you doin’,” and he’s also a huge Thesaurus.com fan (or so we hear). But, you might want to hold off on asking Friends‘ Joey to help you study for the SAT.
After all, he’s the guy who taught the world about the, ahem, moo point. Confused? We’ll let Joey explain this one.
Don’t worry.
We call it a moot point too.
Buffy Summers
Buffy slays vampires. It’s right there in the title of her show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Then again, she also thinks that carpe diem means “fish of the day.” Sounds like a meal worth seizing, huh?
Eleanor Shellstrop
OK, we know that The Good Place has rules about what you can and can’t say because, well, not to spoil anything here (and don’t worry, we aren’t), but it’s the good place! But, when Eleanor Shellstrop just can’t help but try to drop a few f-bombs, the results tend to be hilarious. Holy forking shirtballs, anyone?
Andy Dwyer
You can count on Andy Dwyer for many things, from writing perfect send-off songs for mini horses to forcing April Ludgate to crack a smile. Everyone’s favorite Parks and Recreation shoe shiner is also a master of malapropisms. Take his mangling of the old saying, the show must go on, for example. Or, as Andy says it:
Michael Scott
The Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Inc. (ahem, The Office) Michael Scott always has plenty to say, with most of it not making much sense.
Case in point: “I’m not superstitious, just a little stitious.”
Glad that is cleared up.
Blanche Devereaux
The Golden Girls was well ahead of its time for the 1980s, but that doesn’t mean they always had a handle on the English language. Blanche Devereaux, in particular, was known to get a little confused. Take the time she thought a lesbian was someone from Lebanon.
Ralph Wiggum
Poor Ralph Wiggum. That silly little character from The Simpsons tends to mix his words up whenever he speaks. Case in point: that time he shared, “I wet my armpits.”
Cosmo Kramer
Oh, Kramer. How we love your odd innuendos on Seinfeld, including giddyup when you mean it’s all good or answering the phone with go instead of hello.
Kelly Bundy
The blonde-haired Kelly Bundy from Married with Children tries to set the record straight about certain stereotypes, too bad she gets it completely wrong:
“They say all blondes are dumb. But that’s just a stereo system.”
Liz Lemon
Sure, Liz from 30 Rock tries to offer comfort when someone is down, but she doesn’t always know what to say once tears are shed. For example: “don’t be cry.”
Sorry, Liz. Can you repeat that?
Richard “Ricky” LaFleur
Try as hard as he might to express himself, speaking can be hard for Trailer Park Boys‘ Ricky. But, worst case Ontario is really, well, the worst scenario of them all.
Tobias Fünke
We can always count on something bizarre coming out of Arrested Development’s Tobias Fünke, especially when his reference to the Blue Man Group turns into something dirty: “I’m afraid I just blue myself.”
Karen Walker
Everyone has regrets after a breakup. Just ask Karen Walker from Will & Grace: “I regret the day I ever laid boobs on that man!” Boobs, eyes, it’s all the same.
