Meaning of Ringoism | Babel Free

Definitions

A term to describe accidental, unusual, or poetic malapropisms, especially those said by Beatle Ringo Starr.

Examples

“I had used it in In His Own Write, but it was an off-the-cuff remark by Ringo Starr, one of those malapropisms – a Ringoism – said not to be funny, just said. So Dick Leser said, ‘We are going to use that title,’ and the next morning I brought in the song. — John Lennon”

“"Eight Days a Week" offers yet another example of a purported “Ringoism.” Credited as the originator of various malapropisms like some kind of rock ’n’ roll Yogi Berra. ... his well-known—and correctly attributed—title for Revolver’s “Tomorrow Never Knows” has promoted his biographers to toast him as pop music’s King Malaprop with broad, uncritical strokes ...”

“Ringo is talking about their having yet another ‘hard day’s night’. ‘What does that mean?’ a young woman asks. ‘It’s a Ringoism,’ John explains, ‘said not to be funny, just said.”

“The title is a classic “Ringoism,” as John Lennon used to refer to his malapropisms, an unusual phrase ripped from the same mind that came up with “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Assigning profundity to it came later.”

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