HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
← Back to search

Meaning of Tom Swifty | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B2
/ˌtɒm ˈswɪft.iː/

Definitions

A humorous phrase in which a supposed quotation is linked by a pun to the manner in which it is attributed.

Examples

“Since then the Tom Swifty has trudged on, not exactly swiftly but with an impressive staying power. You can find Web sites that list as many as nine hundred of them. As the above examples suggest, Tom Swifties are virtually never funny, but they illustrate an adverb-centered sin against writing.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See also

Learn this word in context

See Tom Swifty used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course