One of the doctors I work with was telling us about his time in school in Louisiana. Â While on a gynocology rotation, he was often amused by some of the phrases women used for their conditions. Â For instance, instead of uterine fibriods, a woman said she had fireballs in her eucharist. Â I know that there are a lot of compilations of medical slang used in hospitals, but I hadn't thought about the misnomers patients often use for medical procedures or conditions. Â Does anyone else have any good examples of this?
Hi CSMIS, and welcome to the forum. Most of these are simple mis-hearings of terms people should know. Here's a few examples I've seen:
loose vowels
very close veins
growing pains (although this one can sometimes be a metaphor)
mislocated hip/shoulder/etc.
And so it goes. Almost makes you think nobody reads anymore, and just writes what they think they hear.
Some of the sickest people stay "in tents of care."
More mondegreens!
csims said:
One of the doctors I work with was telling us about his time in school in Louisiana. Â While on a gynocology rotation, he was often amused by some of the phrases women used for their conditions. Â For instance, instead of uterine fibriods, a woman said she had fireballs in her eucharist. Â I know that there are a lot of compilations of medical slang used in hospitals, but I hadn't thought about the misnomers patients often use for medical procedures or conditions. Â Does anyone else have any good examples of this?
llsmith29 said:
OMG, I love this-- "fireballs in her eucharist." I am an Episcopal priest, and we celebrate the Eucharist (Holy Communion) every Sunday. I find this malapropism one of the best I've ever heard.