Tom Swifties
A Tom Swifty is a quip in which an adverb (or sometimes a verb) puns on what has just been said. The name comes from the Tom Swift adventure novels, whose author was fond of lively dialogue tags - so the original joke runs: "We must hurry," said Tom swiftly.
The fun lies in the match between the quotation and the way it is delivered: "Pass me the shellfish," said Tom crabbily. This collection gathers classic adverb Swifties and a few verb-based ones, each with a note on the pun at its heart.
22 entries in this category
Classic Adverbs
15The original pun that named the form: "swiftly" nods to the hero Tom Swift and to hurrying.
Lacking a daisy - the adverb hides "lack a daisy".
A crab is shellfish, and "crabbily" means grumpily.
Crossing out and being cross both live in "crossly".
No power, and feeling powerless.
No hearts in the hand, and acting heartless.
Bumps on the head, and "bumptious" means arrogant.
A fleet of ships, and "fleetingly" means briefly.
Grave as in soil and digging, and grave as in serious.
Bailing water, echoed by "balefully".
Lumber from trees, and a lumbering, heavy manner.
Boring through rock, and being boring to listen to.
The chill of a dying fire, and a cold manner.
Full of words, and tediously wordy.
A dead-pan tone that hints at "dead".
Verb Swifties
7A crest (of toothpaste) has fallen, and crestfallen means dejected.
Cool, despite the demand for heat.
Water gushes, and to gush is to speak with enthusiasm.
A breeze through the window, and breezing in cheerfully.
Knitting needles, and needling means teasing.
A spirit, said with spirit.
Without a concert or a hymn, and disconcerted.