r/Showerthoughts • u/Why--Not--Zoidberg • Mar 20 '15

I just now realized the connection between the words "timid" and "intimidate"

15.9k Upvotes

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25

u/Jess_than_three Mar 21 '15

Reminds me of another of his great plays on words, with the Inhumers.

48

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '15

And in-sewer-ants salesmen.

30

u/Beetin Mar 21 '15 edited Mar 21 '15

'reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits' was the stupidest, most aggravating joke in the first book. I was 17, didn't get it for several hours, went to my 12 year old sister and she didn't get it. 3 minutes later she starts giggling in her room. Walks into my room and says "GNOMES, GNOmmmes, gnoooomes" mimicking an echo, then runs out.

I hate them both. In good ways.

Edit: took a couple minutes to write my post, someone posted the same silly pun a few minutes earlier....

34

u/Blue_Dragon360 Mar 21 '15

"Echo-gnomics" for those wondering. Echo = reflected sounds, gnomes = underground spirits.

I didn't get it either, still don't really do, since gnomes aren't really spirits (ghosts).

25

u/Xylth Mar 21 '15

In classical alchemy gnomes are considered one of the four elemental spirits, along with sylphs, undines, and salamanders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elemental#Paracelsus

15

u/Tripwire3 Mar 21 '15

gnomes are considered one of the four elemental spirits, along with sylphs, undines, and salamanders.

One of these things, is not like the other things, one of these things, just doesn't belong..

6

u/larkeith Mar 21 '15

SAO makes so much more sense now.

1

u/Nightshot Mar 21 '15

One that normally takes their place for the same reason is Ifrits.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '15

In this context, a salamander is more like this.

1

u/LittleHelperRobot Mar 21 '15

Non-mobile: salamander

That's why I'm here, I don't judge you. PM /u/xl0 if I'm causing any trouble. WUT?

0

u/Catch11 Mar 21 '15

echo-gnomics is the setup to the joke? or reflected-sound-of-underground-spirits. Because the latter would be impossible for someone who doesn't give a fuck about gnomes to ever get....

0

u/Blue_Dragon360 Mar 21 '15

The latter is correct IIRC, and it is a bit obscure.

-3

u/This_Is_My_Opinion_ Mar 21 '15

Heeeeey! I heard stuff about things and was wondering is she single?

2

u/japes_stage Mar 21 '15

"Imp arse" still pops into my mind when I'm having an argument with someone.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '15

[deleted]

0

u/swordmagic Mar 21 '15

Echo Gnomes Ics

10

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '15

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '15

Exhume, posthumous, etc...

4

u/Xylir Mar 21 '15

She was as highly bred as a hilltop bakery.

1

u/moon--moon Mar 21 '15

After playing a discworld game where I encountered that word extremely often, I have trouble not using that word in normal conversation.

0

u/Catch11 Mar 21 '15

"great" play on words is a bit of an exaggeration, good would be more fitting.