Transpositional pun

A transpositional pun is a complicated pun

Pun

A pun, or paronomasia, is a form of word play that deliberately exploits ambiguity between similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect...

 format with two aspects. It involves transposing the words in a well-known phrase or saying to get a daffynition

Daffynition

A daffynition is a pun format involving the reinterpretation of an existing word, on the basis that it sounds like another word . They are similar to transpositional puns, but often much less complex and easier to create.Some daffynitions may be puns...

-like clever redefinition of a well-known word unrelated to the original phrase. The redefinition is thus the first aspect, the transposition the second aspect.

As a result, transpositional puns are considered among the most difficult to create, and commonly the most challenging to comprehend, particularly for non-native speakers of the language in which they're given (most commonly English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...

).

Examples

Pun	Original reference
Alimony Alimony Alimony, maintenance or spousal support is an obligation established by divorce law in many countries that is based on the premise that both spouses have an absolute obligation to support each other during the marriage unless they are legally separated... : The bounty of mutiny.	The Mutiny on the Bounty Mutiny on the Bounty The mutiny on the Bounty occurred aboard a British Royal Navy ship on 28 April 1789, and has been commemorated by several books, films, and popular songs, many of which take considerable liberties with the facts. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the commanding officer, William Bligh... .
Dieting Dieting Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases the goal is weight loss in those who are overweight or obese, but some athletes aspire to gain weight... : A waist is a terrible thing to mind.	"A mind is a terrible thing to waste", the motto Motto A motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used...  of the United Negro College Fund United Negro College Fund The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary... .
Hangover Hangover A hangover describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhea and thirst... s: The wrath of grapes.	The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. Set during the Great Depression, the novel focuses on a poor family of sharecroppers, the Joads, driven from their home by drought,...
Olympic Olympic Games The Olympic Games are a major international event of summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes compete in a wide variety of events. The Games are currently held every two years, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in...  officials: The souls that time men's tries.	Thomas Paine Thomas Paine Thomas Paine was an author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Born in England, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 in time to participate in the American Revolution... 's saying "These are the times that try men's souls".
The Oboe Oboe The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois", "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca... : An ill wind nobody blows good.	"'tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good".
Feudalism Feudalism Feudalism is a decentralized sociopolitical structure in which a weak monarchy attempts to control the lands of the realm through reciprocal agreements with regional leaders... : It's your count that votes!	"It's your vote that counts!"
Candidiasis Candidiasis Candidiasis or thrush is a fungal infection of any of the Candida species, of which Candida albicans is the most common. Candidiasis encompasses infections that range from superficial, such as oral thrush and vaginitis, to systemic and potentially life-threatening diseases... : The wicked itch of the yeast	"the wicked witch of the east" from The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz (adaptations) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
Tumours: All swell that end swell	"All's well that ends well"
Screaming Screaming A scream, shout, holler, vociferation, or yell is a loud vocalization in which air is passed through the vocal cords with greater force than is used in regular or close-distance vocalization... : Words speak louder than actions	"Actions speak louder than words"
Soldiers of fortune Soldiers of Fortune Soldiers of Fortune is an album by American southern rock band Outlaws, released in 1986. .-Track listing:#"One Last Ride" – 4:26#"Soldiers of Fortune" – 3:32... : Give Chance some peace	"Give peace a chance"