picture-skew

English

Etymology

A deliberately mispronounced respelling of picturesque, for humorous effect.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪkt͡ʃəˌskjuː/

Adjective

picture-skew (not comparable)

1. (humorous) Alternative form of picturesque
   • 1926: Florence Nelson & C F Scheer, Safety education (Education Division, National Safety Council), page 22:

     However, in a broad-brimmed hat
     

     And frilly dress, she figured that
     

     She looked quite sweet and picture-skew,
     

     When seated in a green canoe.

   • 1943: James Styles, The Soul of the Universe, and Other Poems (New Method Ptg. Co.), page 12:

     This was their first trip on this road.
     

     That they were thrilled, their faces showed.
     

     One of them oft admired the view,
     

     Exclaiming, “Ain’t that picture-skew”!

   • 1945: New statesman: The Week-end Review (Statesman and Nation Publishing), page 31:

     Cheap-looking, true — but picture-skew — my Kots will stretch for miles […]

   • 1958, George Smith, The Cornhill Magazine, volume 170, numbers 1015-1020, Smith, Elder and co, page 333:

     ^{1} “ […] I thought it was out of date to like things to be picture-skew,” Peter said, […]
     ^{2} Picture-skew; a bit of tout droit; carry on, Jeeves; the horrible puns […]

   • 2005, Philip Hart, The Flight of the Mystic Owls, Kessinger Publishing, page 184:

     “ […] We’ll get the elk and the deer and the rocks in our own picture-skew way, won’t we, Ron?”
     
     “If you mean ‘picturesque’ I’d say that you are quite right. […] ”

See also

• eggcorn
• malapropism
• mondegreen