Brain Farts:

February 26, 2019 by Donna from MyOBT 10 Comments

It happens to me all the time that a word I use regularly disappears from my brain just when I need it. I find these disappearances maddening. They inevitably turn up later, but stubbornly refuse to be found when I need them. Today’s very funny thing is a Twitter thread about just that thing.

The thread was started by Paul Coxon, a University of Cambridge physicist, and it proves that these lapses of language can happen to even the best and brightest of us. Coxon shared with his Twitter followers that while talking with his colleagues, he forgot the word for photon, and instead called it a “shiny crumb.” He was a very good sport about it!

Let the hilarity ensue!

Haha my sympathies. Shiny crumb is a much better name for it. My 17yo forgot the word for “foal” in the summer and called it a “horse puppy” instead. I don’t think any one of us will ever use the word “foal” again…
— Mel clarke (@Bramptonmel) February 18, 2019

I forgot the word ‘articulate’ in an interview for a voluntary post and instead said ‘I’m good at saying things’. I am a criminal barrister
— Kathy Hirst (@kathy_hirst) February 18, 2019

Reminds me of my two year old daughter explaining a hot dog to me as a "meat pickle"
— Dr. Alistair Dove (@AlistairDove) February 18, 2019

One of my cleverest and most fabulous friends at university (now PhD in neuroscience) once forgot the word for what she wanted in a restaurant and tried to explain with “like a really REALLY wet salad”.

Soup.

She wanted soup.
— Wesley Mallin (@wesleymallin) February 18, 2019

My former boss once answered the phone "Columbus Zoo, this is Mary!" We worked at Zoo Knoxville. And his name was Kevin.
— Heather D (@becomingcliche) February 19, 2019

At least you didn't call it a Volvo.
— Heather D (@becomingcliche) February 19, 2019

Just today, couldn't think of Mount Rushmore. Called it "North Dakota, with the faces." I'm the history librarian.
— Sarah Hays (@sbhays27) February 20, 2019

My name is Ellen and at the age of 30 I forgot the word for bathroom and the best I could come up with was ‘bum kitchen’. Fortunately my now-husband immediately knew what I meant, and also didn’t immediately leave me
— Ellen Gallagher (@SylvesterPolone) February 20, 2019

During a lecture on the Mannheim Orchestra, I couldn’t remember the term “tremolo,” so I described the orchestra’s fondness for decorating passages with the “nervous chihuahua” effect.
— The Manga Critic (@manga_critic) February 19, 2019

Not in the same delightful league, but in the final throes of writing SATC, I forgot the word 'fork' while sitting in a restaurant. I asked a waiter for "one of the metal things with four stabby fingers". Obviously, he looked at me like I was insane 😂
— Laurie Winkless (@laurie_winkless) February 19, 2019

One of the guys I used to work with forgot the name for a tape measure – called it a "how far machine" – it's passed into everyday vocabulary now!
— susan long (@hardleygirl) February 20, 2019

I once asked for that thing that’s “more than air, less than blanket.”

A sheet.

I wanted a sheet.
— Kat C. (@CallMeKat13) February 21, 2019

A friend once brain-froze looking for Doppler effect and just said ‘bing bing bing beeww’
— Elsa (@elsabirch) February 18, 2019

Author: Donna from MyOBT

I have committed to spending part of every day looking for at least one beautiful thing, and sharing what I find with you lovelies!

10 thoughts on “Brain Farts:”

footloosedon
February 26, 2019 at 7:12 am

Hilarious, another gem. Thank you Donna for your commitment to sharing beauty in its many different forms.

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- Donna from MyOBT
  February 26, 2019 at 11:17 am
  
  How kind! Thank you! I love nothing as much as a good laugh. Glad to share it with you!
  
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Lisa
February 26, 2019 at 8:41 am

Oh. My. Goodness. I woke Ella up this morning reading this to her while I laughed out loud. She thinks I’m… what’s the word for that thing where they send you to a special hospital and tie your arms up?

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- Donna from MyOBT
  February 26, 2019 at 11:18 am
  
  Hahaha! Sorry Ella! I really enjoyed these, too. Miss you!
  
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bcparkison
February 26, 2019 at 9:00 am

Happens to all of us. some of these are pretty creative

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- Donna from MyOBT
  February 26, 2019 at 11:18 am
  
  They sure are!
  
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Kate
February 26, 2019 at 11:51 am

I have brain farts all the time. I only get as far as “thingy” most days…..not as amusing as “shiny” crumb.

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- Donna from MyOBT
  February 26, 2019 at 12:50 pm
  
  I resort to thingy, too. Also whasis, whoosey, and damnit-you-know-what-i-mean.
  
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Laura (PA Pict)
February 26, 2019 at 2:37 pm

These are not just hilarious but also comforting because it means greater minds than mine still struggle with the Swiss Cheese Brain effect. I often struggle for the right word for things because my brain goes to the Scots word and then translates into the British English and then has to fumble for the American English but by then it is too late and I just sound like I couldn’t think of a simple word. However, often it is not a “lost in translation” issue and is just that my brain is full of dust bunnies and potholes.

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- Donna from MyOBT
  February 26, 2019 at 3:25 pm
  
  At least you have an excuse! I assume whatever I’m looking for is in there somewhere, just misfiled or covered with glitter. Sheesh!
  
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