The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #142677   Message #3290832
Posted By: Will Fly
15-Jan-12 - 06:08 AM
Thread Name: Ever play 'Tom Swifty'?
Subject: Folklore: Ever play 'Tom Swifty'?
One of the teenage bits of silliness we used to indulge in at my school, over 50 years ago, was a game called "Tom Swifty" or "Tom Swifties". Named after a fictional character called Tom Swift, the idea was to invent a short statement by Tom which always ended with an adverb. The adverb described both the manner in which Tom said the statement - and the content of the statement.

Some examples make it clear:

"I've just broken my leg", said Tom lamely.

"Here comes the winner!" said Tom rapidly.

"All my hair's fallen out", said Tom baldly.

And so on...