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Language Log » Blunt instrument

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When I was going through the TSA checkpoint in Philadelphia at the beginning of this run down the Mississippi, something very unfortunate happened. The TSA agent who was going through my carry-on belongings approached me and said, "Is this your stick?" "Yes, sir," I replied. "I have a problem with your stick," he said. "What's wrong with it?", I asked him. "It's a blunt instrument." "It's my walking stick," I said. "You can't fly with this stick," he insisted. "It's a blunt instrument." "But, sir, I've flown with it dozens of times, often right through Philadelphia, through this very checkpoint." "Well, I'm telling you it's a blunt instrument, and I have an issue with it. You can't fly with this stick." he said, glaring at me with hostility. "Let me speak to your supervisor." Whereupon he took me to the platform at the end of the line. I repeated the whole story about how I'd been through that very checkpoint with the same walking stick many times. I told the supervisor that the st

Language Log >> Blunt instrument Language Log Home About Comments policy Blunt instrument June 19, 2025 @ 5:38 am &#183; Filed by Victor Mair under Language and travel , Semantics << Eggcorn of the month | Tukey's birthday >> --> << previous post | next post >> When I was going through the TSA checkpoint in Philadelphia at the beginning of this run down the Mississippi, something very unfortunate happened. The TSA agent who was going through my carry-on belongings approached me and said, "Is this your stick?" "Yes, sir," I replied. "I have a problem with your stick," he said. "What's wrong wit

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