With a curious slip of the tongue, the New Zealand minister to contain the corona pandemic, Chris Hipkins, caused a nationwide laugh. At a press conference, he said it was a challenge for citizens in densely populated areas to go out and “spread their legs” in the presence of others. A linguistic slip – the 42-year-old actually wanted to say “to stretch your feet”.
The nearby chief of health, Ashley Bloomfield, raised his eyebrows in amusement and grinned openly.
Background: In English, the terms “to stretch your legs” and “to spread your legs” sound very similar.
Hipkins noticed the mistake during the press conference and said at the end that he would now stretch his legs – the media would surely make fun of him soon.
The lapse quickly spread in the Pacific country on social networks. Under the hashtag #SpreadYourLegs, thousands of New Zealanders posted jokes about the breakdown and photos of them spreading their legs.
A company in Auckland was already selling a coffee mug with the slip of the tongue and the face of Chris Hipkins. (dpa)
I am a technology author with 8 years of experience in journalism. My writing covers the latest technology advancements and trends, drawing on my expertise in news journalism and social media platforms. I have contributed to major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Reuters.
