Theophilus Thistle

Theophilus Thistle is the title of a famous tongue-twister, of which there are multiple versions.

One version reads as:

:"Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter":"In sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles,":"Thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb.":"If Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter,":"Can thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb,":"See thou, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles,":"Thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb." [cite web | url=http://www.sakara.net/Twisters.html | title=Twisters | publisher=sakara.com | accessdate=2007-11-22 ]

While the other version reads:

:"Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter,":"Sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles.":"If Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter,":"Sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles,":"Where is the sieve of un-sifted thistles":"Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, sifted?" [cite web | url=http://www.inheritage.org/mgt/minor/eightdisks.htm | title=Eight of Disks| publisher=inheritage.org | accessdate=2007-11-22 ]

This tongue twister has been included in many tongue twister books and lessons, particularly in helping children and others with speech impediments to correctly pronounce the forward "th" and "s" sounds.

References