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I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat
I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!
I am a good example of something that is wrong
I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

What am I?

Clue 1

Because I am not real it is difficult to say
exactly what I am, although a certain Dr Hay
would tell you I'm no good because my two ingredients
should never mix together if you have any sense.

Clue 2

The best hint I can give you, without my being rude
is tell you to work backwards, because I'm not a literal food!
I certainly sound food-like, and I mentioned speech and song
If you think about those lines you'll have the answer before long!

Clue 3

I'm very disappointed that you need another clue
You really should just have a try, display some "daring do"!
So if perhaps you're biting time, afraid, or feeling flustered
Please, submit your best attempt, it might just pass mustard!

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9
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    $\begingroup$ Is the answer a single word or more than a word? $\endgroup$
    – Mea Culpa Nay
    May 10, 2018 at 15:54
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    $\begingroup$ There's some food for thought. $\endgroup$
    – Ian MacDonald
    May 10, 2018 at 16:36
  • $\begingroup$ If music be the food of love... $\endgroup$
    – jsm
    May 11, 2018 at 11:23
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    $\begingroup$ @Astralbee the phrase is typically spelled "derring-do" - is your spelling intentional? EDIT: Same with "biting time", the normal phrase is "biding time". $\endgroup$
    – CaptainPlanet
    May 15, 2018 at 18:09
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    $\begingroup$ @CaptainPlanet You might be onto something there. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 16, 2018 at 9:11

8 Answers 8

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I think you're an:

eggcorn

Definition: a word or phrase that results from a mishearing or misinterpretation of another, an element of the original being substituted for one that sounds very similar or identical (e.g. tow the line instead of toe the line)

I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat

egg and corn are foods, but an eggcorn is not food

I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!

An eggcorn is a made-up alternative to the real word(s)
Also, an eggcorn isn't a real food, but an acorn is ('eggcorn' being an eggcorn for 'acorn')

I am a good example of something that is wrong

It's an incorrectly heard word or phrase

I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

I guess because of how common 'mondegreens' are, which I thought could be the answer, but 'eggcorn' is more food-like

Clue 1:

All about food-combining, so again, egg + corn

Clue 2:

Similar to the original responses: sounds like food, heard in speech/song, etc.

Clue 3:

Several examples of eggcorns:
"daring do" vs "derring-do"
"biting time" vs "biding time"
"pass mustard" vs "pass muster" or "cut the mustard"

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  • $\begingroup$ Congratulations! $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 16, 2018 at 17:43
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    $\begingroup$ @Astralbee Thanks! Sorry, it really just wasn't clicking until that last clue, then it all made sense. I enjoyed it though, thank you! $\endgroup$
    – hagfy
    May 17, 2018 at 12:16
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I'm thinking

Accent

I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat

"Ac'cent" is the brand name of monosodium glutamate (MSG) - an ingredient in food that you wouldn't find/eat on its own.

I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!

People who speak with accents don't notice their accent, while others not native to the region do

I am a good example of something that is wrong

An accent, or accentus, is a type of logical fallacy

I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

Accents exist "in the speech of some", but are common in music

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    $\begingroup$ Sadly incorrect but excellent reasoning. Nobody is going to guess it from only the first two lines. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 11, 2018 at 8:44
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Definitely a stretch, but for any Futurama fan...

It could be Slurm!
Here's a link with more info about it. http://futurama.wikia.com/wiki/Slurm

I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat

Of course we can't find it because it's fictional, but even if it were real, I would never eat secretion from the anus of the Wormulon Queen

I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!

It doesn't really exist, but does exist in a fictional show

I am a good example of something that is wrong

Slurm is a good representation of real world soft drinks and show how corporations promote them even though they're addictive and bad for you

I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

Slurm sounds like slur, which is something some people do when they talk, but usually slurring is intentionally done in songs.

I know it's probably not the answer, but still, food for thought ;-)
Also, the title says an "Imaginary Food" riddle.

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  • $\begingroup$ Good attempt, sadly incorrect. First clue has been added. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 11, 2018 at 13:45
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Well, I guess it is

Ambrosia

As,

It is a food of Gods, not us.

Also,

It can be heard/ read aloud, but not be seen.

It

exists, as a type of fungus, food for other living organisms in the food chain.

Not sure about the last part, though.

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  • $\begingroup$ Another good attempt, sadly incorrect. First clue has been added. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 11, 2018 at 13:45
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What about

A placebo

I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!

The placebo actually does not contain any active ingredient.

I am a good example of something that is wrong

Wrong in the sense of having no actual medicine even if advertised

I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

I don't get the speech part, but there is a band called placebo

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  • $\begingroup$ Another good attempt, sadly incorrect. First clue has been added. $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 11, 2018 at 13:45
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I believe the answer is the:

Coda

I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat

The word is similar to the fish Cod. You would never find the coda as it is not food, but the end of speech or piece of music.

I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!

In music, a coda isn't exact, but rather has an unspecified length. It could be a few bars or a whole part

I am a good example of something that is wrong

I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

The main reason I chose the coda in the first place. It is generally used more in music to conclude a piece or movement, but is sometimes mentioned in speech as the sound that follows the vowel in a syllable

Apologies if this is completely wrong, I'm not much of a music expert!

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Semi-baseless guess to hopefully spark others. Are you: Catch-Up?

EDIT: New Guess
Are you

Meter

I am a food you'd never find or certainly wouldn't eat

Starts with 'Meat'

I don't exist, and yet I do, now isn't that a feat!

The concept is of meter in poetry and in measurement is intangible. 'Feat' may also be a play on 'Feet' which relates to 'meter' both as a unit of length AND of verse cadence

I am a good example of something that is wrong

The meter of the riddle is wrong! The syllable count is (15-14-13-15), not to mention natural emphases.

I'm mentioned in the speech of some but more often heard in song.

'Meter' can be used for speech patterns (or when talking about distance), but mainly refers to cadence in poems and songs

Clue 2:
I certainly sound food-like, and I mentioned speech and song

'Meter' fits the bill here

Clue 3:
Please, submit your best attempt, it might just pass mustard!

...You put mustard on Meat?

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    $\begingroup$ Not correct, but very good thinking. Remember the rhyme, the correct answer is a good example of something that is wrong. You have an example of something wrong, but is it the best? $\endgroup$
    – Astralbee
    May 16, 2018 at 9:32
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Perhaps you are...

A clam?

Reasoning:

Clam is an out-of-tune note. It sounds like food but in the context of musical slang it’s a mistake.

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