Here, the Spelling Bee references the dictionary definition of “humbug” when he calls the bug a fraud. Turning the Humbug into an actual bug is humorous; while people aren’t entirely sure where the term came from, most agree that it has nothing to do with bugs. It’s also ironic that the Humbug uses such flowery language to warn Milo away from learning, since the bug clearly values language and spelling. The Milo at the beginning of the novel didn’t care about learning and would certainly agree with the Humbug, so it creates a disconnect when he can’t understand what the Humbug is saying. Tock’s alarm clock reminds Milo that time is ticking—there’s more to see and do than get caught up in arguments between the Humbug and the Spelling Bee.