annals of aw-vs-or

Earlier, I spoke of how I mistook the word Stornton for Staunton in a television show, and then about encountering Law and Lore as homophones. Here's another. In the final Dalziel & Pascoe episode I would have sworn the museum director said "Anna spent the rest of the evening pawing over the drawings." Given the context (priceless 17th century sketches) and the depicted action (an expert with a magnifying glass) I'm sure he meant "poring" over them, but even at the fourth replay, I can't hear that. I'm just sure that's what he meant.