Paraprosdokians
are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is
surprising or unexpected, and frequently humorous. (Winston Churchill loved
them). Instead of predictable words we might tune out, they snap us awake and make us sit up to take notice.
There
are plenty, and here are several fun examples:
Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
Or, If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. Check out https://www.englishforums.com/content/humour/paraprosdokians.htm for more.
Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
Or, If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. Check out https://www.englishforums.com/content/humour/paraprosdokians.htm for more.
Comics
and satirists make good use of these. Here are a few fun ones. The first two
are probably familiar:
1.
I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not
screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
2.
Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than
standing in a garage makes you a car.
3.
I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So
I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
4.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level
and beat you with experience.
If
you know other great examples, please share them, and join our crusade to make
spoken and written English, crisp, clear, sparkling, fresh, inspiring, and
delicious, so that whether we’re reading, or having good conversations, our words
taken in and given out are like breaking bread together to be nourished. Basically,
at their best, excellent shared words are communion.
Please
tell us your favorites. Beautiful words shared during cold seasons (or anytime) help our steady
advance towards spring when bright flowers arrive to do their job.
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