Over here at this great writing blog, Storyfix, Larry Brooks taught me something new and then made me laugh a whole lotta times.
Do you know what a paraprosdokian is?
Can you close your eyes and spell it?
If you're anything like I was, the answer is no on both counts.
But I'm here to enlighten you. To pay it forward. . .
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect.
For example:
– I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
– Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
– I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
– Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
– The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
– Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
– If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
– We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.
– War does not determine who is right — only who is left.
– Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
– The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
– Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening,’ and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
– To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
There are plenty more to chuckle over here if you're interested... http://storyfix.com/monday-musings-and-mundane-morning-munchies
Enjoy.
merlotmom
Do you know what a paraprosdokian is?
Can you close your eyes and spell it?
If you're anything like I was, the answer is no on both counts.
But I'm here to enlighten you. To pay it forward. . .
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect.
For example:
– I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
– Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
– I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
– Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
– The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
– Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
– If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
– We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.
– War does not determine who is right — only who is left.
– Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
– The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
– Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening,’ and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
– To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
There are plenty more to chuckle over here if you're interested... http://storyfix.com/monday-musings-and-mundane-morning-munchies
Enjoy.
merlotmom
