Another Figure of Speech
Some time ago I posted a series about figures of speech, which I invite you to check out if you like. Recently I ran into another figure of speech, called paraprosdokian. It’s Greek for something like “given against and alongside.”
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence is unexpected and oft times very humorous.
I got a list of them from a contributor to a motorcycle enthusiast list I belong to. (Thank you, Joe Dille, for sharing.) I’m sorry, I don’t know where he got the list.
Here are a few:
– If I had a dollar for every girl that found me unattractive, they’d eventually find me very attractive.
– A man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation toward the local swimming pool, so I gave him a glass of water.
– My wife and I were happy for twenty years; then we met.
– Hospitality is the art of making guests feel like they’re at home when you wish they were.
– Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
– He who laughs last thinks slowest.
– Women sometimes make fools of men, but most guys are the do-it-yourself type.
– If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
– Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.
– Money is the root of all wealth.
If you’re brave, see if you can think up a few and share in the comments.
PS. Wouldn’t you know, I just ran into an example of paraprosdokian in a comic, Moderately Confused by Jeff Stahler:
I don’t usually comment but these are some of my favorite things to read so thank you for posting this😊. This also proves that I DO read your posts!
“The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you, but it’s still on the list.”
“An apple a day keeps _anyone_ away if you throw it hard enough.”