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Paraprosdokians

Paraprosdokians!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian

A paraprosdokian (/pærəprɒsˈdoʊkiən/) is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, phrase, or larger discourse 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, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.[1] Some paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of an early phrase, but they also play on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a form of syllepsis.

5 favourites extracted from https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2017/02/08/if-youre-a-logophile-or-lexiphile-youll-like-paraprosdokians/#35b55a514c79

  • The batteries were given out free of charge.
  • You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.
  • He had a photographic memory; although it was never developed.
  • When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she would dye.
  • Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/paraprosdokian-40-funny-sentences-you-wont-expect.html

Paraprosdokians From Comedians

Henny Youngman’s famous joke “Take my wife – please!” is perhaps the most well-known example of a paraprosdokian in comedy. You expect that he’s using his wife as an example for a joke, but then indicates he wants you to literally take her away by adding the punchline “please!”

Check out these additional comedic paraprosdokian examples, and notice how they often use puns:

  • I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it. –Groucho Marx
  • He taught me housekeeping; when I divorce I keep the house. –Zsa Zsa Gabor
  • I haven’t slept for 10 days, because that would be too long. –Mitch Hedberg
  • Standing in the park today, I was wondering why a frisbee looks larger the closer it gets...then it hit me. –Stewart Francis
  • When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them. –Rodney Dangerfield
  • My husband can't stand to see trash and garbage lying around the house – he can't stand the competition. –Phyllis Diller
  • Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time. –George Carlin
  • There are three kinds of people in the world – those who can count, and those who can’t. –Unknown
  • I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world because they'd never expect it. –Jack Handey
  • The company accountant is shy and retiring. He's shy a quarter of a million dollars. That's why he's retiring. –Milton Berle
  • I’m a very tolerant man, except when it comes to holding a grudge. –Robin Williams
  • I saw a bank that said “24 Hour Banking,'”but I don't have that much time. –Stephen Wright
  • Always remember my grandfather’s last words: “A truck!” –Emo Phillips
  • Half of all marriages end in divorce—and then there are the really unhappy ones. –Joan Rivers

https://louisem.com/3951/paraprosdokians-social-media-quotes

He taught me housekeeping; when I divorce I keep the house

I haven’t slept for 10 days, because that would be too long

Standing in the park today, I was wondering why a frisbee looks larger the closer it gets...then it hit me

When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them

There are three kinds of people in the world – those who can count, and those who can’t

I’m a very tolerant man, except when it comes to holding a grudge

I saw a bank that said “24 Hour Banking,'”but I don't have that much time

The batteries were given out free of charge

Gravity is a contributing factor in 73 percent of all accidents involving falling objects

People say I'm indecisive, but I don't know about that

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car

Being smart is knowing how to get out of a tough situation. Being wise is not getting into it in the first place.

When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

Hospitality: making your guests feel like they’re at home, even if you wish they were.

I was going to give him a nasty look, but he already had one.

They said I could become anything. So I became a disappointment.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won’t expect it back.

Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.

I ate a clock yesterday, it was very time consuming.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

I sleep eight hours a day. And at least ten at night.

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Page last modified on October 10, 2021, at 01:18 PM