Saturday, August 13, 2011

Paraprosdokian - fun with word play

Do you love the English language? It so much fun to play around with. Word-play can be a delightful way to pass the time and it keeps your mind very active. The more an individual does word-play the easier it becomes and much to your delight you find yourself doing it all the time, especially as you listen to the conversations going on around you. Those who love puns will pepper their language and/or responses with puns. It just happens.

So you can imagine my delight when I came across a new way of thinking called Paraprosdokians. On some rare occasions I have heard them, but thought that the individual was just being “clever” without really appreciating what they were doing with the English language.
I’m wondering what paraprosdokian that you could come up with. If you do will you share them with me?
PARAPROSDOKIANS

I had to look up "paraprosdokian". Here is the definition:
"Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."
"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.

Ok, so now let's enjoy a few PARAPROSDOKIANS!

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

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

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

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a workstation.

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