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I'm a librarian by day, a writer by night, and a reader and amateur photographer in between. I love to share books and other things that interest me. My own book - The Marshal Meets His Match - released January 2013. You can also find me at www.facebook.com/ClariDees

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Para... what?

Paraprosdokian. 
Yep. That's actually a word. And this is what it means.


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.


Did you get that? 
Yes? No?
Don't let the big word or the long explanation scare you because this is a very fun word. 
Don't believe me?
Check out some examples of Paraprosdokians.


"You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing—after they have tried everything else." —Winston Churchill


"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." —Groucho Marx


"She looks as though she's been poured into her clothes, and forgot to say 'when'." —P. G. Wodehouse


"I like going to the park and watching the children run around because they don't know I'm using blanks." —Emo Philips


"I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long." —Mitch Hedberg



"She was good as cooks go, and as cooks go she went." —Saki

"I sleep eight hours a day and at least ten at night." —Bill Hicks

And now you know what a Paraprosdokian is. What about you? Do you have any Paraprosdokians to share?


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