A paraprosdokian (from Greek,
meaning "beyond" and "expectation") 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, sometimes
producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among
comedians and satirists.
Some
paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of an early phrase, but also play
on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a syllepsis.
If only God
would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a
Swiss bank. - Woody Allen
If there is no light at the end of
the tunnel, you’re in a cave. Turn around. - Unknown
If you are not part of the
solution, you are part of the precipitate. - Unknown
If you can’t
beat them, arrange to have them beaten. - George
Carlin
If you must
choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before. - Steven Wright
If you need to climb
high, make sure you have a mental safety net in place. If you happen to fall,
at least you will not go insane. - Unknown
If you think about it, marriage is
the main cause of divorce. - Unknown
I'm a nobody,
nobody is perfect, therefore I'm perfect. - Unknown
I'm an excellent
housekeeper. Every time I get a divorce, I keep the house. - Zsa Zsa Gabor
I'm living so
far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. - E. E. Cummings
In spite of the cost of living,
it’s still popular. - Laurence Peter
Is there anything worn under the
kilt? No, it’s all in perfect working order. - Spike Milligan
It does not matter you win or
lose; what matters is whether I win or lose. - Darrin Weinberg
It is
absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or
tedious. - Oscar Wilde
I've got a firm
policy on gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be the one
controlling it. - Clint Eastwood
Know yourself. Don’t accept your
dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. - Ann Landers
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