Paraprosdokians

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.

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The company accountant is shy and retiring. He's shy a quarter of a million dollars. That's why he's retiring. - Milton Berle

The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread. - Unknown

The husband who doesn't tell his wife everything probably reasons that what she doesn't know won't hurt him. - Leo J. Burke

The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you. - Brendan Behan

The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents. - Nathaniel Borenstein

The older generation thought nothing of getting up at five every morning - and the younger generation doesn’t think much of it either. - John J. Welsh

The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too much trouble to put makeup on two faces. - Maureen Murphy

The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is the fact that it has never tried to contact us. - Unknown

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas! - Unknown

The wise never marry, and when they marry they become otherwise. - Unknown

There are no favourites in my office. I treat them all with the same general inconsideration. - Lyndon B. Johnson

There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. - Unknown

There’s only one way to have a happy marriage and as soon as I learn what it is I’ll get married again. - Clint Eastwood