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#203583 - 11/30/11 10:52 PM Mixed metaphors--or something
Jackie Offline
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Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 11577
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
I just have to tell y'all this. At Advent Study tonight, one lady was trying to tell a story, and I never heard her point because she said, "...and So-and-so was killed by the cornfield, you know". My friend and I looked at each other for a couple of seconds, then burst out laughing; and then everyone else did, too. The would-be storyteller never did get to finish.

Later on I sent my friend an e-mail, and ended it with Beware of murderous cornfields.

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#203587 - 12/01/11 10:10 AM Re: Mixed metaphors--or something [Re: Jackie]
LukeJavan8 Offline
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Registered: 06/23/08
Posts: 5266
Loc: Land of the Flat Water
confused
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----please, draw me a sheep----

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#203593 - 12/01/11 04:44 PM and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: LukeJavan8]
wofahulicodoc Offline
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Registered: 08/06/01
Posts: 3772
Loc: Worcester, MA

Magistrate: ...so during the fight, you hit the man in the excitement?

Defendant: No, You Honor, I hit him in the stomach.

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#203596 - 12/01/11 08:46 PM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Jackie]
Avy Offline
old hand

Registered: 06/23/00
Posts: 724
I think it is a unintended zeugma.

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#203599 - 12/01/11 08:53 PM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Avy]
Jackie Offline
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Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 11577
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
Avy!! That is just the word I've been trying to remember! Thank you! [blowing kiss e]

Luke--I thought it was so funny because it could have been interpreted as her saying the cornfield up and killed someone, although we were all sure that she intended the meaning of beside.
I said, "Yes, the corn slowly rose up and walked on its roots", as I walked my fingers across the table.

I hit him in the stomach. laugh

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#203601 - 12/01/11 10:26 PM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Jackie]
Faldage Offline
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Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13653
Zeugma is more when a word is used in two different ways in the same sentence. In this instance something like: So and so was killed by the cornfield and a hunter. In this case it's just a poorly chosen preposition causing ambiguity that was jumped on by a couple of wise guys.

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#203602 - 12/02/11 08:52 AM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Faldage]
Avy Offline
old hand

Registered: 06/23/00
Posts: 724
Yeah it is not a zeugma. "I should have caught my mistake and my stupidity." Uf! Rhetorical devices are fascinating but not easy.

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#203610 - 12/02/11 10:41 PM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Faldage]
Jackie Offline
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Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 11577
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
'Scuse me--I have never been a guy and never will be a guy! laugh

Thank y'all for the clarification, though.

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#203618 - 12/03/11 07:56 AM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Faldage]
BranShea Offline
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Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 5246
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
As 'zeug' means 'sow' in this little part of the world, zeugma has a double meaning to me. Weird words. smirk

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#203620 - 12/03/11 08:09 AM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Jackie]
Faldage Offline
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Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13653
Originally Posted By: Jackie
'Scuse me--I have never been a guy and never will be a guy! laugh

Thank y'all for the clarification, though.


For certain restricted values of "guy".

Note: I originally had a less family-friendly word that I replaced with guy.

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#203635 - 12/03/11 10:03 PM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Jackie]
Jackie Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 11577
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
Well, for the record, I ain't always wise, either.

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#203638 - 12/04/11 06:36 AM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Jackie]
Faldage Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13653
"Wise guy", a phrase totally unrelated to the sum of its parts.

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#203640 - 12/04/11 10:40 AM Re: and along the same lines is the Oldie-but-Goodie.. [Re: Jackie]
Buffalo Shrdlu Offline
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Registered: 06/24/02
Posts: 7184
Loc: Vermont
and I was looking for an eggcorn.
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