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Posted By: Jackie Mixed metaphors--or something - 12/01/11 03:52 AM
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.
Posted By: LukeJavan8 Re: Mixed metaphors--or something - 12/01/11 03:10 PM
confused

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

Defendant: No, You Honor, I hit him in the stomach.
I think it is a unintended zeugma.
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
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.
Yeah it is not a zeugma. "I should have caught my mistake and my stupidity." Uf! Rhetorical devices are fascinating but not easy.
'Scuse me--I have never been a guy and never will be a guy! laugh

Thank y'all for the clarification, though.
As 'zeug' means 'sow' in this little part of the world, zeugma has a double meaning to me. Weird words. smirk
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.
Well, for the record, I ain't always wise, either.
"Wise guy", a phrase totally unrelated to the sum of its parts.
and I was looking for an eggcorn.
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