Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#132932 09/11/04 03:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Reading the famous first lines has been fun. I began to wonder about famous one-word lines.

For instance, I love it in Romeo and Juliet when Tybalt, getting ready to use his sword, shouts this one-word, but meaningful line:

Fragment!

Probably these sort of one-word, one-liners don't come easily to mind, but our minds here are often easier than most. Not sure what I mean there.

Anyway, if you can think of famous one-word one-liners, it would be fun to read them--and please supply the context.


#132933 09/11/04 03:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Nuts!

Battle of the Bulge. Response of surrounded American General Anthony McAuliffe to the German suggestion that he surrender.

It may be a euphemism.


#132934 09/11/04 04:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
"Rosebud."


#132935 09/11/04 07:33 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
J
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
J
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
"Nevermore!" (quoth the Raven)

"Rien." (The King's comment in his diary, 14 July 1789)

And characteristic exclamations: "Inconceivable!" (the Sicilian, The Princess Bride), "Sapristi!" (Moriarty, The Goon Show), "D'oh!" (Homer Simpson), "Caramba!" (Gomez Addams), probably could be extended endlessly.


#132936 09/11/04 10:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
This comes to me through a good friend:

"Having subdued (or formed alliances with) all of the other major Greek city-states, Philip II (the father of Alexander the Great) finally turned his attention to Lacedaemon, home of the recalcitrant Spartans (from whom the word 'laconic' derives). "You are advised," he warned, "to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city." Philip soon received the enemy's reply: 'If.' "



#132937 09/11/04 10:40 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230

#132938 09/12/04 12:51 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 86
T
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
T
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 86
IF

"IF" is indeed laconic.

And "IF" is also the title of a poem by Rudyard Kipling ... who also gave us "Nevermore!" [with a tip of the hat to Jenet].

http://www.swarthmore.edu/~apreset1/docs/if.html


#132939 09/12/04 11:37 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Stella !!!

(A Streetcar Named Desire)

Adrian !!!

(Rocky)


#132940 09/13/04 08:00 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296



#132941 09/13/04 11:40 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 72
C
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
C
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 72
Newman! - Seinfeld


Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,318
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 775 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,535
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5