PARAPROSDOKIAN -- "Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation." "Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.
3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.
12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'
13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
Image: Conifers at the Castle; the burnside walk. October 2011.

7 comments:
I was fascinated by that picture, an idyllic path through nature (or at the edge of a garden?). And is that a monkey-puzzle I spy?
Your list was very funny—I am going to be passing it along. #2 reminded me of another classic: “If I want your opinion, I’ll beat it out of you.”
Also, #9 about plagiarism and research calls to mind Tom Lehrer’s twisted rhymes:
Plagiarize!
Let no one else's work evade your eyes,
Remember why the good lord made your eyes,
So don't shade your eyes,
But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize -
Only be sure always to call it please 'research'.
Thanks for the welcome humor break.
--Road to Parnassus
There is a monkey puzzle at the end of this walk, but I think the tree to which you refer is a larch - just turning. It is a beautiful walk, and looks like a fairy path from the other end.
Yes, time for a bit of humour, in this season of goodwill, and enough whingeing about Christmas trees. Whatever Christmas is, and Lord knows, it's many things to many people, those living in the gloom of winter need an excuse to let their hair down and have a bit of jolly!
Thank you fof this post. Most intriguing and interesting. I love etymology. It's from Greek "prosdokw" which means looking forward or waiting and hoping to happen. I wish I had a Greek keyboard on my mobile to write it down cause it's beautiful. Of course, "para" shows a contrast like in paramedics, paradox, parallel ...I will tweet this. Happy holidays
Glad you enjoyed them. My brother sent them - he was a Greek scholar - so he should have given me the helpful definition that you did! A second instalment tomorrow.
HI.LAR.IOUS!
Most amusing and enlightening. Jolly good!
PD & RD - delighted to spread a bit of happiness in this season of joy!
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