Random Thoughts
How can "fat" chance and "slim" chance be similar?
I read this very interesting sentence in TOI yesterday.It set me thinking about the underlying meaning......we generally use 'fat chance' to mean that the person or situation has very very less chance to be successful, while 'slim chance' is used to mean the exact same sentiment.....then why use diametrically opposite terms to mean the same thing.
The English language abounds with such treasures. We all know of various literary devices and keep on using them liberally in our conversations.Whether we do it appropriately or not is again another story.......our own regional languages are sometimes a barrier here and of course our brand of English- the Hinglish plays a decisive role. Interestingly all countries once ruled by the British or otherwise have come out with their own brand of English. In fact the official page of Oxford University Press comes out with new additions to the Enaglish language from different sources(including countries,etc) every year and it's incorporated in their Dictionary with source and root word.
A friend forwarded a nugget, worth sharing, about a little known device- Paraprosdokian
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous(Winston Churchill was a master in using this device and loved them).
1. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.But it's still on my list
3. Since light travels faster than sound,some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. To steal ideas from a person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
5. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
6. You are never too old to learn something stupid
7. I'm supposed to respect elders, but its getting harder and harder to find one now.
8. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target
9. Women can never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer belly and still think they are sexy
10. If I agreed with you we would both be wrong.
Readers, let's add some more,huh?
How can "fat" chance and "slim" chance be similar?
I read this very interesting sentence in TOI yesterday.It set me thinking about the underlying meaning......we generally use 'fat chance' to mean that the person or situation has very very less chance to be successful, while 'slim chance' is used to mean the exact same sentiment.....then why use diametrically opposite terms to mean the same thing.
The English language abounds with such treasures. We all know of various literary devices and keep on using them liberally in our conversations.Whether we do it appropriately or not is again another story.......our own regional languages are sometimes a barrier here and of course our brand of English- the Hinglish plays a decisive role. Interestingly all countries once ruled by the British or otherwise have come out with their own brand of English. In fact the official page of Oxford University Press comes out with new additions to the Enaglish language from different sources(including countries,etc) every year and it's incorporated in their Dictionary with source and root word.
A friend forwarded a nugget, worth sharing, about a little known device- Paraprosdokian
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous(Winston Churchill was a master in using this device and loved them).
1. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.But it's still on my list
3. Since light travels faster than sound,some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. To steal ideas from a person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
5. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
6. You are never too old to learn something stupid
7. I'm supposed to respect elders, but its getting harder and harder to find one now.
8. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target
9. Women can never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer belly and still think they are sexy
10. If I agreed with you we would both be wrong.
Readers, let's add some more,huh?
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