Tag Archives: tropes

Inter se pugnantia

Posted on August 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

Inter se pugnantia (in’-ter-say-pug-nan’-ti-a): Using direct address to reprove someone before an audience, pointing out the contradictions in that person’s character, often between what a person does and says.

You say you are a great negotiator, but as far as I can see after more than six months in office you have yet to “negotiate” anything. If you call jamming executive orders down peoples’ throats “negotiation” you’d probably call aiming a loaded gun at an unarmed person and demanding their agreement some kind of negotiation. Is that true?

People negotiate together–it is not a one-way street that only goes your way.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Intimation

Posted on August 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

Intimation: Hinting at a meaning but not stating it explicitly.

You know, avoiding bathing for too long can give a person fairly intense body odor.

When was the last time you took a shower?

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Isocolon

Posted on August 6, 2017 | Leave a comment

Isocolon (i-so-co’-lon): A series of similarly structured elements having the same length. A kind of parallelism.

He cheated. He lied. He protested. He appealed. He lost. He left. Thank God.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Kategoria

Posted on August 4, 2017 | Leave a comment

Kategoria (ka-te-go’-ri-a): Opening the secret wickedness of one’s adversary before his [or her] face.

I guess it’s hard to call it “secret wickedness.” Everybody knows that you are a liar.  You’ve told so many lies since you’ve been elected President that here may not be enough room in the history books for recounting them. From Australia to Russia, you’ve lied. From Mexico to Sweden, you’ve lied.  From nearly any Point A to any Point B on the map, you’ve lied.

What’s the point of all the lying? You haven’t gotten away with a single lie yet!

Try the truth and see what happens! Jail time? Massive fine? Impeachment?

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Litotes

Posted on August 3, 2017 | Leave a comment

Litotes (li-to’-tees): Deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite. The Ad Herennium author suggests litotes as a means of expressing modesty (downplaying one’s accomplishments) in order to gain the audience’s favor (establishing ethos).

I’m not he funniest person in the world, and I haven’t earned millions in Las Vegas. But, I can make you laugh so hard you’ll wet your pants. Are you ready?

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Martyria

Posted on August 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

Martyria (mar-tir’-i-a): Confirming something by referring to one’s own experience.

See this tattoo?

I got it when I turned 18. It didn’t hurt and the colors have lasted beautifully for 10 years: good old Sponge Bob. Now that I’m 40, he’s better than ever! I keep it covered at work, but other than that, Bob’s free to see the light of day.

If you get the right image, a tattoo tells a story and is good to look at too!

I think you should get one. You like layer cake–a layer cake with pink frosting would be cool!

Go for it! Take my word for it–you’ll be happy you did.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Meiosis

Posted on July 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

Meiosis (mei-o’-sis): Reference to something with a name disproportionately lesser than its nature (a kind of litotes). This term is equivalent to tapinosis.

That so-called “Presidential Executive Office” is looking more and more like a “Used Car Sales Office” that’s failing to meet its quota. 

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Mempsis

Posted on July 22, 2017 | Leave a comment

Mempsis (memp’-sis): Expressing complaint and seeking help.

You told us we would get some “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. You’ve given us nothing. Come on–surely you have something! Please! I know you’ve got to have something.*

*This is fake news–purely fictional. Never happened.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Merismus

Posted on July 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

Merismus (mer-is’-mus): The dividing of a whole into its parts.

The Trump Administration is divided into four uneven parts: family, friends, business associates, and lies. “Lies” almost accounts for all of the Administration’s total size.

Trump’s latest lie: “I don’t wear underpants.” Definite lie–you can see the elastic waistband sticking out of his pants. One can only speculate as to why he would lie about wearing underpants. We think it may be because Putin does not wear underpants–this is a verified fact. Given the esteem that Trump holds Putin in, we can easily see why he would lie about his own underpants.  The question is, though, “Why lie about your underpants when you can just pull them off and ‘go commando’ (like Putin) for real?” We’ll have to ask this question at the next press briefing. We’re sure Kommander Huckabee will answer right up! That is, there’s got to be a good policy driven answer to the underpants question & we’ll find it! It will be a snap (ha ha)

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Mesarchia

Posted on July 20, 2017 | Leave a comment

Mesarchia (mes-ar’-chi-a): The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning and middle of successive sentences.

I was looking for a piece of paper. I was anxious for a piece to write on. I was in need of a piece to start my butterfly census project. I would be counting the Monarchs, Yellow Swallowtails and Black Swallowtails. For one week, I would go out every day at 2.00p.m. and track them.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Metabasis

Posted on July 17, 2017 | Leave a comment

Metabasis (me-ta’-ba-sis): A transitional statement in which one explains what has been and what will be said.

Now that we’ve had a chance to explain what collusion is, let’s take a look at  recent examples from news headlines reporting the Trump family’s meetings with Russians and see if they fit the definition of “collusion.”

There are so many examples! Let’s focus on one: Donald Trump was observed whispering in Vladimir Putin’s ear at the Molotow nightclub in Hamburg, Germany. Now, as far as collusion goes, the means are present: a ‘secret’ message for Putin’s ear only. The problem is, we don’t know the content of the the message. Even though they immediately got up and danced, there’s no telling the sum total of Trump’s message to Putin.  Accordingly, we must rule out the “Molotow Communique” as a instance of collusion, aside from the resultant dancing, which is, I guess, a form of ‘soft’ collusion.

Ok, let’s take a look at the second example . . .

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Metalepsis

Posted on July 15, 2017 | Leave a comment

Metalepsis (me-ta-lep’-sis): Reference to something by means of another thing that is remotely related to it, either through a farfetched causal relationship, or through an implied intermediate substitution of terms. Often used for comic effect through its preposterous exaggeration. A metonymical substitution of one word for another which is itself figurative.

Your imagination is an empty stretcher in an ambulance headed to Duncan Donuts.  Your dream is to fill the stretcher with strawberry frosted donuts, and wrestle playfully with Mike Pence and Vladimir Putin on the stretcher as they squat inside your head, clutching donuts and growling and smiling at you, who, as a matter of fact are holding a Nutella filled sugar donut in each hand.

Wow!

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Metaphor

Posted on July 13, 2017 | Leave a comment

Metaphor (met’-a-phor): A comparison made by referring to one thing as another.

President Trump is a strip of duct tape holding together a small empty cardboard box.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Metastasismeta

Posted on July 10, 2017 | Leave a comment

Metastasis (me-tas’-ta-sis): Denying and turning back on your adversaries arguments used against you.

You say I lied about colluding with my dentist. Well, let me tell you: you wouldn’t have these ideas unless you had something to do with it. That goes for the Russians too!! You’re the one who’s done the colluding & that’s a fact. Just ask Putin–he’ll tell the truth.

Remember: I’m the President and Presidents don’t lie.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Metonymy

Posted on July 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

Metonymy (me-ton’-y-my): Reference to something or someone by naming one of its attributes. [This may include effects or any of the four Aristotelian causes {efficient/maker/inventor, material, formal/shape, final/purpose}.]

President hair wad seemed lost at the G20 summit.

Definition courtesy of “Sliva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Ominatio

Posted on July 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

Ominatio (o-mi-na’-ti-o): A prophecy of evil.

Oh Korea of the North! Hear me, for I am the Prophet Pence!

Your meddling with atoms can only lead to infinite woe. Your bold, yet reckless, experiments with world-crossing rockets will cause great anger and prompt many long-winded diatribes from your many enemies. So, I say unto you, put your Won into feeding your people or I prophesy an angry wind will blow across your Korea of the North and turn your shining missiles into giant cardboard toys.

Hear me that ye may forewarned! I am the Prophet Pence and I can see into the future.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Onedismus

Posted on July 6, 2017 | Leave a comment

Onedismus (on-e-dis’-mus): Reproaching someone for being impious or ungrateful.

I gave you more than half of our peanuts. You just gobble them up. You don’t even look at me. You just keep stuffing them into your mouth. 

Can’t you at least say “Thank-you”? I would appreciate it. If you don’t   thank me I’m going home to my mother. She would thank me.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.ed).

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Onomatopoeia

Posted on July 1, 2017 | Leave a comment

Onomatopoeia (on-o-mat-o-pee’-a): Using or inventing a word whose sound imitates that which it names (the union of phonetics and semantics).

My heart went boom, boom, boom. Then it went squish, squish, squish as they gave me CPR. My marathon-running days are over forever! I’ll have to be content with fast walking around the mall or the supermarket.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Optatio

Posted on June 30, 2017 | Leave a comment

Optatio (op-ta’-ti-o): Expressing a wish, often ardently.

I wish I hadn’t said that. It did more damage than I ever imagined it would. In the future, I’ll steer clear of references to bleeding in my Tweets. 

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetorica” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Oxymoron

Posted on June 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

Oxymoron (ox-y-mo’-ron): Placing two ordinarily opposing terms adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox.

He was having one of his high-lows–a complicated mental episode where he was energized by his depression.

He took medication. It made him sleep.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Paenismus

Posted on June 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

Paenismus (pai-nis’-mus): Expressing joy for blessings obtained or an evil avoided.

Let the blessings continue to flow, and may they carry on after the July 4 recess.

During the recess, may the Senators ponder the American Health Care Act of 2017, hold their wives and their children close and imagine what a pile 10,000 dead bodies will look like–10,000 deaths caused by their support of the American Health Care Act of 2017.

Let us pray that their visit home will soften their hearts so that they may vote against the American Health Care Act of 2017.

In so doing great evil will be avoided and a great blessing will be obtained.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Parabola 

Posted on June 26, 2017 | Leave a comment

Parabola (par-ab’-o-la): The explicit drawing of a parallel between two essentially dissimilar things, especially with a moral or didactic purpose. A parable.

Life is an onion: Onions have many layers and they make you cry.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Paragoge

Posted on June 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

Paragoge (par-a-go’-ge): The addition of a letter or syllable to the end of a word. A kind of metaplasm.

Republican Healthcareless. That’s the essence of the Republican plan. Given their plan, clearly the Republicans could care less about the health and welfare of the American people. It’s shamefula you know what.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Paralipsis

Posted on June 23, 2017 | Leave a comment

Paralipsis (par-a-lip’-sis): Stating and drawing attention to something in the very act of pretending to pass it over (see also cataphasis). A kind of irony.

There’s no way I’m going to talk about the harm that will befall millions of people after your health bill is passed. I wouldn’t call it murder, but knowing people will die as a consequence of its passage, and then passing it, has got to ride on some kind some kind of homicidal intention. 

The American Health Care Act of 2017 is a homicidal tribute to indifference toward human life and human suffering.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Paramythiapara

Posted on June 22, 2017 | Leave a comment

Paramythia (pa-ra-mee’-thi-a): An expression of consolation and encouragement.

So what if you can’t get any legislation passed and the Courts are saying “No, no, no.”

You can still keep on churning out Executive Orders.

The sky is the limit on them! And what we really like is the way you’re dismantling Obama’s legacy! Closing down Cuba travel was a wonderfully insulting move! Don’t stop now! How about morality–how about no hemlines above the knees? No unaccompanied women after 10.00 pm?  Break off diplomatic relations with the UK? Outlaw Fakin’ Bacon–a disgusting liberal substitute for real pig meat.

Give it a shot Donny! What’s to lose?

Executive Orders Rock!  They’re dress rehearsals for your coming dictatorship! Keep ’em coming & and don’t let the federal courts get you down.

Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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