Word for the Day: ZEUGMA

[Louis Foxwell]

ZEUGMA

noun zeug·ma \ˈzüg-mə\

hear it pronounced

the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

Examples:

• "She lost her ticket and her temper."

• [My cousin] roars around on a shocking old motor bike – mustache and dignity flying in the morning breeze..." – Sinclair Lewis, Dodsworth

About the Word:

Zeugma comes from a Greek word meaning "to join." In ancient times, the city of Zeugma, which spanned the two sides of the Euphrates river in what is now part of southern Turkey, was a key trading link between the western Mediterranean and eastern Mesopotamia.

The Greek word zeugma was also applied to semantic structures that, like a physical bridge, connect two disparate words.

[Louis Foxwell]

Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

[Louis Foxwell]

Here is a word to sleep on. I will begin giving awards at 9AM sharp. Have your entries ready.
This is a tough one, requiring a post that demonstrates the WFTD without, necessarily, using the word.

[Fester Chugabrew]

My dog is named Zeugma. He married Xerxes. They both hate the Alphabet, and they both hate Snoopy.

[Texas Eagle]

In declaring that the Iran nuke deal is beneficial for America, Preezy Urkel has sold The U.S. down the river - and a false bill of goods.

[steve86]

Ping!

[Jack Hydrazine]

I bet a zeugma is really one of these!

[onyx]

LOL.
Perfect!

[afraidfortherepublic]

In Scott Walker's Wisconsin, Obama Urges Crowd to run to Democrat-Run Paradise In Minnesota

A slight modification of the foregoing title provides "run" as a zeugma. But, it's actually a very good idea. Most of us in Wisconsin would love to see the Democrats move to Minnesota.

[Noumenon]

I had a Zeugma back when I was in college. Damn thing got about 15 miles to a quart of oil.

[shibumi]

I knew a fellow who had an excess of Zeugma.

Seemed to clear up right after his Brit Milah.

[dayglored]

> Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

A proper zeugma would conflate and confuse the news of the day and of a FReeper too.

[zeugma]

The room was not light but his fingers were.

Thanks for the ping steve!

Zeugmas are actually harder to do correctly than most would think. Most folks think of it as a simile, but it is really a gerund with two objects which it modifies in two distinct, yet different ways.

 

 

[who_would_fardels_bear]

0bama's red policies have left me red in the face.

[shibumi]

"... but it is really a gerund with two objects which it modifies in two distinct, yet different ways."

From your description, it appears to be a thing of great complexity, nuance, refinement and subtlety belied by simple outward appearance.

Now, if only there were a term for such a thing.....

[BenLurkin]

Great word!

[Ken H]

In his quest to bring illegal immigration to the forefront, Trump will suffer neither defeat nor fool.

[Mad Dawg]

BHO made up his mind, a hash of our foreign policy, and a name for himself.

[bakeneko]

Well young man, you’ll resign from the Federal Service immediately or you are cut off!!

You are going to Zeugma Beach and that’s the end of it!!

[Slings and Arrows]

Mazel tov!

[Fester Chugabrew]

Zeugmas are actually harder to do correctly than most would think.

Absolutely. It is harder to make them up than to discover them in retrospect. That's why I took the lazy route and turned it into a proper noun.