Zeugma

My Big Fat Greek

Classical Rhetorical Flourishes

Parallel structure, repetition, participle, sentence structure, subject, verb, figure of speech, rhetorical flourish, language ornament

 

You held your breath and the door for me - Alanis Morisette

 

He peeled out in a flashy red corvette and a thunderous black mood.

 

She flung the ring at the table, chipping a plate and breaking my heart.

 

He was fishing for deep sea bass and for reassurance.

He stole the show and my wallet. - Jim Moskowitz

He drowned his sorrows and pickled his liver.

She lowered her standards by raising her glass, her courage, her eyes and his hopes.  - Flanders and Swann “Have Some Madeira, M'Dear

Miss Bolo went home in a flood of tears and a sedan chair. – Charles Dickens

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Neuman and a ride home – S. E. Hinton, “The Outsiders”

She exhausted both her audience and her repertoire. – anonymous

She looked at the object with suspicion and a magnifying glass. - Charles Dickens

He ran through all of his savings and most of her patience.

On his first trip to New York he caught two Yankee games, a Broadway show and an STD.

In his lectures, he leaned heavily on his desk and stale jokes – Willard Espy

I'm not getting nasty; I'm getting chapped lips. – Neil Simon, Barefoot in the Park

Lust conquered shame, boldness fear, madness reason.  - Cicero

He lost his keys, his wallet, and his mind.

He carried a strobe light and the responsibility for the lives of his men – Tim O’Brian, “The Things They Carried”

Whether the Nymph shall break Diana’s Law,
Or some frail China Jar receive a Flaw,
Or stain her Honour, or her new Brocade,
Forget her Pray’rs, or miss a Masquerade,
Or lose her Heart, or Necklace, at a Ball.... 
- Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock

She carried an old tapestry bag and a walk that revealed a long history of injury – unknown

With one mighty swing he knocked the ball through the window and two spectators off their chairs. – unknown

She greeted him with arms and expectations wide – unknown

He missed his wife and the train. - Jim Moskowitz

Stomping out of the office, she had won the argument and a trip to the unemployment line.

She lit the match: burning the house down to the ground and into my memory.

She changed her mind and the baby. - Danny Fahs

Depending on the situation, she applied principles of child psychology and vigorous spankings with equal ferocity.

The sight of him leaping down from the garden wall prompted her to unleash her fury and the two attack Dobermans, Hans and Fang.

Don Cordiole was a dangerous man.  He courted his daughter and disaster.

At her father’s cold insistence he accepted his fate and her hand.

The Light Brigade advanced inexorably towards the enemy and into legend and history.

Coming from the airport, the gossipy cab driver drove me to my hotel and to distraction.

He wore out the refrigerator door and his welcome.

He brought up the luggage and an interesting point. - Danny Fahs

He came into money and her bedroom at just about the same time.

 

He was consumed by grief and a tiger. - Danny Fahs

 

The book covered all the great philosophers and a nasty stain on the coffee table. - Danny Fahs

 

His socks from his mother were darned carefully and unattractive. - Danny Fahs

 

He drove her to drink and Cleveland. - Danny Fahs

 

She flew into a rage, off the handle, and home to Mother.  - Danny Fahs

 

The attendant fueled her desire and her car. - Danny Fahs

 

Now, he had tasted defeat and seafood salad – Danny Fahs

 

Danny Fahs Zeugmas come from the Logos Website