What is this wordplay I'm thinking of involving homonyms?

Question

I remember knowing there was a name for this type of sentence construction, but I can't recall it and google is failing me.

The basic concept is that you use a word in two different meanings in the same sentence. A (poor) example is: "He ran a marathon and his own company", playing on the idea of running as a physical activity versus running a company. What is that called?

Joe Stockley was in an expensive sports car and deep trouble. This time, he had really let his mouth and his exotic foreign lover run away with him and it was getting beyond a joke and his immediate circle of friends in the form of rumours and speculation. As he ran a red light, the conversation back in his mind and away from his troubles, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of rising panic and the soft matte finish of his hand-stitched leather steering wheel. — RegDwigнt, Sep 12 '13 at 14:25
@RegDwighт And that would be where I first heard the term: on WriteBadlyWell. I couldn't remember that either, to go look it up. Thanks! — Yamikuronue, Sep 12 '13 at 14:26
possible duplicate of Of the difference between zeugma and syllepsis — FumbleFingers, Sep 12 '13 at 15:46
Language Log gives this phenomenon an amusing name: WTF coordination. — , Sep 17 '13 at 23:32

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:05

10

Zeugma Is the word you're looking for:

a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses (e.g. John and his driving licence expired last week).

Also know as syllepsis.

answered Sep 12 '13 at 14:05

Matt E. Эллен

29,137

Syllepsis is the term I was thinking of! Thanks bunches. Now I also know a more accurate term :) – Yamikuronue Sep 12 '13 at 14:24
1

Of the difference between zeugma and syllepsis. – RegDwigнt Sep 12 '13 at 14:26
+1 It's also a specialized form of double entendre. – bib Sep 12 '13 at 14:39

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 17 '13 at 23:07

0

Another version of wordplay using homonyms is chiasmus--the figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point. (Thank you Wikipedia, for this definition) Example:
"Never let a kiss fool you, or a fool kiss you."

answered Sep 17 '13 at 23:07

Susan Janssen Harshell Stokley

1

This is good information but doesn't really answer the question. It would probably be better as a comment. – Bradd Szonye Sep 17 '13 at 23:52

What is this wordplay I'm thinking of involving homonyms?

2 Answers2