Syllepsis

Syllepsis is a figure of speech in which one word simultaneously modifies two or more other words such that the modification must be understood differently with respect to each modified word. This creates a semantic incongruity which is often humorous.

Examples:

He leaned heavily on the podium and stale jokes.

He lost his hat and his temper.

She went home in a flood of tears and a sedan chair -- Charles Dickens

He said, as he hastened to put out the wine,
His cigar and the cat and the lamps... - Flanders and Swann, "Madeira M'Dear"

...she made no reply,
Up her mind, and a dash for the door. - ibid.

You held your breath and the door for me. -- Alanis Morissette, in "Head Over Feet":

... and covered themselves with dust and glory. Mark Twain, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"





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