Transpositional pun
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A transpositional pun is a complicated pun format with two aspects. It involves transposing the words in a well-known phrase or saying to get a daffynition-like clever redefinition of a well-known word unrelated to the original phrase. The redefinition is thus the first aspect, the transposition the second aspect.
As a result, transpositional puns are considered among the most difficult to create, and commonly the most challenging to comprehend, particularly for non-native speakers of the language in which they're given (most commonly English).
[edit] Examples
| Pun | Original reference |
|---|---|
| Alimony: The bounty of mutiny. | The Mutiny on the Bounty. |
| Dieting: A waist is a terrible thing to mind. | "A mind is a terrible thing to waste", the motto of the United Negro College Fund. |
| Hangovers: The wrath of grapes. | The Grapes of Wrath |
| Olympic officials: The souls that time men's tries. | Thomas Paine's saying "These are the times that try men's souls". |
| The Oboe: An ill wind nobody blows good. | "'tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good". |
| Feudalism: It's your count that votes! | "It's your vote that counts!" |
| Candidiasis: The wicked itch of the yeast | "the wicked witch of the east" from The Wizard of Oz |
| Tumours: All swell that end swell | "All's well that ends well" |
| Screaming: Words speak louder than actions | "Actions speak louder than words" |
| Soldiers of fortune: Give Chance some peace | "Give peace a chance" |
