Triple entendre
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A triple entendre is a rare occurrence in language where a phrase can be understood in any of three ways, thus "triple" and the French entendre ("understanding"). An example of this would be the cover of the 1981 Rush album Moving Pictures. The title could be read to mean a moving crew transporting paintings, emotional (moving) reactions to the paintings, or a film. Another example is from a famous t-shirt at MIT, when women first were accepted. The phrase on the shirt, 'women multiply at MIT' could mean that women literally multiply numbers, that more and more women are coming to MIT (and the number of women is multiplying), or that women are having children at MIT.
A third example may be the title of Canadian reggae star Snow's 1993 debut album, "12 Inches of Snow." The title could be read as a play on the artist's name insofar as meteorologists sometimes measure snowfall accumulation in inches. It could also be read as a crude phallic reference. Finally, it could be read as a reference to the diameter of a vinyl LP or 12" single.
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Possibly apocryphal story:
When Napoleon attacked Italy, the establishment recognized the futility of resisting and surrendered to his army. However, the peasantry continued to wage guerilla war, harassing his troops and stealing his supplies.. While dining with some Italian aristocrats, Napoleon commented that "All Italians are thieves.",
A noble lady present corrected him, stating: "No maestro, non tutti, ma buona parte".
The first meaning is the literal translation, appearing to agree: “No sire, not all, but most”
The second meaning is: “No sire, not all, but the ‘best’ part” ie. Those whom you call ‘thieves’ are really the best Italians, the patriots
The third meaning is” Buonaparte is the thief. (for stealing Italy) - and that Buonaparte was Italian. This meaning is particularly biting, since Napoleon was Corsican (Franco/Italian). The French population was considered (at least by the French) as superior to the Italians. Implying Buonaparte was Italian was thus a definite barb.
