zeugma
Say it: ZYOOG-muh /ˈzjuːɡmə/ · noun
What “zeugma” means
One word linked to two things with different meanings.
More precisely: One word applied to two others in different senses, as in 'lost her keys and her temper'.
Example: “'He took the bus and my advice' is a playful zeugma.”
When to use it
When discussing clever or funny sentences where one word does two different jobs with different things.
Memory trick
Greek zeugma means yoking: one word harnessed to two different meanings at once.
Similar words
syllepsis, wordplay
Where it comes from
Greek zeugma, 'yoking'.
Quick check
A writer says she broke his mug and his heart, making broke work in two senses. What is this?
zeugma or anaphora?
Show the answer
zeugma
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