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.

Syllepsis is somewhat related to the figure zeugma, but in the latter the modifier does not logically fit one of the words it modifies.

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 cat, the wine, his cigar and the lamps... —Flanders and Swann, "Madeira M'Dear"
• She lowered her standards by raising her glass, his courage, her eyes and his hopes. — Flanders and Swann, "Madeira, M'dear"
• 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"
• You can leave in a taxi. If you can't get a taxi, you can leave in a huff. If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff. —Groucho Marx

See Also

• Figure of speech
• Zeugma