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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Surprise, surprise
I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all.
It's kind of as if "surprise" is a negative word, such that two of it together cancel each other out. Except that removing those words from a sentence or conversation doesn't exactly preserve the meaning, as with the normal case of two negatives cancelling each other out.
Are there other words like this?
Stewart.
My e-mail is valid but not my primary mailbox. Please keep replies on the 'group where everyone may benefit.
It's kind of as if "surprise" is a negative word, such that two of it together cancel each other out. Except that removing those words from a sentence or conversation doesn't exactly preserve the meaning, as with the normal case of two negatives cancelling each other out.
Are there other words like this?
Stewart.
My e-mail is valid but not my primary mailbox. Please keep replies on the 'group where everyone may benefit.
Top answer
[nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all. [/nq] I think ``yeah, yeah'' is the standard example. edu/~shalunov / Al your Qaeda are belong to US.
- [nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all.
- [/nq] I think ``yeah, yeah'' is the standard example.
- edu/~shalunov / Al your Qaeda are belong to US.
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15 Answers
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[nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all. Are there other words like this?[/nq]
I think ``yeah, yeah'' is the standard example.
Stanislav Shalunov http://www.internet2.edu/~shalunov/
Al your Qa
I think ``yeah, yeah'' is the standard example.
Stanislav Shalunov http://www.internet2.edu/~shalunov/
Al your Qa
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[nq:2]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise"means that there is no surprise at all.[/nq]
[nq:2]Are there other words like this?[/nq]
[nq:1]I think ``yeah, yeah'' is the standard example.[/nq]
As a joke, of course. Just plain "surprise" or (more likely) "Big surprise" can also mean that something is not surprising. I don't think the duplication is really part of
[nq:2]Are there other words like this?[/nq]
[nq:1]I think ``yeah, yeah'' is the standard example.[/nq]
As a joke, of course. Just plain "surprise" or (more likely) "Big surprise" can also mean that something is not surprising. I don't think the duplication is really part of
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Stewart Gordon filted:
[nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all. It's kind of ... the meaning, as with the normal case of two negatives cancelling each other out. Are there other words like this?[/nq]
Just about any word if you replace the initial consonant(s) with "schm-" in the second occurrence...Areff might, for instanc
[nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all. It's kind of ... the meaning, as with the normal case of two negatives cancelling each other out. Are there other words like this?[/nq]
Just about any word if you replace the initial consonant(s) with "schm-" in the second occurrence...Areff might, for instanc
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[nq:1]As a joke, of course. Just plain "surprise" or (more likely) "Big surprise" can also mean that something is not surprising. I don't think the duplication is really part of it.[/nq]
So can almost any word, by means of the lowest form of wit. But if that's the case then the duplication certainly is part of it - it disambiguates between the normal meaning of "surprise" and the sarcastic mea
So can almost any word, by means of the lowest form of wit. But if that's the case then the duplication certainly is part of it - it disambiguates between the normal meaning of "surprise" and the sarcastic mea
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[nq:2]As a joke, of course. Just plain "surprise" or (more ... I don't think the duplication is really part of it.[/nq]
[nq:1]So can almost any word, by means of the lowest form of wit. But if that's the case then the ... meaning. (At least in BrE.) Except that the duplicated form has it as a dictionary definition, which must suggest something..[/nq]
Since the OED definition is " c. As int
[nq:1]So can almost any word, by means of the lowest form of wit. But if that's the case then the ... meaning. (At least in BrE.) Except that the duplicated form has it as a dictionary definition, which must suggest something..[/nq]
Since the OED definition is " c. As int
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[nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all. It's kind of ... the meaning, as with the normal case of two negatives cancelling each other out. Are there other words like this?[/nq]
Sure. Sure there are.
Sure. Sure there are.
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[nq:1]I find it interesting that the expression "Surprise, surprise" means that there is no surprise at all. It's kind of ... the meaning, as with the normal case of two negatives cancelling each other out. Are there other words like this?[/nq]
Pizza pizza. Oh, I guess that's out of date.
Pizza pizza. Oh, I guess that's out of date.
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[nq:2]As a joke, of course. Just plain "surprise" or (more ... I don't think the duplication is really part of it.[/nq]
[nq:1]So can almost any word, by means of the lowest form of wit. But if that's the case then the ... meaning. (At least in BrE.) Except that the duplicated form has it as a dictionary definition, which must suggest something..[/nq]
I think what this discussion suggests i
[nq:1]So can almost any word, by means of the lowest form of wit. But if that's the case then the ... meaning. (At least in BrE.) Except that the duplicated form has it as a dictionary definition, which must suggest something..[/nq]
I think what this discussion suggests i
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[nq:2] So can almost any word, by means of the ... form has it as a dictionary definition,which must suggest something..[/nq]
[nq:1]I think what this discussion suggests is that the straightforward, cheerful "Surprise, surprise! We're here!" is vanishing and the ironical, ... dominant.And you've found a dictionary that documents that fixed phrase. Although apparently you have never enountered
[nq:1]I think what this discussion suggests is that the straightforward, cheerful "Surprise, surprise! We're here!" is vanishing and the ironical, ... dominant.And you've found a dictionary that documents that fixed phrase. Although apparently you have never enountered
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[nq:1]I think what this discussion suggests is that the straightforward, cheerful "Surprise, surprise! We're here!" is vanishing and the ironical, ... surprise there" can be said bitterly. But plain "Surprise" has to be followed by another "surprise" to be negative.[/nq]
I've heard more than once a weary "Why am I not surprised?"
I've heard more than once a weary "Why am I not surprised?"
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