Strike While The Irony Is Hot: Humorous Proverbs

Authors

Don Hauptman

Abstract

One of my pet linguistic peeves is the widespread misuse of the adjective proverbial. Consider a recent example, from a magazine profile of a government whistleblower: "When she grabs hold of something, she is like the proverbial dog with a bone in its teeth." Of course, this expression is not a proverb; it's a metaphor or simile. Or, less charitably, a cliche or bromide.

Recommended Citation

Hauptman, Don (2003) "Strike While The Irony Is Hot: Humorous Proverbs," Word Ways: Vol. 36 : Iss. 3 , Article 2.
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol36/iss3/2