A zeugma (or syllepsis) is a figure of speech where a single word (often a verb) governs or modifies two or more other words in a sentence, but in different ways—sometimes creating a play on meaning.
Here are 50 English verbs, each followed by an invented zeugma example:
50 Zeugma Examples in English
- Take
He took his hat and his leave. - Make
She made a cake and a scene. - Keep
He kept his promise and the change. - Lose
She lost her keys and her temper. - Break
He broke the ice and her heart. - Hold
She held the baby and her tongue. - Carry
He carried the groceries and a grudge. - Catch
She caught the ball and his attention. - Open
He opened the door and her eyes to the truth. - Close
She closed the book and the deal. - Run
He ran a marathon and his mouth. - Pass
She passed the test and a shady remark. - Miss
He missed the train and his ex. - Drop
She dropped the vase and the subject. - Change
He changed his clothes and his mind. - Leave
She left the room and a lasting impression. - Turn
He turned the page and a blind eye. - Play
She played the piano and hard to get. - Win
He won the game and her affection. - Steal
She stole the show and his wallet. - Give
He gave advice and her a headache. - See
She saw the truth and red. - Hear
He heard the news and a strange noise. - Feel
She felt the fabric and his anger. - Taste
He tasted the soup and defeat. - Smell
She smelled the flowers and a rat. - Touch
He touched the painting and a nerve. - Wear
She wore a dress and a smile. - Drive
He drove the car and her crazy. - Fly
She flew the plane and into a rage. - Fall
He fell for her and down the stairs. - Rise
She rose early and to the occasion. - Follow
He followed the rules and his dreams. - Lead
She led the team and him on. - Meet
He met his deadline and his match. - Avoid
She avoided the puddle and his gaze. - Accept
He accepted the award and her apology. - Reject
She rejected the offer and his advances. - Forget
He forgot the name and his manners. - Remember
She remembered the date and his flaws. - Love
He loved pizza and to argue. - Hate
She hated lies and liver. - Need
He needed money and a reality check. - Want
She wanted coffee and him gone. - Try
He tried the door and her patience. - Start
She started the car and a rumor. - Stop
He stopped the car and caring. - Finish
She finished the race and her drink. - Consider
He considered the proposal and her feelings. - Understand
She understood the lesson and his pain.
Key Notes:
- Some zeugmas are grammatically correct but play on dual meanings (e.g., "He took his hat and his leave" – "take" is literal then figurative).
- Others are deliberately humorous (e.g., "She stole the show and his wallet").
- Zeugmas work best when the verb’s multiple meanings create a clever or ironic effect.
I would add:
51 Jump
He jumped the fence and to conclusions
Non verbal zeugmas
Certainly! Here are 10 creative examples of zeugma in English that don’t rely on verbs, playing instead with nouns, adjectives, prepositions, and other grammatical elements to create witty, poetic, or absurd effects:
1. With a Noun (Possessive)
She lost her keys and her temper in the same hour.
→ "Her" applies to a concrete object (keys) and an abstract state (temper).
2. With an Adjective
The room was decorated with flowers and silence.
→ "Decorated with" links a physical element (flowers) and an atmosphere (silence).
3. With a Preposition
He was torn between his career and a sandwich.
→ "Between" absurdly contrasts a life choice (career) and a snack (sandwich).
4. With a Pronoun
I’ll fight for my rights and my parking spot.
→ "My" connects a grand ideal (rights) and a trivial concern (parking spot).
5. With an Adverb
She answered the question honestly and in cursive.
→ "Honestly" (manner) vs. "in cursive" (physical form) modify the same verb.
6. With a Conjunction
He loved both jazz and ignoring texts.
→ "Both… and" pairs a music genre (jazz) with a habit (ignoring texts).
7. With a Comparative
Her speech was as sharp as a knife and as dull as taxes.
→ "As… as" juxtaposes opposing imagery (sharp vs. dull).
8. With a Negative
He had neither a plan nor a decent Wi-Fi signal.
→ "Neither… nor" equates a serious lack (plan) with a modern annoyance (Wi-Fi).
9. With a Possessive + Metaphor
His mind was a library; his fridge, a wasteland.
→ Contrasts intellectual richness (library) with domestic emptiness (wasteland).
10. With a Prepositional Phrase
She lived on coffee and on the edge.
→ "On" ties a literal fuel (coffee) and a metaphorical state (the edge).
Key Effects:
- Humor: "Torn between his career and a sandwich" (absurd prioritization).
- Poetry: "Decorated with flowers and silence" (sensory contrast).
- Social Commentary: "Fight for my rights and my parking spot" (trivial vs. profound).
This list was inspired by David Joyner's exemple from his wonderful book "Assessment with AI "Teacher guide to conversational AI: enhancing assessment, instruction and curriculu with chatbots".