Double

 “There is always a double meaning in life…” (Nadeem v Abdu)

Almost everyone has spoken a phrase that could be taken two different ways. A double entendre is a phrase that can be understood in two ways. One of those ways is usually risqué (and sexual in nature). The double entendre was the invention of the English playwright John Dryden in the 1673 comic play, Marriage a-la-Mode. This phrase originates from a rare and obsolete French expression, which is translated as "double meaning or double understanding."

If you need a modern-day example of the double entendre, below is one that makes me uncomfortable. It does accurately communicate what a double entendre is though:

At a local farmer’s market, a woman is working at a fruit stand. A man walks up, and says…

Man: “Wow, those are some huge melons you’ve got there. Did you grow them yourself? Can I see one?”

Woman: “Excuse me?”

He points to a pile of watermelons behind her

Man: “The watermelons, can I see one?”

Woman: “Oh, yes, of course. Here you go.”

The man pays for the chosen watermelon, and walks away.

The double entendres is usually best used when it is comedic in nature. It is a perfect device to use for mixed audiences. The younger age will understand the words for their literal meaning while those more mature in age will be understand the humor behind the words.

Successfully using double entendres in front of an audience requires careful thought, planning, and word choice. Double entendres can make people laugh. Your word choice should be clever, witty and humorous, but subtle at the same time. That’s what makes double entendres so entertaining. Consider these three important questions:

·       Do the double entendres make sense to everyone present in the situation in which they’re being used?

·       What’s the first meaning for the words you’re using, and will everyone understand it?

·       Who is the target audience for the double entendre, and will they understand the double entendre without further clarification (Your joke should need no further explanation)?

After considering these guidelines, you’re in charge of your creativity. There’s no limit for using double entendres. You can turn any word or phrase into a joke if you desire to.

“I like double [entendres] because then the people who get it enjoy it, and the people who don't get it don't know about it.” (Betty White)[i]

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[i] Adapted from:

 

·       “Double Entendre” and “When and How to Use Double Entendre” by Literary Terms

·       “Double entendre” from Wikipedia

·       “The phrase ‘Double Entendre’: meaning and origin” by Phrase Finder