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View synonyms for play on words

play on words

noun

  1. a pun or the act of punning.


play on words

noun

  1. another term for pun 1
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Idioms and Phrases

A word or turn of phrase with a double meaning, a pun or other humorous use of language. For example, Shakespeare was a master at plays on words—his dramas are full of puns . [First half of 1700s]
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Example Sentences

“The main baddies in the game were Kremlings,” Wise said, pointing out a play on words that, it is safe to say, went over the head of most 10-year-olds.

They have a cocktail there called the “Herb Your Enthusiasm,” a play on words to “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Carpenter sings about her paramour’s love making her talk nonsense, leading to a sexy play on words with haiku-type outros.

From Salon

Bach, who will step down as IOC president in 2025, said Paris 2024 had been "sensational, or dare I say, 'Seine-sational'" - a play on words referencing the river which flows through the host city.

From BBC

Whitmer became known as “that woman from Michigan,” a play on words Trump used to attack her in 2020.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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