INDIRECT REFERENCE: METONYMY
If you “talk down” to people, they will become annoyed. You need to give them some work to do to understand you and trust they can make the connections necessary. One important way to do this goes by the name “metonymy.”
Generally, metonymy means not naming something directly, but referring to something associated with it or something that allows your audience to deduce it. More specifically, it substitutes the cause for the effect or effect for the cause, a proper name for one of its attributes or an attribute for a proper name. A classic example is Phyllis Diller’s referring to her mother-in-law as “Moby Dick.”
Christmas time gives several examples. We feely call someone a (before nervous breakdown) Scrooge or a (pre-cardio-enlargement) Grinch.
Or this:
This year I’m fed up with Christmas.
I won’t play that jolly old elf.
Unlike you peasants
Who buy others presents,
I’m spending it all on myself.
posted by TC @ 10:54 AM
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