Welcome,
students to today’s edition of Vocabulary Enhancement Training. As you know, in
this class we take quotations from famous people, pick out phrases, and try to
come up with other, perhaps more creative ways to communicate the same meaning…sort
of advanced synonymetry…if you will.
So, today’s
quote comes from Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who, when told that
if the sequestration went through, Congressmen and women would also get a pay
cut, responded that a paycut would be “beneath the dignity of a congressman’s
job”. Now, I want us to concentrate on the phrase, “dignity of a Congressman”.
What are
some other ways that we can say the same thing more creatively, without
changing the original meaning? Anyone?
Excellent!
“I’ve got
one! “scruples of a banker”.
Perfect!
“self-control
of a toddler?”
Wonderful!
“soft hands
of a brick layer?”
Beautiful!
Class, I must say I’m overwhelmed with your responses today.
“Basketball
skills of a white midget?”
That’s very
creative, but let’s try to keep race out of our language. Oh, and the term “midget”
might be seen as pejorative towards the vertically challenged. Bill? You’ve
been awfully quiet today. Do you have any ideas on our topic?
Bill: “dignity
of a congressman”? That’s a tough one. How about the efficiency of the DMV, or
the Friendliness of the IRS, or maybe the fidelity of Bill Clinton?
All of those
are excellent! Class, you have outdone yourselves today. Ok, next week our
phrase will be “audacity of hope”.
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