Phrop

 

Phrop

Consider adding the word “phrop” to your vocabulary; you might be able to use it sooner than you realize—or at least find yourself applying the concept it conveys.

The word was coined by a somewhat eccentric Brit, Sir Arnold Lunn, in about 1950. He combined the notions of “phrase” and “opposite” to describe a situation where you say something that sounds positive while you’re thinking the opposite.

Example: “We must get together for lunch some time.” However, you’re thinking “I’d rather have three root canals than suffer through a meal with you.”

Unfortunately, the word never caught on. But Wikipedia’s assessment that the word has “not entered common use” shouldn’t deter us from trying to keep it in circulation.

Michael Quinion, an English linguist, offers several other examples. “With all due respect…” Quinion says, “really communicates ‘I am about to demolish your argument and if at all possible your reputation….’”

 He continue, “A polite ‘I regret that a previous engagement makes it impossible to accept your kind invitation’ replaces the truthful ‘I would rather be gnawed by a rabid stoat.’”

 Then there’s what Quinion calls the “famously double-edged phrop created by Benjamin Disraeli, the 19^th century British politician: “Thank you for sending me your book; I shall lose no time in reading it.”

 More recently, you may have seen on the Internet these deliciously ambiguous recommendations for job seekers, which double as phrops.

•  I can assure you that no person would be better for the job.
• It would be difficult to find someone else with this person’s work ethic.
• You will be fortunate if you can get this person to work for you.

Finally, how about this introduction: “Our speaker this evening is Gordon Jackson. We couldn’t find a better man.” The underlying malicious message? “Goodness knows, we tried.”

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