Contents
If you have ever heard someone use the term ‘double entendre’ in a conversation, you may have questioned what it meant. Let’s have a look into the meaning of this term and how it can be used in conversation. We will also look at where the saying came from originally.
Double Entendre Meaning and Origin
- A double entendre is a phrase or expression with two interpretations, one of which is often humorous or suggestive.
Double Entendre Meaning
Origin of this Term
The term double entendre originates from French, where it literally means “double meaning.” The phrase comes from the Old French words “double” (meaning “double” or “twofold”) and “entendre” (meaning “to understand” or “to mean”).
Although the exact term “double entendre” is not directly used in modern French, the concept dates back to the Renaissance and earlier, where wordplay and dual meanings were often employed in literature and conversation to add wit, humor, or subtlety. The term became widely adopted in English in the late 17th century.
Related Terms to Double Entendre
- Innuendo: A subtle or indirect remark or hint, often with a suggestive or hidden meaning.
- Pun: A form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term or words that sound similar but have different meanings, often for humorous effect.
- Ambiguity: A phrase or statement that can be interpreted in more than one way, sometimes intentionally unclear or vague.
These terms are often used in literature, speech, and writing to create layered meanings, add humor, or convey messages indirectly.
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
Of course, as with many phrase, there are other ways in which you can express the meaning of the term ‘double entendre.’ Here are some examples of things you could say.
- Innuendo
- Double meaning
- Pun intended
Double Entendre Examples
Example Sentences
You would use this term when you heard a phrase which was intended for its literal use but also could refer to a more sexy or funny thing. For example, if you heard someone say something like ‘Emma is soaking wet,’ it would mean that Emma has probably been out in the rain, but the sentence could also refer to a more sexual context to which you might say ‘ooh, stop with the double entendre‘.‘
You might also use this to convey a hidden meaning, such as a sentence like ‘I’d love to be working underneath Tony.’ which could mean that you would love to have Tony as your boss, but what you really mean is that you would love to be underneath his body in a sexual manner.
Other examples:
- He is a master of the pun and the double entendre.
- I found none of the double entendres in Whiplash Whispers funny, and the illustrations were a bit tasteless.
- It was funny surely, because it dissolved that secret source of female power into a double entendre.
Conversation Examples
If you are curious to know how to use the term ‘double entendre’ in a conversation, here are some examples of how it could be done. In the first conversation the people are referring to jokes made by a comedian to be double entendre. Then in the second conversation we see two people talking about how someone regularly uses a double entendre. Finally we see someone using a double entendre in a conversation, when he refers to drawers, he is talking about an item of furniture, but drawers is also another word for underwear.
Conversation 1:
- Person 1: “I went to see that new comedian last night.”
- Person 2: “How was he?”
- Person 1: “The show was excellent, full of double entendre.”
Conversation 2:
- Person 1: “Samantha is such a funny person, she is always saying things that make me laugh.”
- Person 2: “Yes but she can be a little risque with how often she will use a double entendre.”
Conversation 3:
- Person 1: “Why are you so annoyed?”
- Person 1: “My drawers are broken.”
- Person 2: “You want to be careful there isn’t a draft.”
- Adverbs Worksheet – Adverbs Exercises - December 21, 2023
- What Does the Term “Rapport” Mean? - November 28, 2023
- What Does the Term “Solidarity” Mean? - November 28, 2023