clever expressions

[trochee]

I was reading an Iain M. Banks novel the other day, and I came across this argument between two non-human characters. One character complains that humans are terribly irrational: having expended huge resources to build a safe habitat, why would they then go sky-diving or whitewater rafting?
The other responds "I think this is a little like criticizing a man for owning both an umbrella and a shower."

I like this expression, and it feels to me like a twentieth-century bon mot (despite its implausibility as a rhetorical device used between a silicate pyramid and a predatory triped). Does anyone recognize it?

Comments

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

You mean good word ?
Why, oh why do americans have to use french expression . it breaks the flow !!!

[trochee.livejournal.com]

no, I mean witticism. And it's a time-honored tradition of using French in English -- goes back to the Norman conquest, dontcha no.

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

well whatever. i find it annoying.
not you. you're adorable when you say french words... just the whole thing.

[trochee.livejournal.com]

the Norman Conquest is annoying? "bon mot" is a perfectly good English word. It just doesn't mean "good word", just like "entree" doesn't mean the same thing in English as French.

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

But it's CONFUSING for code switchers like me !!!

All conquests are annoying.

:P

[trochee.livejournal.com]

I would venture that conquests are substantially worse than annoying. Apologies for code-switching in a different way than you expected.

A rule of thumb is that if an English speaker uses a French word it probably means something related but slightly fancier than the literal translation, due to the English inferiority complex installed in 1066 and occasionally reinforced up to the 19th century or so.

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

Dramaturgy is love.
Thank you.

[q-pheevr.livejournal.com]

But "good word" wouldn't mean the same thing that bon mot means in English. English has been pilfering words and expressions from French for centuries, and it quite consistently puts them to new use; there would be no point in using them if they meant the same thing as their literal counterparts.

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

well ok. but bon mot sounds just wrong to me.
It doesn't sound right, sorry.

[q-pheevr.livejournal.com]

Well, I have to admit I sorta feel the same way when I hear the word smoking used in French to refer to an article of clothing.... But conquests are much more annoying. :-)

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

Heh heh, i hate the word smoking used in French too !
Costard is a way better word to use !
:)

[evan.livejournal.com]

because an expression like "good word" doesn't quite have the... je ne sais quoi. ;)

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

Now you've done it .
;)

[psychicle.livejournal.com]

Bon mot! Trenchant insight! Tell me more!