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About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote plays on the double meaning of like to contrast how time passes versus how fruit flies eat.
In plain terms
Time moves fast like an arrow; fruit flies like eating bananas.
What can you take from it?
Language uses puns to create humor through ambiguity.

Where it applies

  • writing
  • education
  • casual talk

Putting it to work

  • learning grammar
  • creating jokes
  • teaching rhetoric

Questions to consider

  • How do words shape our perception of reality?
  • Why is wordplay popular?

Another view

The joke relies on a specific homonym that may not translate.

More from Groucho Marx

  1. Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.

    Permalink to quote #131
  2. You get a canoe later and I'll paddle you.

    Permalink to quote #133
  3. There is one way to find out if a man is honest; ask him! If he says yes you know he's crooked.

    Permalink to quote #130

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