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rhetorical flourish

An oratory elaboration which exceeds the limits of what most people would describe as useful or informative, or which tangentially strays into the realm philosophical musings.
"Yo, your homie said you was in for some shenanigans."

"No man, that was just rhetorical flourish."
by 2dois2b February 27, 2009
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rhetorical question

A question were the speaker does not expect an answer
Bob: Jim, why do you have to be such a dumb ass

Jim: well it all started in the summer of 1995 when...

Bob: That was a rhetorical question dumb ass
by I am feeling fat and sassy January 18, 2009
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rhetoric

The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively
I would tear you apart with my rhetoric
by John March 21, 2005
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rhetorical dissonance

when someone doesn't take the default politically correct rhetorical position of their own stance in discussing a political issue. It leads to a false perception of cognitive dissonance by their audience, when in fact the person is abandoning rhetoric and examining the issue without rhetorical bias. It leads to an ally of a cause to be seen as the enemy for not falling in line with automatically assumed rhetorical positions.
When Bob argued the following, "I am a full supporter of gender equality. However, the SCUM Manifesto doesn't help the feminist cause. Many feminists become just as bad as chauvinists, when their responses to sexism become just as polemic," he was seen as criticizing feminism, creating rhetorical dissonance. Another example is the following: "Gay rights are very important, and they should be equal. That being said, the APA has established that orientation changes over a lifetime. The reality is that some people can and do choose to be gay, not that there's anything wrong with that."
by ideomotion October 21, 2010
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a beliveable yet untrue statement from a speaker, that is drunk with the excitement of their supposed ability to use big words.

an expression used to insult someone to their face about how they like to use big words because they think they are smart. thus using irony to get the sarcastic point across.
Smartass: I think you losers are Munificent abhorritions of society as we know it

Insulter: You are a Sophistical rhetorician inebriated by the exhuberance of his own verbosity!!!

Smartass: HUH?
by Tomcat07 January 9, 2006
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rhetorical joke

The excuse you give when an intended joke you just said was not funny.
Person 1: I wonder how janice got herpes?

Person 2: 'Cus she is a SLUT!!!

Person 1: Dude if that was a joke it was not funny

Person 2: It was a rhetorical joke
by hueng low December 6, 2009
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rhetorical textion

A text message asking a question that is not meant to be answered. Frequently addressed to the originator's entire phone book.

These messages can cause confusion by causing dozens of people to think that someone wants to hold an actual conversation with them, when in fact the sender of the message was simply lonely, amused, drunk, or all three.
Alice: Carol just texted me, 'Why the hell can't people in Atlanta use their turn signals?' How the hell should I know? I *do* use my turn signal!

Bob: Relax. It was a rhetorical textion. She sent it to me, too.
by scarshapedstar. January 6, 2009
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