Double entendre

A double entendre is a phrase that can be read in two ways, one plain and one with a second, usually suggestive meaning that the speaker can claim not to have intended.

A shopkeeper tells a customer, "I'll just see if I can find something in your size." Fine on its face. Said with the right pause, it carries a second meaning. The speaker can say they meant nothing by it. That deniability is the signature of a double entendre.

How it works

The phrase has two readings at once. One is innocent and fits the surface of the conversation. The other is a hint, usually about sex, that the audience reads between the lines. The humour comes from the gap between the two and from the audience's role in completing the joke.

Shakespeare's comedies are full of them. The Restoration stage and British comedy from music hall to the Carry On films made them a staple.

Related ideas

• A pun plays on a single word with two senses and is usually openly clever.
• Irony has a gap between what is said and meant, but not necessarily a suggestive one.
• Subtext is what lies under the lines of a scene, and a double entendre is a deliberate small piece of it.

Why it matters to a writer or editor

A double entendre can be a delight or a trap. In dialogue it gives characters a way to flirt or tease without saying so. In professional copy, an unintended double meaning can embarrass a client, so read headlines and slogans aloud for a second reading. When you suspect one, ask a second reader. The check is cheap and the mistake is memorable.

Frequently asked questions

What does double entendre mean?

It comes from an old French phrase meaning 'double hearing'. The modern French would be double sens. The English use is usually a risque second meaning.

How is a double entendre different from a pun?

A pun plays on two meanings of a word to be clever. A double entendre carries a second, hidden meaning, often suggestive, that can be denied.

Where are double entendres found?

In Shakespeare's comedies, Restoration plays, music-hall songs, British comedy and advertising.