Blakes 71978

Orac:
The idiosyncratic syntax of riddles interests me. They seem to depend for their effect on solecisms and grammatical discrepancies.

Vila Restal:
[totally confused] Eh?

Orac:
Do you have another riddle for me to analyze?

Vila Restal:
You'd only spoil it.

Orac:
I thought you liked riddles.

Vila Restal:
I do when I'm allowed to tell them properly. All you're interested in is the idiotic tin tax or something.

Orac:
That's very clever.

Vila Restal:
What is?

Orac:
For "idiosyncratic syntax" you substituted "idiotic tin tax". Yes, very good.

Vila Restal:
[brightening] Is it?

Orac:
Another one, please.

Vila Restal:
Right. What's the best cure for water on the brain?

Orac:
I don't know. What is the best cure for water on the brain?

Vila Restal:
A tap on the head.

Orac:
"A tap on the head." Yes, I see. In this instance the word "tap" has a double meaning, as in to strike something and as a device for controlling the release of fluid from a tank or pipe. The fluid referred to is water, therefore, "tap on the head" has two ambivalent meanings, one pertaining to the striking of the cranium...

[Vila grabs his head in frustration]