"When Life Gives You Lemons..." And 19 Other Phrases You May Or May Not Know The Second Half To

Emily Kling
·2 min read

Have you ever heard of the term anapodoton? I personally hadn't, but apparently, it refers to a rhetorical device in which the main clause of a sentence is implied by a subordinate clause.

That sounds kind of confusing, at least to me, so I think it's easier to understand through examples.

Take the saying: "When life gives you lemons..." Most of us say the first part of the phrase without completing it by adding, "Make lemonade." The phrase has become so commonly used and recognizable that the second half can be inferred, even when unspoken.

Pretty cool, right?

So I'm curious...How many of these 19 anapodotons do you actually know the full sayings of?

1.Where there's a will...

Abstract watercolor blend in yellow, white, and blue shades. No people or text present
Enjoynz / Getty Images

2.The early bird...

Textured blue background with a rough, abstract appearance
Zuberka / Getty Images
Textured blue background with a rough, abstract appearance
Zuberka / Getty Images

3.When in Rome...

Statues atop a historic building, featuring religious figures and symbols, set against a dramatic sky
Only_fabrizio / Getty Images

4.Curiosity killed the cat...

A black cat and a white cat sit on a seaside wall, with a vast ocean and sky in the background
Aelitta / Getty Images

5.The best laid plans...

Abstract blue watercolor pattern with overlapping translucent shapes, resembling clouds or waves
Kampee Patisena / Getty Images
Abstract blue watercolor pattern with overlapping translucent shapes, resembling clouds or waves
Kampee Patisena / Getty Images

6.Birds of a feather...

A clear sky filled with scattered white clouds
Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images
A clear sky filled with scattered white clouds
Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images

7.If pigs had wings...

Abstract blue and white textured background, resembling watercolor paint
Aelitta / Getty Images

Or, according to the German translation, it would go: If pigs had wings...

Abstract blue and white textured background, resembling watercolor paint
Aelitta / Getty Images

8.It takes a village...

Close-up of a wooden fence with visible texture and grain
Nikolaeva Elena / Getty Images

9.Great minds...

A gradient blue background with varying shades, resembling a watercolor sky. No text or people present
Pakin Songmor / Getty Images
A gradient blue background with varying shades, resembling a watercolor sky. No text or people present
Pakin Songmor / Getty Images

10.If it looks like a duck...

Clear water with gentle ripples and sunlight reflections. No people or text present
Kowit Lanchu / Getty Images
Clear water with gentle ripples and sunlight reflections. No people or text present
Kowit Lanchu / Getty Images
Clear water with gentle ripples and sunlight reflections. No people or text present
Kowit Lanchu / Getty Images

11.If the shoe fits...

Several white sneakers are arranged in diagonal rows against a blue background
Dbenitostock / Getty Images

12.And similarly: If the cap fits...

Geometric pattern with evenly spaced circles and lines on a grid-like background. No text or recognizable subjects are shown
Kryssia Campos / Getty Images

13.If you can't stand the heat...

Intricate blue and purple floral and geometric tile pattern
Studiom1 / Getty Images

14.Jack of all trades...

A blurred abstract image with a gradient effect from dark to light, no recognizable objects or people
Fotograzia / Getty Images
A blurred abstract image with a gradient effect from dark to light, no recognizable objects or people
Fotograzia / Getty Images

15.Rome wasn't built in a day...

View of the Altare della Patria, a large monument in Rome with statues and columns, set against a clear sky
Wirestock / Getty Images

16.Speak of the devil...

Abstract dark misty texture with a bright light source above, resembling a cloud or nebula in space. No people or text present
Tetiana Tanasiichuk / Getty Images

17.Opinions are like a**holes...

Close-up of a grid of small, reflective square tiles
Manitchaya Wanset / Getty Images

18.When the cat's away...

Toy mice arranged in a pattern on a flat surface
Javier Zayas Photography / Getty Images

19.And lastly: All good things...

A blurred abstract background with soft blending of light and dark teal shapes. No text or recognizable subjects are present
Eto Itosawa / Getty Images

So, how many did you recognize? Do you have any favorites that you didn't see on this list? Let me know in the comments!

I, for one, did not know the second half of "curiosity killed the cat" was "but satisfaction brought it back" until I started researching anapodotons for this list...and now I wayyyy prefer the full saying.

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