Language desk
< September 16	<< Aug \| September \| Oct >>	Current desk >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

September 17

What is the proper word to describe this?

What is the proper word to describe these examples below? I searched under "word play" and many of its "See Also" links, but I can't find the correct form of word play.

The TV show Kevin Can Wait is a form of word play, making reference to the film Heaven Can Wait.
An episode of The King of Queens is "Mama Cast". It is about the "mom" being "cast" in a certain role ... but is also a (veiled) reference to the singer Mama Cass.
An episode of The King of Queens is "Awful Bigamy". It is about the fact that engaging in "bigamy" is "awful" ... but is also a (veiled) reference to the phrase "that's awful big of me".
An episode of The King of Queens is "Foe: Pa". It is about the fact that the father ("pa") is acting as a "foe" (not a friend) ... but is also a (veiled) reference to the phrase "faux pas".

That sort of thing. I considered "pun", but that doesn't seem right. Nor does "double entendre". Thanks. 32.209.55.38 (talk) 04:16, 17 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Homophonic pun fits pretty well. It's a time-honored comic device. Look at a list of Bugs Bunny or Woody Woodpecker cartoons, or a list of Three Stooges shorts, for many examples. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 06:14, 17 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It fits three of the four. Kevin is something else. Clarityfiend (talk) 07:13, 17 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

That could be a design pun, such as one of the examples there, "Planet of the Grapes". ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 07:58, 17 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

As an aside: The late British crime novelist Dick Francis made homophonic puns into an art form with his book titles, which usually had a double meaning contained in a title of one or two words. 'Banker', 'Reflex', 'Proof' and 'In the frame' (admittedly three words) spring to my mind, but there are lots more. --T*U (talk) 11:01, 17 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, all! 32.209.55.38 (talk) 02:04, 20 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]