Definition and Examples of Antimetabole

Antimetabole is a logical gadget where words in the primary portion of a sentence are transformed in the second 50% of the sentence. Models include:

Tough people make the most out of even the most difficult situations.

Plan your daily routine so you can experience your arrangement.

The chances are acceptable, however the merchandise are odd.

Antimetabole every now and again shows up in short, concise sayings. For instance: “You can remove the kid from the nation, however you can’t remove the nation from the kid.” The effortlessness and reiteration of words help save such apothegms in the social vocabulary for ages.

Antimetabole additionally shows up with some recurrence in non-serious inquiries: articulations stated as inquiries for convincing purposes. Models include: “Gracious you have, have you?” and “Do you live to work, or work to live?”

Antimetaboles will regularly upset grammatical forms. In the case of “the chances are acceptable, however the products are odd,” the plural thing “chances” changes into the modifier “odd,” while the descriptor “great” changes into the plural thing “merchandise.”

Notwithstanding the old Greek roots of its name, antimetabole has stayed being used all through the contemporary period. A portion of the more celebrated employments of the gadget include:

“In the event that you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.” (Stephen Stills)

“For one, and one for all.” (Alexander Dumas)

“In America, you can generally discover a gathering. In Soviet Russia, Party consistently discovers you!” (Yakov Smirnoff)

“Neglecting to get ready is planning to fall flat.” (John Wooden)