Sunday, July 25, 2010

CIRCUMLOCUTION

circumlocution: an ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech, in its basic form, circumlocution is using an unnecessarily large number of words to describe something simple

Example: In a delightful circumlocution , the Fed chairman said that "investors are probably revisiting expectations of domestic earnings growth". [Reference: "US exuberance is proven 'irrational'", Irish Times , October 31, 1997]