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Allow me to explain: There is a famous quote from the movie shining

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"

I can also paraphrase it: Jack was dull because he didn't play enough.

My question is, what if I intentionally modify the original quote and turn it into the following?

All work and no play makes Pouya a dull boy

This is neither a quote nor a paraphrase. Is there any word for these kinds of phrases?

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  • I think it still is a paraphrase: The adaptation or alteration of a text or quotation to serve a different purpose from that of the original. thefreedictionary.com/paraphrase
    – user66974
    Commented Mar 24, 2015 at 14:32

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A snowclone is a well-known phrase with "blanks" that can be filled in. For example:

  • "_____ is the new _____"
  • "_____ is my middle name"
  • "The _____ to end all _____"

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is definitely a well-known phrase, so it seems "All work and no play makes _____ a dull boy" qualifies as a snowclone.

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It is a paraphrasing, to quote Oxford Dictionaries:

Express the meaning of (something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity

You have clarified it, changing jack (i.e. any man) to your own name.

But an another name for such use is snowclone, which is where you take a well worn phrase and substitute words to better fit your meaning.

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    But when paraphrasing, shouldn't one remain conceptually honest with the original quote?
    – Pouya
    Commented Mar 25, 2015 at 8:43
  • In your example I believe you are remaining so. But yes, you should remain conceptually honest.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Mar 25, 2015 at 9:50
  • Does Oxford give any definitions or citations for usages which adapt the original phraseology to express a meaning which is different from the original?
    – supercat
    Commented Jan 29, 2022 at 19:43

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