Quote: "Don't get stuck on stupid, reporters." Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, commander of Joint Task Force Katrina
Figure of Speech: metallage (meh TALL ah gee), the "Don't give me 'why'" figure
The metallage (it sort of means "swap" in Greek) takes a word or phrase and uses it as an object within a sentence. ("I've heard enough No's for today.")
The general is being a bit unfair. All the reporters asked was where New Orleans' latest evacuees -- the ones escaping Hurricane Rita -- would be taken this time. "That's not your business," he snapped, and then he threw his metallage at them. He must be tired.
Snappy Answer: "Don't get stuck on military, General."
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