A paralipsis or paraleipsis (from the Greek: leave aside) is a rhetorical figure or figure of speech in which one emphasises something by pretending not to mention it (also known as preterition). Typically, a paralipsis is introduced by phrases such as “we need say nothing of” or “not to mention”.
Examples:
- “The restaurant was dirty and noisy, not to mention the waiters.”
Variants
Cataphasis
A kind of paralipsis which brings up the negative qualities claiming to be passed over.
- “Let's not mention my opponent's habit of lying.”
- “Far be it from me to question your stupid civilization or its dumb customs.”
See also