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What's the word for "Common behavior described in a way to make it sound weird"?

English Language & Usage Asked by Andy Kay on May 23, 2021

When someone describes a certain behavior that a group engages in, and intentionally makes it sound like that behavior is weird, in order to make that group seem more distant from the rest of society; what is the word for it?

I’m sure I’ve seen this word used before.

Edit:
example:
When someone says: "Dog owners like to put a noose around their pets neck and drag them around around in everyones view.", they are engaging in _____?

2 Answers

They are employing caricature.

Lexico's definition of the related verb is the most appropriate I've found so far:

caricature [verb]

make or give a comically or grotesquely exaggerated representation of (someone or something)

Collins Cobuild gives the related definition of the noun;

If you describe something as a caricature of an event or situation, you mean that it is a very exaggerated [distorted; Dictionary.com has 'ludicrously exaggerated'] account [/ representation] of it. [disapproval]

  • Hall is angry at what he sees as a caricature of the training offered to modern-day social workers.

The synonym lampoon is probably less incisive, more jocular, and hence less appropriate here.

Correct answer by Edwin Ashworth on May 23, 2021

I'm not sure that there is a word - hyperbole [OED: 1.a. Rhetoric. A figure of speech consisting in exaggerated or extravagant statement, used to express strong feeling or produce a strong impression, and not intended to be understood literally] might work as the example clearly exaggerates aspects of walking a dog.

Otherwise, the closest I can come is "to spin" or "to put [a] spin on [a story/report/observation] = to describe something in certain terms so as to suit one's own purpose.

[Spin (noun and verb) seems to be related to the action of causing a ball to spin when throwing or bowling such that the ball's trajectory is not straight.]

From OED

Draft additions March 2021

Spin: v

transitive. colloquial. Chiefly Politics. To give (an event) a particular emphasis or bias, esp. one that is favourable to a specific person or party; to put a spin on (a news story): cf. spin n.1 Additions.

1988 Boston Sunday Globe 27 Nov. 26/4 Just as in the presidential campaign, the candidates are eager to ‘spin’ the story in their favor.

1996 Frank 8 May 12/1 Poor marks for [his]..attempts to spin the news that his riding association stupidly subsidized his golf-club membership and wardrobe.

2020 @JasonDHaan 29 Sept. in twitter.com (accessed 6 Oct. 2020) If [he]..does poorly in tonight's debate, what will he say to spin it so he's the winner?

Draft additions 1993

spin n.1

figurative. A bias or slant on information, intended to create a favourable impression when it is presented to the public; an interpretation or viewpoint. Frequently in to put a positive (negative, etc.) spin on. colloquial (chiefly U.S. Politics).

1978 Guardian Weekly 22 Jan. 18/1 The CIA can be an excellent source [of information], though, like every other, its offerings must be weighed for factuality and spin.

1979 Washington Post 15 Mar. a17/2 American spokesman Jody Powell gave a press briefing and put a negative spin on the talks.

1989 Independent 1 June 9 None of the ‘collies’ believes Mr Baker. In the American political vernacular, he is trying to put a ‘spin’ on the Bush triumph.

You'll note that there is a lot of references to politics, however, my own feeling is that the verb/noun is now used in a more general manner.

Answered by Greybeard on May 23, 2021

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