I was recently scolded for my seemingly persistent use of the double entendre on social media.
My guilt is overwhelming, with my allegiance to the “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” approach of comedy undeniable – a humorous expression used to imply a hidden or suggestive meaning without stating it directly has become my primary route to engagement across the ether, and I’ve occasionally used it when flirting (who hasn’t?). The latter utilisation has an endearing safeguard, since if it all goes Pete Tong, I can claim that I was simply misunderstood.
But this chastisement played on my mind, and I wondered if it was fair. Let me explain:
Innuendo is a powerful literary device that allows speakers or writers to suggest something indirectly, often with a hidden or veiled meaning. But to suggest it is deployed simply as a cover for sex would completely undermine its flexibility.
Innuendo allows for subtle communication where it can gracefully imply something without stating it outright, which can be useful in sensitive or controversial situations. It can be deployed to criticise or disparage someone or something in a way that is not direct, making it less confrontational, and therefore often more palatable or harder to refute. Innuendo can also add layers of meaning to a text, making it richer and more complex. This can engage readers or listeners more deeply as they work to uncover the hidden messages. And of course, by hinting at something rather than stating it directly, it can create a playful or humorous tone. However, I feel it necessary to issue a health warning since the effectiveness of insinuation often depends on the cultural and contextual understanding of the audience. What might be a clear innuendo in one culture or context might be missed in another.
In relation to sexual innuendo, it can only be effective if the recipient is able to join up the cognitive dots. If they are neither amused or offended, the double entendre becomes tumbleweed rolling across the wilderness – it has no meaning or comedic value. Thus, those that seek to take the moral high ground have an equally smutty mind! And to use a proverb – the cousin of innuendo – “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” comes to mind.
Before I sign off, I must satisfy the curiosity of the lady who asked, “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” All I will say is that I am no longer a firearms officer (credit to the great Mae West). And I must add that “Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.” (Thanks Groucho Marx).
© Ian Kirke 2025 and all photographs.
@ iankirke.bsky.social