A double entendre is a figure of speech or a phrase that has two meanings: one is straightforward and obvious, while the other is often risqué, suggestive, or socially unacceptable to state directly. Typically, the second meaning involves a taboo or humorous innuendo, often sexual in nature
. Double entendres rely on wordplay, ambiguity, and sometimes homophones or homographs to convey these dual meanings. They are frequently used in literature, comedy, and everyday conversation to add humor or subtlety. For example, the phrase "That's what she said" from the TV show The Office is a classic double entendre that humorously implies a secondary suggestive meaning to an innocent statement
. The term originates from a now-obsolete French phrase meaning "double meaning," and while similar expressions exist in French, the suggestive nuance is unique to English usage
. In summary, a double entendre is a clever use of language that communicates two meanings simultaneously, usually combining an innocent interpretation with a more risqué or humorous one