I turned on the pillow with a little moan, and at this juncture Jeeves entered with the vital oolong. I clutched at it like a drowning man at a straw hat.
P. G. WodehouseRead
I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously suggests that the subject is unhappy or dissatisfied, despite not expressing it overtly.
P. G. Wodehouse cleverly plays with the word 'gruntled,' implying dissatisfaction by stating that someone is not 'gruntled.' The humor lies in the juxtaposition of a seemingly serious observation about someone's mood with the whimsical suggestion that they must be 'disgruntled' if not pleased, which showcases Wodehouse's unique comedic style.
Themes
HumorDissatisfactionWodehouseMoodComedy
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a speech about the importance of recognizing subtle moods in the workplace.
More from P. G. Wodehouse
All quotes βWhile not exactly disgruntled, he was far from feeling gruntled. He spoke with a certain what-is-it in his voice, and I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
P. G. WodehouseRead
She fitted into my biggest arm-chair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing arm-chairs tight about the hips that season
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It was a nasty look. It made me feel as if I were something the dog had brought in and intended to bury later on, when he had time.
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Memories are like mulligatawny soup in a cheap restaurant. It is wiser not to stir them.
P. G. WodehouseRead
It was a confusion of ideas between him and one of the lions he was hunting in Kenya that had caused A. B. Spottsworth to make the obituary column. He thought the lion was dead, and the lion thought it wasn't.
P. G. WodehouseRead
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