Come let us talk of ADDERS

Insights

Evasion Through Distraction

The proverb metaphorically signals a desire to avoid a sensitive or unwanted topic by introducing an unexpected or absurd diversion, thus redirecting attention.

Comic or Defensive Deflection

It may serve humorously or defensively, disarming tension by suggesting a ludicrously unappealing subject—one so incongruous it breaks the conversational flow on purpose.

Conversational Etiquette and Evasion

In early modern social contexts where direct confrontation was often discouraged, this saying functioned as a coded way to disengage politely or divert discomfort without open conflict.

Symbolic Power of the Adder

The adder—often symbolic of danger or deceit—adds a layer of irony: to propose discussing snakes is to gesture toward the very things we typically avoid, making the shift deliberately jarring.

Folk Humor and Politeness Strategy

The phrase operates as a form of folk humor, acknowledging the awkwardness of the moment while offering an absurd escape hatch, preserving social harmony through comic redirection.

Rhetorical Devices

Non Sequitur

The phrase operates as a deliberate conversational non sequitur—suddenly introducing an unrelated topic to derail the current discussion.

Irony

There's a layer of irony in proposing to discuss something unpleasant (adders) precisely to avoid something even more uncomfortable—thus exchanging one ‘serpent’ for another.

Metaphorical Euphemism

Though literal, 'adders' can also serve metaphorically to represent tricky subjects themselves, so the phrase might wryly signal a double diversion: both avoidance and commentary on avoidance.