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No. 3894: Proper Word Usage

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Proper Word Usage

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Permanent URL: https://mezzacotta.net/garfield/?comic=3894

Strip by: Destructible Watermelon

{Jon and Garfield are in a wading pool}
Jon: I'll make a deal with you
Jon: You don't splash me and I won't splash you
{Garfield suddenly gains image quality}
Garfield: Can you say "detente"?

The author writes:

"Détente (French pronunciation: ​[detɑ̃t], meaning "relaxation")[1] is the easing of strained relations, especially in a political situation. The term originates in the time of the Triple Entente and Entente cordiale in reference to an easing of tensions between England and France who, subsequent to being commingled polities under Norman rule, were warring rivals for the better part of a millennium but pursuant to a policy of détente became enduring allies." (Wikipedia)

Note that this conflicts with what exactly happened in the original comic: Garfield responded to a "threat" with a threat of his own, creating tension rather than easing it.'

I was thinking about calling the strip "actual detente", but this way maybe there is a slight surprise in reading it, like some sight gags in Garfield would be ruined if they appeared in all the panels instead of simply the last one as the punchline.

sorry about the image quality.

also I learned that detente is pronounced day-tont (or some better way of writing that), so when i saw the comic originally, no, I could not say detente.

Original strips: 2003-04-12, 2009-09-27.