ANTIMETABOLE

Antimetabole Definition. Antimetabole is derived from a Greek word which means “turning about” (u-turn, 180-degree turn, reversal of opinion, media vuelta). It is a literary term or device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order, in which the subject and objects of a statement are reversed, commonly as a snowclone pattern:

What Is the Difference Between Chiasmus and Antimetabole?

Antimetabole and chiasmus are very closely related and some experts even use them interchangeably but both the terms still exist to refer to two distinct literary devices. According to scholars, when a sentence is repeated after reversing it so as to convey an idea or stress on a point, it is called chiasmus. Antimetabole is not very much different from chiasmus, only that in an antimetabole the words and grammatical structure is also reversed because just reversing the meaning is not enough. So in the light of the above mentioned facts, it can be deduced that all the antimetaboles are chiasmus, but not all instances of chiasmus are antimetaboles.
A chiasmus is a sentence repeated inversely and the only condition of a chiasmic sentence is that the two clauses in the phrase are opposite in meanings. For example, the popular saying by Havelock Ellis’s, “Charm is a woman’s strength, strength is a man’s charm,” The aforementioned sentence, although, is an example of chiasmus but is not an antimetabole because the two clauses have opposite meanings but the words and the grammatical makeup are dissimilar.
In an antimetabole the word order in a sentence is reversed to contrast the meanings. One very good example is Mae West’s catchphrase, “It’s not the men in my life; it’s the life in my men.” As you can see, in this sentence the words, rhythm and grammatical structure used in the second sentence are exactly similar to the first one but only the meaning is opposite. Many experts refer to antimetabole as a subtype of chiasmus.

Functions and Effectiveness of Antimetaboles

For antimetaboles to be effective, they do not only have to be grammatically correct but should also be logical. People after studying literature for a while start thinking that they can churn out antimetaboles with a snap of a finger. They fail to understand the fact that a sentence cannot be called an antimetaboles if it is not based on a logical theme. For instance, you may witness a ‘smart Alec’ come up with a sentence like this and expect it to qualify for an antimetabole, which clearly is not the case.
Antimetaboles are popular and effective solely because they appeal to reason and are easy to remember. If the first half is relatable, then the reader or listener automatically will make sense out of the second half. For example: “It is not about the years in your life, but about the life in your years.” A sentence like this can be called an antimetabole because it is appealing, correct (logic and grammar) and has a message to convey to the readers.

* YOU CAN’T GET A JOB WITHOUT EXPERIENCE; AND YOU CAN’T GET THE EXPERIENCE WITOUT A JOB.
* (My fellow Americans), ask not what your country can do for you, ask what / but what / (but) ask instead what you can do for your country. 
* It is not about the years in your life, but about the life in your years.
* Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.
* Eat to live, not live to eat. 
* He who questions training only trains himself at asking questions.
* If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.
* If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
* The best way to have what you love, is to love what you have.
* We do what we like and we like what we do.
* I go where I please, and I please where I go.
* You stood up for America, now America must stand up for you.
* The best way to have what you want, is to want what you have.
* It is nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
* I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter
* You're not what you think you are but what you think, you are.
* In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, Party always finds you!