phrase requests - Words to describe something that does not reach your expectations for it


Which word(s) would you use in a situation such as the one below, to make the sentence sound logical, natural and complete?



You told me we were going to a nice park. We've spent almost two hours to get here! And what do I see here? You call these three trees and two benches a park?! Are you kidding me? This is not a park, this is a ____ of a park!




Answer



An epigone. IPA: ˈɛpɨɡəʊn Greek: ἐπίγονοι


Epigone means a pathetic copy, a derivative, a completely un-memorable also-ran, created by the half-hearted effort of a talentless hack, who probably would never have had the idea to create the derivative work, if he had not admired the original. If "paragon" is the greatest exemplar of a particular platonic ideal, then the "epigone" is a shallow pale photocopy. The greek root of the word epigone means "born later". Synonyms: Also-Ran, Derivative.


I first saw the word referring to the "epigones of Tolkien"; That mass of drivel that copies Tolkien, poorly.


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