In linguistics, an apodosis is the main clause in a conditional sentence; that is, in a sentence of the form If X, then Y, the apodosis is Y (expressing the conclusion). The term is commonly contrasted with protasis, which denotes the subordinate clause in such a construction; that is, in a sentence of the form If X, then Y, the protasis is X (expressing the condition).
In the following example, apodosis was used in the text to show the reader, in a humorous way, two things: that there is a social or class different between the two characters, and that one of the characters has a high level of literacy and a precise and literal way of using words. Mr Goodwin had previously been introduced in the book as a poet. The personality of Miss Morning is shown by its contrast to that of Mr Goodwin.
Miss Morning chuckled. "That doesn't mean a thing Goodie. If all the guys I've called Poppa were laid end to end ..."
Mr Goodwin struck his forehead again and said, "Spare me. Spare me the apodosis."