What’s an oxymoron? It’s a phrase made up of two words that usually contradict each other but now form part of the same idea. Someone recently sent me these examples, and I want you to think about the meaning of each word and why the pairing is odd:
- clearly misunderstood
- exact estimate
- small crowd
- act naturally
- found missing
- fully empty
- pretty ugly
- seriously funny
- only choice
- original copies
Such phrases find their way into general use and are never questioned because one or both of the words have taken on a new meaning. For example, the word pretty originally meant the opposite of ugly, but has now come to also mean quite or very, so pretty ugly seems logical. One meaning of clearly is easily understood and without ambiguity, but its common use as a synonym for obviously makes clearly misunderstood logical after all.
Some of the phrases really can’t be stretched to make sense. The word choice, for example, implies more than one possibility, so if this is the only possibility, then there really isn’t a choice, is there?
In the grand scheme of things, maybe these phrases are just examples of evolution of the language, but as a student and lover of the English language I think it’s worth noticing that they are anomalies and deciding whether or not to use them. They’re also good for a chuckle!
8 responses so far ↓
1 Francesca // Feb 12, 2010 at 12:34 pm
my late brother, Doug, was fascinated by oxymorons, so I also find them very interesting. I think of Doug whenever I come across these. Thank you.
my favourite though, has to be ‘civil servant’.
2 admin // Feb 19, 2010 at 11:48 am
Civil servant wasn’t on my list, Francesca, but now I come to think of it…..!
3 Lisa Williamson // Feb 26, 2010 at 12:11 pm
How about jumbo shrimp? (Not really, but…
)
4 Carol // Feb 26, 2010 at 1:02 pm
How about “same difference”?
5 Patty // Mar 1, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I love oxymorons and, while reading your list, Helen, I thought of a couple more, but I see that Lisa and Carol have also picked up on them and noted them above. Thanks for this article.
6 admin // Mar 5, 2010 at 10:12 am
There are a couple of layers to this one, Lisa!
Helen
7 admin // Mar 5, 2010 at 10:13 am
It certainly qualifies, Carol!
Helen
8 admin // Mar 5, 2010 at 10:15 am
I enjoy them too, Patty, and I’m also fascinated by the other quirky aspects of our language.
Helen
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