Blind to oxymorons

[Duck on Wheels]

I think oxymorons are incompatible opposites, like hmmm ... well, some claim "military intelligence" is an oxymoron, but others would say that's a bad example. How about "warm refreshments"? or "friendly divorce"? or "gourmet glop"? I'm not sure what the term is for those unnecessary repetition ones. There must be a word for them, or maybe their name is some repetetive phrase like "self-referential synonyms". In Norwegian we would say they're like "buttering your bacon". Trek420 said one waaaaayyy back in her toddler years. The mutual brother and I thought it was unfair that the mutual parents weren't keeping a record of her first words as they had ours. By the time we realized this she was talking in full sentences, so we recorded some of her cutest phrases. One I remember was a perfectly correct observation from a stroll out on the chicken farm one day: "There's a dead chicken that died."

[OakLeaf]

I'm not sure what the term is for those unnecessary repetition ones.

Tautology. Redundant tautology.

[Mr. Bloom]

I believe the term for multiple words beginning with the same letter or sound is alliteration... I also agree that that some of the phrases are redundant but not oxymorons.

I am not an English major but I did attend Catholic School (where English and Science were cherished at the expense of basic interpersonal skill training...)

[MartianDestiny]

My bike is named Oxymoron...she's an extra small Giant.

[Veronica]

Organized Chaos

was my students' favorite oxymoron this year. Freezer burn was also popular.

Their least favorite... summer school.



Veronica

[Chile Pepper]

Tautology: the saying of the same thing twice in different words.

[Biciclista]

jumbo shrimp, honest politician, good grief, plastic glasses, rap music, Christian scientists.
THESE are oxymorons.

[jobob]

My bike is named Oxymoron...she's an extra small Giant.

[malkin]

Tautology. Redundant tautology.

*snicker*
Good one!