Blind to oxymorons

**shootingstar** · 07-06-2009, 08:48 PM

Such as alternate options or alternative options.

**Duck on Wheels** · 07-06-2009, 09:05 PM

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."

**shootingstar** · 07-06-2009, 09:11 PM

There is such a term, if oxymoron isn't it. The book I have to consult, is buried 3 boxes deep in the closet.

Would "infantile naivete" count also?

**Duck on Wheels** · 07-06-2009, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by shootingstar

There is such a term, if oxymoron isn't it. The book I have to consult, is buried 3 boxes deep in the closet.

Would "infantile naivete" count also?

Yep! That's a good one!

**Trek420** · 07-06-2009, 09:15 PM

Alert the grammar grinches

I may be wrong but technically I don't think those are oxymorons, redundant maybe. Oxymorons I've been told are words that seem to counter each other like:

C'mon and test drive our new green energy efficient Hummer! or ....

"military intelligence" is the classic one not that our military are not intelligent, some of my best friends are military

Is there an English major in the house?

I don't know this for sure, I have a worthless art degree

**shootingstar** · 07-06-2009, 09:18 PM

I am an English major...but it's been several decades.

**Trek420** · 07-06-2009, 09:21 PM

Stand back!! I AM an English major. Give the patient some air! I will diagram this sentence

**jobob** · 07-06-2009, 10:14 PM

I've heard the term "easy double century" . Um, no.

**OakLeaf** · 07-07-2009, 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by Duck on Wheels

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

Tautology. Redundant tautology.

**Mr. Bloom** · 07-07-2009, 03:20 AM

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** · 07-07-2009, 04:28 AM

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

**Veronica** · 07-07-2009, 04:59 AM

Organized Chaos

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

Their least favorite... summer school.

Veronica

**Chile Pepper** · 07-07-2009, 05:21 AM

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

**Biciclista** · 07-07-2009, 06:01 AM

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

**jobob** · 07-07-2009, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by MartianDestiny

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

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Is there an English major in the house?

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