Oxymorons are contradictory words, phrases, or sentences, including humorous ones in jokes and puns, accidental ones used by thoughtless speakers, and deliberate ones employed in marketing or advertising. They can exist in all languages, and writers often use them to describe something or make a point. Some of the great English-speaking writers have created literary oxymorons, including Shakespeare and Alexander Pope. Comedians and humorists enjoy humorous oxymorons for their own sake, while accidental or unintentional oxymorons are used by speakers who are unclear about the meaning of words. Deliberate oxymorons used by advertisers or public agencies are called “double-speak.”
An oxymoron is a contradicting word, phrase, or sentence; that is, it contains words with opposite meanings. A common example is the word “bittersweet.” The different types of oxymorons include humorous ones in jokes and puns, accidental ones used by thoughtless speakers, and deliberate ones employed in marketing or advertising, as a “mandatory option.” Writers often employ contradicting literary phrases to describe something or make a point. Another type arises from casual, sometimes deliberate slang such as “evil good.”
According to some sources, the word “oxymoron” itself is a contradictory term, based on Greek words that translate as “sharply stupid.” They can exist in all languages, although fans of English words have a particular love for them; entire books have been written on the subject. Some have moved on to a usage so common that it is no longer recognized as such, such as “groom” and “student teacher”. New ones are constantly being invented, deliberately or otherwise, often by advertisers. “A New Classic” is a particularly striking example from the late 20th century.
Some of the great English-speaking writers have created literary oxymorons, including Shakespeare, who coined the phrase “parting is such sweet pain.” The poet Alexander Pope used several, including the now-familiar phrase “damn with feeble praise,” in a 1734 satirical poem. Pope explained how a friend might insult people by praising their efforts as satisfactory or adequate. Shakespeare’s quote describes how being deeply in love can offer emotional ups and downs, often at the same time. Rather than contradicting itself, this form offers an apt description of the contradictory nature of human beings.
Comedians and humorists enjoy humorous oxymorons for their own sake, as comedy often originates in paradoxical situations or phrases. Famed stand-up comedian George Carlin liked to present familiar phrases like “military intelligence” and “civil war” in this way. The first is a joke at the expense of the military, which even officers can appreciate; the latter is a pun on the double meaning of the word “civil”. Legendary rock group Led Zeppelin derives its name from the colloquial oxymoron “lead balloon,” meaning an undertaking that is expected to fail. This choice of name was itself something of a contradiction, as the group went on to become one of the most popular rock bands of the 20th century.
Accidental or unintentional oxymorons are used by speakers who are unclear about the meaning of words. “Objective opinion” is an example; while the phrase is often used in casual conversation and public discourse such as cable news programs, opinion is, by definition, subjective, the opposite of “objective.” When employed deliberately by advertisers or public agencies, this is called “double-speak. Doublespeak terms, such as “unknown notes” or “genuine imitation,” are often designed to confuse listeners and mask the speaker’s true meaning. Other times, they are employed so that the user can speak without saying anything.
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