UsingEnglish.com

Poll: A phrase where the words contradict each other like 'living death' is...

A phrase where the words contradict each other like 'living death' is...

an oxymoron
a tautology
a palindrome

Statistics Poll Stats

This Poll:

  • Votes: 2,787
  • Comments: 12
  • Added: October 2003

Comments:

Dave

I used to play this game with my young son when we were on holiday. His suggestion: "Camping holiday."

tdol

I think your son has given the really correct answer. Award him a grade A. ;-))))))))

rhapsomatrics

When two otherwise similar or synoymous words are used in a somewhat complementary manner to such a degree that the said combination makes a somewhat paradoxical meaning,such is said to be an \example of "oxymoron"...unlike tautology,which can be defined as the repetition of two or more words that should be alternatively used and whose combination makes no semantic sense.Palindrome,on the other hand,is a word the reads the same read from weat to east and from east to west.....dangerous safety(oxymoron)...reason why(tautology)...nun(palinedrome)

Lynque

as in 'rap music,' perhaps?

Jim

It's surely not a palindrome because living death can be very different from dead life. I am reminded of one South Park Halloween episode, the one with Korn, where they argued over the difference between "Pirate Ghost", and "Ghost Pirate". Here is what they said "Pirate Ghost would suggest that a pirate died and became a ghost, but a Ghost Pirate is a ghost that later made a concious decision to be a pirate." Thus it cannot be a palindrome.

sondra

sorry to say but this is not the sight that i was looking for so... if you don't have it DONT pop up please!!!

James Matshubeng

yes it is oxymoron ,e.g "coutry music" .
James Matshubeng

kara

An example of an oxymoron: jumbo shrimp, dodge ram and so on. So, living death iS, in fact, an oxymoron

Sydney

Stuff as in - Bitter sweet, jumbo shrimp, boneless ribs, born dead, barely dressed, and balding hair. Are they good? (:

Tom

Government intelligence.
Friendly fire.

Kari

The movie Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close mentions it. I found it interesting.

Almar

oxymoron is an oxymoron

Browse our language polls:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

Trustpilot