posted October 17, 2008 07:31 AM
It's actually an ancient Greek word,made of the word 'oxy' (for clever) and 'moron' (for stupid). It denotes a saying or situation which is at the same time smart and stupid. It was ironically used for people that want to make a point by saying something foolish, and has since the meaning of contradiction. The word in itself is a contradiction,as you might understand.
posted October 17, 2008 10:14 AM
Hey, what do you know? I've been a oxymoron all my life and I didn't know it! I've been accused of being a "clever moron" more than once, (usually by those that I've outwitted, of course).
Or is that an "osimoron"?
-------------------- "All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 17, 2008 01:41 PM
open secret
larger half
clearly confused
act naturally
alone together
Hell's Angels
found missing
liquid gas
deafening silence
seriously funny
living dead
Microsoft Works
military intelligence
jumbo shrimp
tragic comedy
unbiased opinion
virtual reality
definite maybe
original copies
pretty ugly
same difference
plastic glasses
almost exactly
constant variable
even odds
minor crisis
extinct life
genuine imitation
exact estimate
only choice
freezer burn
free love
working holiday
rolling stop
My personal favourite is "American Cuisine", I should add that "British Cuisine" would equally be an oxymoron but it just doesn't have the same ring to it!
Mike
-------------------- Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...
Posts: 1733
From: Brooksville, FL
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 18, 2008 08:55 PM
It's OK, Osi. I never really thought this post would generate so many comments. This is getting silly, but that was the point. I must admit, Mike Pekam got me with his list. The one with "Microsoft Works" really made me chuckle.