Oxymorons

Euphemia

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There are so many oxymorons around us that we have become enured to. Let's see if we can come up with some!

I'll start with three:

1. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

2. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

3. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?
 
Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?
 
I just had a sandwich with "Domestic Swiss Cheese".
I am in the US. I thought that here Domestic meant American.
It sure wasn't what is called "American Cheese".
(Actually, I don't know how they can call the American cheese stuff Cheese).
 
Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

Why are they called "stands" when they are made for sitting?
 
There are many road signs that declare that the "RIGHT LANE ENDS".
I would think that unless one had arrived at his destination that a lane that ends would be the WRONG lane.
 
Why is it called "after dark" when it is really "after light"?

Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?
 
An oxymoron is a phrase consisting of two words conjoined, which are contradictory in meaning. Here are some funny ones:

Act naturally

Holy war

Found missing

Resident alien

Minor catastrophe

Affordable housing
 
How about "Noticeable Absence"
I wish I had never heard of "Passive Aggressive"
I have visited something called "Well Preserved Ruins"
I have also seen adds for "Synthetic Natural Gas"
 
Here are a few more oxymorons:


Near miss

Great depression

Canadian army

Phone sex

United nations

Advanced BASIC

Genuine imitation

Death benefits

Airline Food
 
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