Your favorite Oxymoron

[superisis]

What is your favorite oxymoron?

Please post it here.

I suppose mine is "I'm not going to answer that"

Though perhaps it won't be accepted so I'll guard my flanks with "virtual reality"

def virtual: being such in essence or effect though not in actual fact
def reality: The state or quality of being real; actual being or existence of anything

 

[The Last Conformist]

A good one is the Latin name of a certain scarab speices: Euphoria morosa.


Had a couple of chance discoveries in the 19th C occured in opposite order, neanderthalensis would have been known as stupidus. That so didn't happen is a great shame, since then those who consider it a subspecies of sapiens would have been obliged to call it Homo sapiens stupidus, or "stupid wise man".

 

[superisis]

do you know why they were named that?

 

[The Last Conformist]

Refering to the scarab, no. I don't find scarabs particularly euphoric. But I'd guess the particular species is unusually boring.

Wrt stupidus, clearly the discoverer didn't think it was too clever.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Here's a whole list of them

George W Bush would be a perfect oximoron if he were associated with either of the following: speech, coherence, intelligence...

 

[LLXerxes]

there are so many plus it's just plain wierd to pick a favorite

 

[Fifty]

The one that I always (JOKINGLY) cite just for the dirty looks whenever oxymorons are the topic of discussion...

female athletes

 

[Lozzy_Ozzy]

Microsoft Works

A Windows program BTW, the statement is obviously false though

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

Compasssionate Conservative.

 

[Scuffer]

Mobile anvil. OK, I made it up, but it made me smile.

 

[Cilpot]

Military Intelligence is probably my favourite.

Also pretty ugly, plastic glasses, only choice, unbiased opinion and larger half are good ones.

 

[Perfection]

Christian Right

 

[IglooDame]

Legal brief is the first thing to come to mind.


Tidal wave is another.

 

[WillJ]

The leader of the Anarchist Party of America.

 

[Steve Thompson]

I've actually heard "open-minded Christian" and "realistic communist" before....

 

[Babbler]

Here's a whole list of them

Best on that list --

ADVANCED BEGINNER
CHEERFULLY CYNICAL
HOPELESSLY OPTIMISTIC
PERFECTLY AWFUL
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE (it really existed, I swear...)
PROMISCUOUS NUN
REALITY TV
SCIENTIFIC CREATIONISM
SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS
UNBIASED OPINION
VIOLENT PEACE PROTEST

And my own:

CANADIAN AGREEMENT

 

[Ramius75]

Vegeterian meat

 

[superisis]

"upper lower middleclass" (the economic/social status of the Simpsons).

 

[Syterion]

Seriously dude, lighten up.

I hear that alot.

 

[Syterion]

Just checked that list, found two points of interest.

AMERICAN CHOP SUEY-not an oxymoron, Chop Suey was developed in the United States.

American Culture-Hilarious!