What Are Oxymorons? [Updated]
![What Are Oxymorons? [Updated]](https://assets.blog.engoo.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/04/31084435/what_are_oxymorons-1024x683.jpg "What Are Oxymorons? [Updated]")
Expressions like "seriously funny" and "ladies' man" are quite common in English. However, they may sound a little strange to learners.
These terms are called "oxymorons" — expressions that combine words with opposite meanings for impact and originality.
This article will explain why oxymorons are used and introduce some common examples of them. You may have even used some yourself without realizing it!
What Are Oxymorons and Why Do We Use Them?
The Oxford dictionary describes oxymorons as “a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other.”
But what’s the purpose of combining opposites?
Well, one big reason is because it's memorable. If you hear or read a combination of opposite ideas, it gets your attention and makes you want to learn more.
Another reason is that oxymorons often express deeper meanings. For example, look at the word “bittersweet” (bitter + sweet). We understand the individual meanings, but when we put them together, we have a new word that expresses a very unique feeling or situation in which happiness is mixed with sadness.
There are other ways to describe this feeling, but an oxymoron can do it powerfully with only one word.
Common Oxymorons in Everyday Use
Here are a few oxymorons you might hear in daily conversations.
Small crowd
“Crowded” is an adjective that refers to a large number of people in one area. As a noun, it becomes “crowd.” If you're wondering how many people are included in a "small crowd," the answer depends on the situation you're describing.
The performer stood in the center of a small crowd on the street.
Old news
“News” usually refers to recent information about current events. However, “old” is the complete opposite of “current.”
We use "old news" to talk about information that someone is learning late or after everyone else has already heard it.
A
Did you hear that Mark is moving overseas?
B
That’s old news. I’ve known for weeks already.
Awfully good
“Awful” is a strong adjective that means “terrible” or “very bad.” But in the adverb form “awfully,” it's used to emphasize things. So “awfully good” is another way to say “extremely good.”
That documentary is awfully good. I recommend you watch it.
Good grief
“Grief” expresses sorrow, but this combination of words doesn't mean “grief that is good.” Instead, it expresses surprise or annoyance.
"Good grief!" is actually a famous line often said by Charlie Brown from the Peanuts comics.
Related article: 10 Great Quotes from the Peanuts Comics
Upside down
We use this oxymoron to describe anything that has its top and bottom in opposite positions.
The roller coaster took us upside down several times.
Passive aggressive
Someone who is aggressive is forceful, direct or even violent. A passive person is the opposite. So what happens when we combine these traits?
Being "passive aggressive" means being silent, disrespectful or lazy as a way to show negative feelings toward another person or situation. It has a negative nuance.
His passive-aggressive behavior frustrates his colleagues and creates an uncomfortable work environment.
Open secret
"Open secrets" refer to information that is supposed to be secret even though everyone already knows.
The CEO's plan to resign at the end of the year is an open secret in the industry.
Agree to disagree
When people "agree to disagree," they are peacefully ending a discussion by accepting that neither person will change their original opinion.
After arguing for hours about who the best footballer in history was, Lars and Sergio finally agreed to disagree.
Concrete jungle
A "concrete jungle" is a large city. This is because just like real jungles, cities are often crowded, full of activity and sometimes danger as well.
After 15 years in the concrete jungle, I decided to return to my rural hometown.
Related article: Big Apples and Big Shoulders: Nicknames for 8 US Cities
Oxymorons in Popular Media
Movies
As we explained earlier, oxymorons can be very memorable. This is why they're often used as titles in film and television. Let's take a look at a few examples.
True Lies (1994)
This film is about a man who pretends to be a salesman with a boring desk job. In reality, however, he's a spy with a dangerous, exciting life.
His family knows nothing about his real work, so the lies he tells them every day aren't small, innocent lies — they are deep and very serious.
Back to the Future (1985)
This is the first film in a very popular series of science-fiction adventure movies.
Naturally, the future is ahead of us, so going "back" to the future is a perfect example of an oxymoron. It's also a great title for a movie about traveling through time.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
When it was first released, people must have been confused by the title's strange combination of words. But "living dead" is actually a clever way to describe a zombie — and this film is known as the original zombie movie.
You Only Live Twice (1967)
This film is part of the popular 007 series. The story involves James Bond traveling to Asia in order to investigate the disappearance of military spacecraft.
Like usual, Bond encounters many dangerous situations that most people would not survive. The title may be a reference to the fact that Bond seems like he has more than one life.
Music
Oxymorons also appear frequently in the titles of songs. Here are a few examples:
The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel (1964)
This is a famous song by a folk rock duo from the United States, and has been remade by different artists over the years.
If the mysterious title makes you curious, read the lyrics and use them as a study tool!
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1967)
You may wonder why clowns cry when their only job is making people laugh. But clowns are people just like everyone else, and everyone feels sad sometimes. Why might this clown be crying?
Cold Fire - Rush (1993)
Rush is a rock band from Canada, and this song is about the difficulties of love and relationships. It ends with the dramatic line "Love can turn to a long, cold burn."
Even though the lyrics are poetic, the words are simple, so you can also use this song for your English study.
Definitely Maybe - Oasis (1994)
Rather than a song, this is the name of an album by the UK rock group Oasis.
We use "definitely" when something is certain. On the other hand, we say "maybe" when things are not certain. Is the band 100% sure that something is not clear? Maybe!
Wrap-up
When you have a strong understanding of words, you can begin to play with them in fun and interesting ways.
As we've shown in this article, combining words with opposite meanings can create unique expressions that catch your eye and stay in your memory. So keep your eyes open for oxymorons and you'll start to appreciate the power of opposites that come together.
