H.Kishie Singh is based in Chandigarh and has been a motoring correspondent for newspapers like The Statesman, New Delhi and The Tribune.His column ‘Good Motoring’, for The Tribune ran for over 27 years. He has been also been the contributing editor for magazines like Car & Bike, Auto Motor & Sport and Auto India. His latest book Good Motoring was published recently and has co-authored a book with The Dalai Lama, Ruskin Bond, Khuswant Singh and others, called The Whispering Deodars.


Sunday, 18 October 2020

OXYMORON

 

 

There is a rather strange figure of speech in the English language. It consists of a phrase, usually two words which are contradicting each other and appear in conduction.

We used them every day without realising that they are contradictory words but make perfect sense and sometimes a strong statement. Here are some examples:

  • ·          Found missing
  • ·          Open secret
  • ·          Small crowd
  • ·          Act naturally
  • ·          Clearly misunderstood
  • ·          Fully empty
  • ·          Seriously funny
  • ·          Only choice
  • ·          Original copy
  • ·          Exact estimate
  • ·          Tragic comedy
  • ·          Foolish wisdom
  • ·          Liquid gas
  • ·          Less is more
  • ·          Awfully nice

And one of the most famous by Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet.

“Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!”

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