Oxy(morons)

jksuperstar · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:20 am Post subject: Oxy(morons)

Idiosyncracies of the (American) English Language...

(Thought it funny I found "Rap Music" on this list), and I'll have to try that "Legally Drunk" one if I ever need to....

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
State Worker

Legally Drunk

Exact Estimate

Act Naturally

Found Missing

Resident Alien

Genuine Imitation

Airline Food

Good Grief

Government Organization

Sanitary Landfill

Alone Together

Small Crowd

Business Ethics

Soft Rock

Butt Head

Military Intelligence

Sweet Sorrow

"Now, Then ..."

Passive Aggression

Clearly Misunderstood

Peace Force

Extinct Life

Plastic Glasses

Terribly Pleased

Computer Security

Political Science

Tight Slacks

Definite Maybe

Pretty Ugly

Rap Music

Working Vacation

Religious Tolerance

Microsoft Works

Age Happens

elektro80 · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:22 am Post subject:

Awesome list!

jksuperstar · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

I'm curious what other languages have...(translated to english so I can understand, of course)

zynthetix · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject:

i love word play like this, and glitches of the english language in general.

such as:

power
pore
pour
sour
soar
tower
tore
tour

salo-t · Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Helsinki,Finland

I find it funny that in finnish alcohol stores they have a notice with this text: "Alkoholia ei myydä selvästi päihtyneelle."
in english: "Alcohol will not be sold to anyone who is clearly drunk."
but the word 'selvä' (=clear, evident) means also 'sober', so, you could read it as: 'Alcohol will not be sold to anyone who is soberly drunk.

Ponk · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 9:30 am Post subject:

mosc · Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 10:44 am Post subject:

I visited Finland way back when. Seems like there, no matter how one translates the sign, the rule is rarely applied. Laughing