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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
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Is "good grief" an oxymoron?
I'm having a bit of a disagreement with someone here:
of oxymora#Real Oxymorons
My understanding is that an oxymoron is a combination of words with contrary meanings. There are indeed 'perceived oxymora', based on different meanings of the words involved, such as "fairly dark", "legally forbidden" or "pretty ugly". But is "good grief" one of these, or a genuine oxymoron?
The person who's disagreeing seems to think that it isn't a real oxymoron as it's "just an expression", which doesn't make any difference to me, and as the two words aren't being used with their normal meanings. But the words "good" and "grief" aren't individually put to any meanings, so I'm not sure that that follows.
What do you people think? Where does "good grief" belong on the list?
Stewart.
My e-mail is valid but not my primary mailbox. Please keep replies on the 'group where everyone may benefit.
of oxymora#Real Oxymorons
My understanding is that an oxymoron is a combination of words with contrary meanings. There are indeed 'perceived oxymora', based on different meanings of the words involved, such as "fairly dark", "legally forbidden" or "pretty ugly". But is "good grief" one of these, or a genuine oxymoron?
The person who's disagreeing seems to think that it isn't a real oxymoron as it's "just an expression", which doesn't make any difference to me, and as the two words aren't being used with their normal meanings. But the words "good" and "grief" aren't individually put to any meanings, so I'm not sure that that follows.
What do you people think? Where does "good grief" belong on the list?
Stewart.
My e-mail is valid but not my primary mailbox. Please keep replies on the 'group where everyone may benefit.
Top answer
[nq:1]I'm having a bit of a disagreement with someone here: of oxymora#Real Oxymorons My understanding is that an oxymoron ... so I'm not sure that that follows. What do you people think?
- [nq:1]I'm having a bit of a disagreement with someone here: of oxymora#Real Oxymorons My understanding is that an oxymoron ...
- so I'm not sure that that follows.
- What do you people think?
- " It's undoubtedly not a genuine oxymoron but an accident.
- " that is synonymous, but I can't remember where I've read or heard it.
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3 Answers
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[nq:1]I'm having a bit of a disagreement with someone here: of oxymora#Real Oxymorons My understanding is that an oxymoron ... so I'm not sure that that follows. What do you people think? Where does "good grief" belong on the list?[/nq]
"Good grief!" is merely a euphemism for "Good ***!" It's undoubtedly not a genuine oxymoron but an accident. I think there's also an expression "Good gravy!"
"Good grief!" is merely a euphemism for "Good ***!" It's undoubtedly not a genuine oxymoron but an accident. I think there's also an expression "Good gravy!"
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[nq:2]I'm having a bit of a disagreement with someone here: ... people think? Where does "good grief" belong on the list?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Good grief!" is merely a euphemism for "Good ***!" It's undoubtedly not a genuine oxymoron but an accident. I think ... at these links: http://www.rotteneggs.com/r3/show/se/
[nq:1]"Good grief!" is merely a euphemism for "Good ***!" It's undoubtedly not a genuine oxymoron but an accident. I think ... at these links: http://www.rotteneggs.com/r3/show/se/
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[nq:1]I'm having a bit of a disagreement with someone here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:List of oxymora#Real Oxymorons My understanding is that an oxymoron ... so I'm not sure that that follows. What do you people think? Where does "good grief" belong on the list?[/nq]
That's an awfully good example of o
That's an awfully good example of o
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