mutual differences

Question

But the pair, openly hostile by the end of last year, will patch up their mutual differences.I can comprehend mutual interests, mutual respect, but what does mutual differencesmeans?Thank you!

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

Hi Maple

"What does mutual differnces means?"

To my mind, nothing. It's redundant at best. Leave it out.

Cheers
CB

Maple · Answer

Thank you, Cool Breeze!

Have I just written "does...means"? How sad! What an *** I was!

MrPedantic · Answer

mutual differences

It veers towards oxymoron.

MrP

Maple · Answer

Oxymoron, a new word. Look it up in the dictionary, and I found these:

a deafening silence

a mournful optimist.

Interesting!

Cool Breeze · Answer

MapleOxymoron, a new word. Look it up in the dictionary, and I found these:

a deafening silence

a mournful optimist.

Hi Maple

I didn't know MrP's word either. Nothing to worry about! We don't have to know everything he knows.

This is what I found in a dictionary (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, in effect exactly the same as Webster's):

ox·y·mo·ron, n., pl. -mo·ra. Rhet.
a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”

Cheers
CB

MrPedantic · Answer

Cool BreezeWe don't have to know everything he knows.

I would have to leave the country and assume a new identity in South America if you did.

Maple · Answer

Cool Breeze
I didn't know MrP's word either. Nothing to worry about! We don't have to know everything he knows. This is what I found in a dictionary (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, in effect exactly the same as Webster's):

ox·y·mo·ron, n., pl. -mo·ra. Rhet.
a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”

Cheers
CB

Hi, the online dictionary I like best is www.m-w.com, but somehow the speed of the openness of the webpage is very slow on my computer. So I don't use it often.

About the worry-stuff, actually, I was not worrying. I was just curious and have found the point is interesting.

Hmmm, yes, I'm really curious about the native speakers' points of view about the language. And I'm learning HARD! So I'm on the way sending MrP to the flight towards swamp in Brazil…

CalifJim · Answer

Mr. P. in a Brazilian swamp? Will that work for you, Mr. P.?

CJ

Eimai_Anglos · Answer

To "patch up ones (mutual) differences" is a very common expression. Obviously the word "mutual" is redundant but we still tend to include it!

Maple · Answer

Hi, guys! Thank you two, for having added ounces of fuel to the tank of my plane.

mutual differences

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