Acute stupidity - that's what an oxymoron is translated from the ancient Greek language. This is a kind of erroneous stylistic figure using words with polar opposite meanings.
And what is oxymoron
The combination of meaning inconsistent in all contradictions. But purely psychologically, an oxymoron helps to clarify the most complicated, inexplicable situations. A brightly colored stylistic figure often takes root in speech so much that people cease to flinch and be surprised when they hear an oxymoron.
Examples - an oxymoron has taken root
Characteristics very often and quite ordinary sound: a courageous woman, a feminine man, an honest fraudster (Mavrodi) , a humane flayer (poisoned a dog in the park so that children are not afraid) , intelligent banditry (United States policy), and even the Old New Year as a phrase in general no one is surprised.
Classic oxymoron
Oxymorons come up even more often. After all, what is an oxymoron? This, among other things, is an indicator of the presence of a sense of humor by a speaker or writer. Surely everyone smiles when they hear or read this: to do harm and do good , fun wake - tore three button accordions. Therefore, not only the writing people are trying their best. Of course, there are great examples. An oxymoron from Gogol, from Dostoevsky, from Turgenev, from Tolstoy, from Bondarev, from Zinoviev. How can you forget “ Dead Souls ” or “Hot Snow ”, “ Yawning Heights ” or “ Ordinary Miracle ”.
Modern oxymorons
However, many modern oxymorons were born with a claim to survive: the unpaid salary no longer surprises anyone. And elegant nudity is not only amazing, but also admires poetry. Life goes to an endless dead end . Buy uncertified securities ! Life-giving euthanasia of the Russian language. Innovative traditions are indestructible! " Optimistic tragedy " to the guarantee and " Eyes Wide Shut. " Daria Dontsova is especially creative in this regard. Almost every title in her books is an oxymoron. This in modern literature is a fairly common literary device, when the contradiction of meanings helps to quickly understand the meaning of the described phenomenon and to remember it better. And the stylistic effect is obvious: an oxymoron is even used in special psychological trainings to liberate "childishness" inside an adult. Remember Chukovsky: the terrible giant - who is this? Cockroach, just.
Neologisms
The main condition for the creation of oxymoron is the intentional nature of the internal contradiction in the phrase. Virtual reality is one of the most successful oxymorons of our time. An honest thief - also can already refer not only to Detochkin, but also to Navalny. And a fair trial ! The old news is an excellent definition of information in the age of high technology. An oxymoron as such is not quite a definition, it is very close to action. Therefore, especially gifted writers came up with neologism: oxymoron , for example. It sounds wonderful: reform is oxymoron . The main thing is that everyone understands everything, which means definition to a point. So we figured out what oxymoron is.