What people say!
Remarks and quotes by people in the media
From Independent Television News:
In Australia, a prisoner went on an extreme diet to enable him to squeeze through a space between the bars and a brick wall he had chipped away.
"Have they caught him yet?
Slim chance!
"He's still at large and they have a fat chance of catching him".
Explanation
slim chance - a very small possibility
at large - free
fat chance - virtually no possibility
From an astronomer on the BBC
whilst discussing the possibility of life on other planets:
"The best argument for supposing that there is intelligent life
out there is that they haven't tried to contact us!"
Yes - very intelligent life!
Ambiguity
ITV London News, when a fire started on a 3rd "bendy bus":
"Fire has broken out on a third of London's bendy buses"
Let's hope the remaining two thirds are OK !
From BBC Teletext
"David Camerson's wife goes into labour . . ."
Explanation:
David Cameron is the leader of the British Conservative Party, the opposition to Labour.
Go into labour means begins to give birth - but here it may mean changing political parties!
Ambiguity
BBC News, regarding a new test-flight:
"New technology will allow people to travel around the world
in a few hours"
So soon at that? When are services actually starting?
BBC Ceefax, referring to the film "The Passion of Christ":
"Brothers seek French passion ban"
No passion in France? Oh my god!
BBC Weather Forecast:
"There's plenty of weather coming up through the next week"
Really? Wow - imagine the opposite: no weather at all!
A good example of tautology*!
Commentator, European Football Cup:
"It's almost the first time this unprecedented action has ever taken place in football!"
A politician you can trust?
My local Labour Party Candidate's name was, believe it or not "Nick More"
As you will realise, he didn’t win!
to nick also means to steal
A chat host on LBC radio
“. . . it’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water to coin a cliché . . .”
From Independent Television News:
In Australia, a prisoner went on an extreme diet to enable him to squeeze through a space between the bars and a brick wall he had chipped away.
"Have they caught him yet?
Slim chance!
"He's still at large and they have a fat chance of catching him".
Explanation
slim chance - a very small possibility
at large - free
fat chance - virtually no possibility
From an astronomer on the BBC
whilst discussing the possibility of life on other planets:
"The best argument for supposing that there is intelligent life
out there is that they haven't tried to contact us!"
Yes - very intelligent life!
Ambiguity
ITV London News, when a fire started on a 3rd "bendy bus":
"Fire has broken out on a third of London's bendy buses"
Let's hope the remaining two thirds are OK !
From BBC Teletext
"David Camerson's wife goes into labour . . ."
Explanation:
David Cameron is the leader of the British Conservative Party, the opposition to Labour.
Go into labour means begins to give birth - but here it may mean changing political parties!
Ambiguity
BBC News, regarding a new test-flight:
"New technology will allow people to travel around the world
in a few hours"
So soon at that? When are services actually starting?
BBC Ceefax, referring to the film "The Passion of Christ":
"Brothers seek French passion ban"
No passion in France? Oh my god!
BBC Weather Forecast:
"There's plenty of weather coming up through the next week"
Really? Wow - imagine the opposite: no weather at all!
A good example of tautology*!
Commentator, European Football Cup:
"It's almost the first time this unprecedented action has ever taken place in football!"
A politician you can trust?
My local Labour Party Candidate's name was, believe it or not "Nick More"
As you will realise, he didn’t win!
to nick also means to steal
A chat host on LBC radio
“. . . it’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water to coin a cliché . . .”
It was a life-changing experience
must be an oxymoron**:
Surely every experience - by definition - must be life-changing?
must be an oxymoron**:
Surely every experience - by definition - must be life-changing?
*Tautology = the unnecessary use of two words or phrases to express one meaning
**Oxymoron = two words used together which have, or seem to have, opposite meanings
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silent |
listen |
funeral |
real fun |
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violence |
nice love |
forty-five |
over fifty |
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united |
untied |
earliest |
arise late |
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evangelist |
evil's agent |
within earshot |
I won't hear |
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true lady |
adultery |
honestly |
on the sly |
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butchers |
cut herbs |
antagonist |
not against |
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customers |
store scum |
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dormitories |
tidier rooms |
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misfortune |
it's more fun |
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What are antigrams?
Antigram is a new word. It is an anagram but which renders the opposite meaning. Here are some examples!
