Confession. I don't understand a very common phrase even after googling...

[OverthinkingOlive]

Oxymoron. I don't get it? Please can somebody explain? I'm in a professional role and I own a house but for fuck sake I just don't get it.

A nice nightmare? Is that the kind of thing it means?

It's only because someone used it once in a context that I didn't understand so it's always confused me! I said I don't like dogs and they said it's an oxymoron.

It means a phrase that contradicts itself for example a deafening silence.

They probably meant it's impossible not to love dogs but it wasn't really the right context.

It's like a contradiction in terms. Two words that go together but have opposite meanings so like "deafening silence". People sometimes use it sarcastically e.g. "quiet children? That's an oxymoron".

An oxymoron is a statement which contradicts itself. Often people use this humourously such as saying government intelligence or good morning are oxymorons.
I can't see how, I don't like dogs, could be contradicting itself?

Your friend used the word incorrectly. An oxymoron is a contradictory figure of speech, so their reply didn’t make sense! They were probably trying to suggest that it was impossible not to like dogs I guess!

X post but I love that we used the same example 😂

An oxymoron is a statement that contradicts itself, eg "a minor miracle", "pretty ugly", "jolly miserable". That sort of thing

That was what confused me about dogs

Deafing silence is an example of an oxymoron. Silence means devoid of sound so it can’t actually be deafening.

i suspect that the person who used it in your example was trying to convey they love dogs and couldn’t comprehend a dislike of them.

'I don't like dogs' isn't really an oxymoron. They were just making a point.

They were making a joke - an oxymoron because the words “don’t like” and “dogs” contradict each other - ie, everyone likes dogs because dogs are so likeable.

I’m a slow typer it seems

This is perfect. Thank you 😊

An oxymoron is where there are two words which mean the opposite so something doesn’t make sense. Like a silent scream. I don’t think your sentence about not liking dogs is an oxymoron so not sure why they said it. Unless they’re getting ironic and oxymoron muddled up and were insinuating you’re a dog……🤷‍♀️. Would that fit, aka they’re a bitch?

Yes, so funny that we both picked that one! Great minds... 😂

"Friendly fire" when talking about war is another example.

Ahh so they were making a dig, righto. Thanks guys!

Yes, two words or concepts that really don't go together. Like "enjoyable torture". But people might then use it in a slightly sneery way about something they don't personally think goes together like "stylish slippers" - is that an oxymoron? The opposite is a tautology where the adjective is redundant eg "cold ice".

Would it help to look at examples. That route sometimes helps me when I hit a mental roadblock.

As I understand it, and I hope I do and aren’t making things worse! An oxymoron is where two words that mean the opposite of each other and you would think would cancel each other out actually reinforce each other. For example, ‘You must meet OverthinkingOlive, she’s seriously funny’.

That any help?

Blimey. There’s a bunch of sentence geeks quick on the trigger tonight!

Military intelligence is a classic.

I am very funny 😁

I think this is meant slightly differently. Isn't friendly fire where you're hit by your own side? Like an own goal in football?

Act naturally is a good example.

We were taught this example at school!