Synonyms to Oxymorons Trivia Quiz

Answer: jumbo shrimp

"Jumbo Shrimp" is probably one of the best known oxymorons, so that's why I started the quiz with it. But what is so 'jumbo' about being a 'shrimp'?
Personally, I love "jumbo shrimp"! Especially when I have 'hot chili' sauce to dip them in! Wait a sec? Hot Chili? That sounds like an oxymoron too!

*"Jumbo shrimp" means large shrimp that we can eat, but it's funny when you think of the individual meanings of the words and then put them together in a two word statement. That's basically what an 'oxymoron' is.

Answer: mercy killing

"Mercy killing?" What is so 'merciful' about 'killing' someone? In my world, if I was going to show 'mercy' to somebody, I wouldn't 'kill' them! There are plenty of other ways I'd rather have someone show me mercy! How about a 'humane execution'? Oops! There I go again! What's so 'humane' about an execution? So are you getting the idea of how oxymorons are so silly?

*As many know, a "mercy killing" refers to taking the life of an animal who is suffering needlessly as it is beyond attainable help.

Answer: soft rock

Have you ever come upon a 'rock' that's 'soft'? I like "soft rock". It's a lot better than 'easy listening heavy metal'!

Sure, we know that 'soft rock' pertains to music, but as an oxymoron it's like saying getting struck with a 'boulder' is like getting tapped with a pillow. Then again, my brother once hit me in the head with a big rock. When I woke up, my seriously apologetic brother was begging me not to rat him out. I was surprised that the stone hadn't cracked my noodle wide open, to which he commented, "Well, I really didn't want to hurt you so I used a 'soft rock'". Then the blackness rolled in again...

*"Soft rock" refers to the softer side of the musical genre we know as rock and roll, or to a musician known for loud and fast songs. The band KISS performed a song called "Rock and Roll All Night" which people knew to be a 'hard rock' song. They also did an easy listening ballad called "Beth", which was usually referred to as "soft rock" because of KISS' reputation as a "hard rock musical act".

Answer: civil war

It makes one wonder how anyone can understand english when we use a word like 'civil' to describe the act of 'war'! "Civil War" has got to be one of the biggest bonehead oxymorons I can think of! What, pray tell, is so 'civil' about 'war'? Thank goodness that we at least have "military intelligence"! Military intelligence? Oops, there I go again!

*A "civil war" actually refers to a conflict between different geographical areas and/or political factions from the same country. It's still a crazy two-word phrase no matter how you look at it though, because should we not be MORE civil with our fellow citizens? This is one oxymoron that really isn't funny when you think of it.

Answer: definite maybe

Here's one oxymoron I've used myself. So, is it "definite"? Or is it "maybe"? How can one be 'definite' if they say 'maybe'? Just doesn't work does it? If this quiz goes over well, 'maybe' I will do another one just like it. And that's a 'definite possibility'! (Gee, wouldn't "definite possibility" also be an oxymoron? That's "absolutely possible"! Hmmmm..I think I'll quit while I'm ahead.)

*This is a really good example of an oxymoron because even when used in its proper form, it really doesn't make sense at all. It's used to give the listener the idea that you're 'considering a point or request the way they want you to', yet even with 'definite' at the beginning, it still means 'maybe'.

Answer: anxious patient

Of course we get anxious when we're a patient awaiting medical treatment. But when anxious and patient are side by side, you get a funny oxymoron that just doesn't make sense.

This is a piece of advice I once received while awaiting medical treatment. I asked the nurse if it was going to be a much longer wait as I was nervous about the procedure I was to have. She told me, "It's ok to be anxious, sir. Just be patient about it."

*Most of us have experienced being a 'patient' at one time in our lives, and no doubt we felt anxious about the results the doctor was going to convey. 'Patient' can also take on the meaning of being the opposite of anxious, though, making this a goofy oxymoron.

Answer: plastic glass

Why don't we call it a 'plastic cup' or simply a 'glass'? Would you call it a "glass plastic"? It doesn't make sense backward or forward! This is an example of an oxymoron we've all used. What have we done to English vocabulary? Oh well, what can one expect from a language in which we 'park on driveways and drive on parkways'?

"Plastic glass"? Yes, I know it is a common term for referring to a plastic drinking vessel. But for the sake of alleviating confusion, why not just call it a drinking cup or vessel? The English language is strange sometimes.

Answer: even odds

Since one of the opposites for 'even' is 'odd', how can this possibly make any sense when using the word even to describe odds?

I used to bet on the horses but even if the odds ARE even, the odds are that I wouldn't even be even at the end of the evening, which gives me an odd feeling. Don't feel bad, I'm confused too.

*"Even odds" is a term used for people who like to bet on sporting events, as in "what's the odds that this horse will win or what are the odds that one team defeats that team". If odds are 2 - 1 then you'd get back $4 if you bet $2 on that event, as well as your original $2. If the 'odds' are 1 - 1, it's called "even odds" and you'd receive $2 as well as your original $2 bet.

Answer: pretty ugly

Is she/he pretty or is he/she ugly? Two adjectives with completely different meanings, and yet we put them together and call the resulting phrase 'speaking English'.

*The term "pretty ugly" is a nasty insult to say to anyone. When we use this term, the word pretty is being used as an adjective meaning quite or somewhat. So "pretty ugly" in a normal sense means 'fairly ugly'. Yet, inquiring minds want to know: if I called someone 'ugly pretty', would it be a compliment?

Answer: government intelligence

Well, this last oxymoron has got to be one of the most mindnumbing in existence. The oxymoron I laugh at the most is not even recognized as an oxymoron! (Not yet!) I'd tell you what it is, but I'm saving it for another quiz depending how well this one does. Thanks for playing and enjoy a 'light night' on FunTrivia! 'Light night'? Yeesh, I think oxymoronic usage may be contagious!

*Sure, there is such a thing as gathering 'intelligence', meaning 'information', for governments, yet when you put that word beside 'government' and keep the state of world rulership in mind, how can you not laugh? The political rulers of this world would do themselves a favour if they just referred to it as "government information".