Banal expressions

[JLM]

Hey JLM, Horsefly! *rapid expectorant*

I'm sure that you see the humour in that. (I've met 'HorseflyGuy', you wouldn't like'm.) And sorry VanIsle & AnnaG for buttin' in. I hope that you're both well. :smile:

JLM, in conversation today a friend of mine and I came up with a possible, 'Homoantagonym'.

I.E.: A word that only sounds the same, but means the opposite and, is spelt different.

Acronym aside:

1st case; "That girl is Fat!" (Archaic)
Meaning: "That girl is burdened by today's preconceptions!"

2nd case; "That girl is P.H.A.T.!" (Modern)
Meaning: "That girl (has) Perfect Hips, A$$, & etcetera..."

Or a 'homocontranym' maybe?

I've occasionally been accused of "having a way with words", but I think I've met more than my match with you. In a place like Likely you could likely get a job as the local lexicographer. :lol::lol:

 

[Cliffy]

The word ‘mad’ is particularly interesting in that it denotes the extremes at both ends. It can mean ecstatically happy or seething, boiling with anger. I still remember my English teacher giving us the following example as to the nuances of English language.

I went mad over the flat.

This sentence has totally different meaning in North America and Britain, since in Brittan a flat means an apartment.

Or the lines from Pink Floyd:
"I'm mad. I know I am mad. I've always been mad." - Dark Side of the Moon

 

[Cliffy]

I've occasionally been accused of "having a way with words", but I think I've met more than my match with you. In a place like Likely you could likely get a job as the local lexicographer. :lol::lol:

Who would hire him and who would he serve. There aren't too many people there - a lot less than Nakusp!:lol:

 

[JLM]

Who would hire him and who would he serve. There aren't too many people there - a lot less than Nakusp!:lol:

Nakusp is a megatropolis by comparison. Who knows? maybe prospective future denizens of Likely could use a book of local "Likelisms"

 

[Cannuck]

I think one of the fundamental issues facing us today is the fundamental structure of public speaking requires politicians to fundamentally add words to try and sound more important. The fundamental problem, in my books is the overuse of the word fundamental. Repeatedly saying "fundamental" cause me to have the fundamental need to regurgitate.

 

[Cliffy]

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

 

[Niflmir]

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

In the fundament even.

 

[JLM]

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

Basically

 

[AnnaG]

Orientated? Whatever happened to oriented?

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I'm not sure if all the words listed are TRUE antangonyms. Cleave is, as both definitions are equally valid. Some mentioned have one "official" definition and one slang or sarcastic definition. An example of which would be "lovely". You can say it's a lovely house- real definition or you can say when your lovely house burns down- "that is just bloody lovely". Sarcasm.

JLM, that way almost any word can be used sarcastically, that doesn’t mean that it has two meanings. But the term like ‘wise guy’ doesn’t have to be used sarcastically, its meaning is universally known.

But you are right, sarcasm doesn’t count, if it did then almost every word would have two opposite meanings.

Another type of words that has fascinated me is homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but are different (maid and made, main and mane etc.). Now, there is nothing remarkable about homophones, there are hundreds (or perhaps even thousands) of examples.

But what about three homophones, three words which sound the same but are different. I can think of two examples, right, write, rite, and sent, cent, scent. I don’t know of any more.

 

[Spade]

But what about three homophones, three words which sound the same but are different. I can think of two examples, right, write, rite, and sent, cent, scent. I don’t know of any more.

I've only two to write, too. O boy, owe bouy, oh boi!

 

[JLM]

JLM, that way almost any word can be used sarcastically, that doesn’t mean that it has two meanings. But the term like ‘wise guy’ doesn’t have to be used sarcastically, its meaning is universally known.

But you are right, sarcasm doesn’t count, if it did then almost every word would have two opposite meanings.

Another type of words that has fascinated me is homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but are different (maid and made, main and mane etc.). Now, there is nothing remarkable about homophones, there are hundreds (or perhaps even thousands) of examples.

But what about three homophones, three words which sound the same but are different. I can think of two examples, right, write, rite, and sent, cent, scent. I don’t know of any more.

Not to mention there, their and they're.

 

[Spade]

And, JLM, check the cheque from the Czech.

 

[Spade]

Perhaps they're so, sew, sow?

 

[Spade]

See sea, plus Cee!

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Perhaps they're so, sew, sow?

I looked up ‘sow’ in the dictionary, Spade. It is pronounced ‘sau’, and not ‘so’ (that is what I thought, but I wanted to double check).

So I don’t think that qualifies.

Not to mention there, their and they're.

They’re is two words, JLM, not one word.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

See sea, plus Cee!

'Cee' is the letter 'C', Spade, hardly a word. Keep trying though, i am sure there are a few (three homophones) that I am not aware of.

 

[Spade]

As you sow, so shall you reap! So there!

 

[Spade]

See, Cee is a municipality in Galacia! But not sea-side! If you count cee, that's four!

 

[SirJosephPorter]

As you sow, so shall you reap! So there!

Quite right, spade. My mistake. Word 'sow' has two meanings (and two ways to say it), I had forgotten the other meaning.