Oxymorons

When I was young, I thought the term "oxymoron" referred to someone stupid. I only saw the last part of the word, obviously, and didn't bother to investigate further.

I love oxymorons, don't you? Those figures of speech in which incongruous or seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side? A 'compressed paradox', as it were. I'm sure many of you have your own favorites, but here is a "Top 45 Oxymorons" list that I saw recently. Maybe you'll see one or two new ones on here that you'd like to add to your own list!

45. Act naturally ... think this one should be much higher up on the list!
44. Found missing
43. Resident alien
42. Advanced BASIC
41. Genuine imitation
40. Airline food
39. Good grief
38. Same difference
37. Almost exactly ... I've been guilty of using this one many a time!
36. Government organization
35. Sanitary landfill
34. Alone together
33. Legally drunk
32. Silent scream
31. Living dead
30. Small crowd
29. Business ethics
28. Soft rock
27. Butthead
26. Military intelligence
25. Software documentation
24. New classic
23. Sweet sorrow
22. Childproof
21. "Now, then ..."
20. Synthetic natural gas
19. Passive aggression ... this one reminds me very much of a term I often used to try and describe my sister - an "active pacifist"
18. Taped live
17. Clearly misunderstood
16. Peace force
15. Extinct life
14. Temporary tax increase
13. Computer jock
12. Plastic glasses
11. Terribly pleased
10. Computer security
9. Political science
8. Tight slacks
7. Definite maybe
6. Pretty ugly
5. Twelve-ounce pound cake
4. Diet ice cream
3. Working vacation ... LOVE this one!
2. Exact estimate
1. Short "Goldenrod's thoughts" post ... obviously, this is a newly-inserted #1.


Now, Beth sent me an e-mail the other day that was titled "Structured Procrastination". Not sure it fits this topic exactly, but I kind of like it. It's best shown to you via a sort of cartoon, I think, and here it is (please click to enlarge the writing) ... ...


What's your favorite oxymoron?