“What in the Sam Hill is that?” L.8.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. OXYMORON “What in the Sam Hill is that?”

OXYMORON DEFINITION QUIZ IS IT: A.) OXYMORON: the guy who invented that stuff that takes stains out of clothes. B.) OXYMORON: someone who forgot to breathe for a long period of time. C.) OXY – MO - RON: the original names of The Three Stooges D.) None of the above

And the answer is… (B) someone who forgot to breathe for a long period of time Just Kidding! The true definition of OXYMORON is: a figure of speech containing an apparent contradiction. for example: “Jumbo shrimp” “silent scream” “bitter sweet” “deafening silence”

How Shakespeare used the OXYMORON From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. "Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O heavy lightness, serious vanity; Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!" You can say that again?

Commonly used OXYMORONS 'Is the glass half full or half empty?' 'We won't say yes and we won't say no, but I'm giving you a definite maybe' 'You must try this new ice cream. It really is awfully good' 'Our next-door neighbor's dog is pretty ugly‘ He failed English for the third time. What a smart Graham