Examples of opposites meaning the same.

[Mr Incredible]

Just wondering how many turns of phrase there are which literally mean the opposite but which mean the same. 2 examples:

(a) He's got the brains of an ass
(b) He hasn't got the brains of an ass.

Both meaning the guy is a bit thick.


(a) Fat chance
(b) Slim chance

Both meaning little or no chance.


Just curious about the use of our wide and varied language!

Do you have any more examples?

[IronGiant]

Your're up late Bob

You're up early Bob

Moment in time thing

Dave

[KevD]

LGS started a similar thread a while back on the complexities of the English language.

Why English is hard to learn

[njp]

flammable / inflammable has always bothered me...

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by KevD

LGS started a similar thread a while back on the complexities of the English language.

Why English is hard to learn

Cheers Kev, and although similar it's not the same. LGS was pointing out the different meanings and pronunciation of the same written word used in the same sentence. I'm intrigued by the use of distinct phrases which literally mean the opposite, but in use actually mean the same.

Flammable and inflammable have the same definition, but the latter may appear to have the opposite meaning.
Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means "not flammable" or "noncombustible." The prefix -in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix -in, which is related to the English -un and appears in such words as indecent and inglorious. Rather, this -in is an intensive prefix derived from the Latin preposition in.

[Bat-man]

Originally Posted by Malice

...Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means "not flammable" or "noncombustible." The prefix -in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix -in, which is related to the English -un and appears in such words as indecent and inglorious. Rather, this -in is an intensive prefix derived from the Latin preposition in.

We all know that!

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by Bat-man

We all know that!

Interesting! Does the + denote tongue in cheek sarcasm for which the literal meaning of your statement is reversed, i.e. you didn't know it was the use of the Latin "in" not "un" which has caused the confusion?

[Bat-man]

Originally Posted by Malice

Interesting! Does the + denote tongue in cheek sarcasm for which the literal meaning of your statement is reversed, i.e. you didn't know it was the use of the Latin "in" not "un" which has caused the confusion?

Mmmmm? Possibly a little ingracious of you.

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by Malice

(a) Fat chance
(b) Slim chance

Soon as I saw the thread title I thought of those two.


Fat chance is a sarcastic comment whereas Slim chance is less so and could be said in sincerity.

[Garrett]

Also same sounding word meaning the opposite raise meaning lift or build somthing high, but saying raise to the ground means destroying and lowering.

[Mr Incredible]

I thought it was "raze" to the ground in terms of destroying?

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by Garrett

Soon as I saw the thread title I thought of those two.


Fat chance is a sarcastic comment whereas Slim chance is less so and could be said in sincerity.

Interesting that the topic of sarcasm has now cropped up in the examples. If one considers my first example, the "hasn't got brains of an ass" is usually delivered with sarcasm, whereas the first one is more a statement of fact or exasperation.

Mmm, perhaps it's the injection of sarcasm that reverses the meaning.

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by Malice

I thought it was "raze" to the ground in terms of destroying?

Thats what I said in my post was it not albeit I said raise not raze

[Mr Incredible]

There's confusion abound when there is pronunciation issues in the spoken word (raise vs raze), but you would not confuse the two in the written word. The written word can be confusing without the context of its usage, eg The husband and wife in the small dinghy were rowing about the rowing. i.e. arguing about the activity of rowing a boat. Without the context of the ending, the first "rowing" could be pronounced either way. Raze and raise although sounding the same, have the opposite meaning. I'm intrigued with phrases which are literally opposite to each other but appear to have the same meaning (not pronunciation). Thanks for your input though, it all adds to the thought processes!

[Pat_C]

Are we allowed to transcend national borders here?

I could care less (US English)
I couldn't care less (proper English)