MTA (More Trouble Ahead) nicknames

[Jonathan Lighter]

Yes, I've heard such phrases so described - and by the usual oxymorons.

JL

Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Laurence Horn
Subject: Re: MTA (More Trouble Ahead) nicknames
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At 2:32 AM -0500 3/30/05, Jesse Sheidlower wrote:
>On Tue, Mar 29, 2005 at 09:09:08PM -0500, Wilson Gray wrote:
>>
>> Davis, even in the town of Davis, is known for only two
>> things; its Department of Viticulture and Oenology and
>> fielding a powerhouse Division II football team.
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>Surely this is an oxymoron (FSVO "oxymoron")?
>
Are "large mouse", "small elephant", and similar relativized modifier
constructions considered oxymoronic?

L


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