Do these count as oxymorons?

[sddsddean]

I was listening to the travel news today and it struck me that when the reporter said the A21 was 'badly congested', I thought 'no its not, its very well congested. If it was badly congested it would be free flowing', wouldn't it? Similarly, planes keep having 'near misses'. No they don't; they are perfect misses, but they are near hits. So do you think these count as oxymorons, or is there another name for them?

[IndieSinger]

A few months ago, I witnessed Channel 5 (sorry, sorry... Five) News reporting that a stray bullet had "nearly missed an important building in Iraq". So it hit it then?

[kags]

maybe they are examples of tautology rather than oxymoron - if a bullet passes near then it is stating the obvious to also say it missed, or congestion is obviously bad.

[krymorg]

An oxymoron in it's purest sense is two words with seemingly opposite meanings, that when combined produce a new meaning. So while the examples you've pointed out are unusual, I don't think they qualifyas oxymoron. The best example I can give of Oxymoron is 'Military Intelligence'.

[bernardo]

I agree with your comment about "badly congested", but "near miss" is correct. When they say it is a "near miss" they do not mean "nearly a miss" (i.e. hit). What they mean is that it was a miss which nearly hit. Thus the word "near" is an adjective which describes what type of "miss" it was.

[Quizmonster]

When aircraft pass too closely, this is technically called "an air miss", which simply means they "missed" each other whilst in the "air". So it makes sense. Of course, this phrase is very easily misheard as "a near miss" on radio or TV.

Having said that, people do frequently use 'near miss' to mean 'near hit' in all sorts of everyday situations. Re 'badly', my favourite is: "You need your hair cut badly!" Reply: "No I don't...I need it cut well!" My favourite true oxymoron is 'bittersweet' or 'parting is such sweet sorrow'.

I've never really liked the 'military intelligence' version, since the military, as a group, are generally vastly brighter, more effective and organised than any similar group...teachers' unions, for example!

[apricot]

How about 'rush hour' or, if I could be so brave, 'male logic'

[sddsddean]

Thanks to all. I wouldn't have said they were tautology kags, because that is saying the same thing twice in a different way e.g "the unique one and only". I suppose there are loads of examples, but it it does show that not everyone really thinks about what they are saying.

[LadyPickers]

As an ardent lazybones, "fun run" is my number one oxymoron.

[IndieSinger]

Could it be an example of a Pleonasm? http://www.wordfocus.com/pleonasm.html