Oxymorons – phrases that seem to contradict themselves like “jumbo shrimp” – are a fun and interesting part of the English language. As a writer, I’m always on the lookout for oxymorons to use in my work. So when a reader recently asked “is jumbo shrimp an oxymoron?” I decided to take a deep dive on this classic example.
First, let’s define exactly what an oxymoron is. An oxymoron is a short phrase, usually just two words, that combines contradictory terms. The word oxymoron itself comes from Greek roots that mean “sharp” (oxys) and “dull” (moros). So oxymoron is an oxymoron!
Some common examples I often turn to include
- Living dead
- Controlled chaos
- Organized mess
- Deafening silence
- Jumbo shrimp
Oxymorons are found in literature and everyday speech to create irony or whimsy But sometimes a phrase that seems contradictory on the surface makes more sense upon further reflection Which brings me back to “jumbo shrimp” – is it truly an oxymoron?
To answer this, we need to understand the meaning of the words “jumbo” and “shrimp” Jumbo means something large or bigger than average Shrimp refers to a type of small shellfish or a short person. So referring to a “jumbo shrimp” seems absurd – how can a shrimp be large?
However, when we consider context, “jumbo shrimp” makes sense. In a restaurant or seafood store, the phrase refers to shrimp that are bigger than typical shrimp. Jumbo shrimp are harvested from older, larger shrimp rather than smaller juveniles. So while jumbo shrimp are still small in an absolute sense, they are indeed bigger than regular shrimp.
Some key facts about jumbo shrimp:
- They must be over 15 shrimp per pound to qualify as jumbo, according to FDA guidelines. Regular shrimp averages around 31-35 per pound.
- Jumbo shrimp come from older, larger shrimp around 4-6 months old. Regular shrimp are 3-4 months old.
- The extra age allows jumbo shrimp to grow 1-2 inches longer than regular shrimp, to a size of 12-15 count per pound.
- Popular jumbo shrimp varieties include tiger shrimp, white shrimp, and rock shrimp.
- Jumbo shrimp have a firmer texture and more pronounced shrimp flavor than smaller shrimp.
So while shrimp will always be small compared to larger seafood like lobster, “jumbo shrimp” makes sense when you consider the relativity – jumbo shrimp are the big ones among their petite shrimp peers.
This example shows how delving into the context around an oxymoron can reveal the logic behind the contradictory phrase. “Jumbo shrimp” is not arbitrary, but rather a useful descriptor in the seafood industry. The seeming contradiction highlights a meaningful size distinction.
Some other phrases that initially appear oxymoronic but have rational explanations:
- Deafening silence – Refers to a silence so profound it almost hurts your ears
- Working vacation – A vacation where you mix leisure time with some work responsibilities
- Virtual reality – Technology that simulates physical presence in a virtual environment
What oxymorons seem contradictory to you? Share your examples in the comments below. I may dig deeper in a future article if there are good oxymoron nominations from readers!
Have You Ever Wondered…
- What is an oxymoron?
- How are oxymorons used?
- What are some examples of oxymorons?
Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Joni from Wareham, AL. Joni Wonders, “What is an oxymoron?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Joni!.
Have you ever eaten a jumbo shrimp or seen something really gross? Maybe you’ve heard someone clearly confused or been in a very quiet place. If so, you may already know a bit about the topic of today’s Wonder of the Day. That’s right! We’re learning about oxymorons.
That’s a funny word, isn’t it? Say it a few times. An oxymoron is usually made from two words that seem to have opposite meanings. Used together, though, they express one idea. The word actually comes from two Greek words. The first is “oxy,” which means “sharp. ” The second is “moronos,” which means “dull. ” In this way, the word itself is an oxymoron.
Oxymorons aren’t meant to be taken literally. These phrases are figures of speech. People use them to say things that are hard to put into words. Writers often use oxymorons to create humor, sarcasm, or irony.
Sometimes, people confuse oxymorons with paradoxes. However, they’re not the same. A paradox is a situation in which two true facts seem to contradict each other. An oxymoron involves words used to describe an idea.
Jumbo shrimp is probably the example of an oxymoron used most frequently. There are many examples, however. A few include: virtual reality, old news, act naturally, almost perfect, clearly misunderstood, and only choice.
Often, oxymorons are used in literature to make a reader stop and think. Some may even lead to WONDER. When you start looking for them, you may start to notice these phrases all over the place. They can lead you to better understand the meaning of the person who wrote them.
We bet you can think of some really great oxymorons. Try using a few of them in your next conversation. Do these figure of speech help you explain what you’re saying? They can be very helpful for many things!
Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.5, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2, CCRA.W.4
We’d like to thank:
Gabby and juju for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!
Keep WONDERing with us!
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Would you like to learn more about oxymorons? Ask a family member or friend to help you do the following:
- For more practice, fill out this Oxymoron Match worksheet online. The same website also has a number of other oxymoron worksheets and games. To show what you’ve learned, print out a bunch of worksheets and give them to family and friends.
- Yes, you can! Give it a try! With a pencil and paper in hand, use your creativity to come up with your own unique oxymorons. Tell a friend or family member what you make up.
- Interested in figurative language? Spend some time learning about metaphors. After reading, tell a friend or family member what you learned in a few words. Tell them what a metaphor is and give at least one example of one.
- https://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/oxymoron (accessed 4 Jan. 2019)
- https://people.howstuffworks.com/15-oxymorons.htm (accessed 4 Jan. 2019)
- http://www.fun-with-words.com/oxym_explain.html (accessed 4 Jan. 2019)
- https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814 (accessed 4 Jan. 2019)
- http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-oxymorons.html (accessed 4 Jan. 2019)
What is a good oxymoron?
Are Jumbo Shrimp oxymorons?
They aren’t technically opposites like our old favorite “jumbo shrimp,” but anyone who’s eaten food on an airplane will get the joke. People will often say a particular two-word phrase is an oxymoron when there’s no real contradiction between the two words, and it doesn’t seem like they’re making a joke.
What are the side effects of eating shrimp?
Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.
Are Jumbo Shrimp contradictory?
There is nothing really contradictory about jumbo shrimp, for example—a shrimp is a crustacean that comes in a variety of sizes and happens to have another sense meaning “a small thing.” Others, such as guest host or plastic glass, depend on how much credence you give to the idea of their components being opposites.
What does Jumbo Shrimp mean?
They conjure a new way of seeing and evoke some measure of truth. “Jumbo shrimp” is an oxymoron because “jumbo” means huge and “shrimp” means tiny. “Bittersweet” indicates something both pleasant and painful at the same time, such as a wedding that marks a happy occasion but also a new beginning that leaves a wake of childhood loss.