Contronyms

You Say the Same Words to Mean Different/Opposite Things!

English learners often get confused with a wealth of contronyms that look the same but mean something different or even opposite/ contrasting within their own definitions. Let’s go over some of those words/phrases that have contrasting meaning.

 

1.   bad: meaning ‘of poor quality/ evil/ low standard’ ó ‘excellent’

 

e.g., My dad was not thrilled by my choice of friends. He thought they all had a bad influence on my academics.

ó I loved Janet Jackson’s concert a few years ago. It was really bad and perfectly outrageous!

 

 

 

2.  dope: meaning ‘illegal drugs/ substances’ ó ‘awesome/cool/fabulous’

 

e.g., She was the leading advocate of RAD campaign, which stands for Running Against Dope’, in the later years of her running career.

ó Look at his super lowered car! That’s dope, dope!!

 

 

 

3.  to give out:  meaning ‘to provide someone something’

ó ‘to stop doing something due to lack of supply’

 

e.g., The volunteers at this downtown shelter house were willing to spare some of their precious time once a month to give out nonperishable food items, clothing, and books for those in need.

ó Sarah’s legs gave out at the end of her first half marathon.

 

 

 

4.  to hold up: meaning ‘to delay’ (mostly in a passive form of sentences) ó ‘to continue to stay in good condition’

 

e.g., I got a call from Tom. He said he’ll arrive a couple of hours late, because his flight was held up.

ó This is my favorite pair of go-to running shoes. They’ve been holding up for years through heinous weather in the brutal Midwest winter.

 

 

 

5.  bomb: ‘the bomb’ means someone/something that is excellent and impressive ó ‘a bomb’ means a complete failure/ fiasco

 

e.g., Joshua’s performance was the bomb! The entire audience gave him a huge round of standing ovation.

ó  The play was a bomb. Most of the actors seemed to have forgotten their lines and actions.

 

 

 

6.  nutty: meaning ‘having a flavor like that of nuts’ ó ‘mentally unbalanced, odd, peculiar, or eccentric’

 

e.g., I love nutty snack such as peanuts or almond candy bars.

ó The newcomer to our basketball team is a nutty kiddo. He makes fun of all the players, and even the coach!

 

 

 

7.  finished: meaning ‘completed’ ó ‘destroyed’

 

e.g., Let’s hang out at the mall when we’re finished with homework.

ó He spent his short vacation in Vegas and lost all his savings. He’s totally finished.

 

 

 

8.  to seed: meaning ‘to plant seeds or sow land with seeds’ ó ‘to remove the seeds of fruits’

 

e.g., My auntie loves gardening. She spends hours and hours in her backyard, seeding and watering. ó Make sure to seed the dried dates before bring them to a boil for tea.