I think it is a rather sideways oxymoron.
2007-01-08 05:37:18 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It's a hyperbole.
'Mediocre' is not the opposite of 'extreme'
(I don't know what a 'sideways' oxymoron is though)
Anyway the point is, it's obviously an exaggeration which doesn't make sense ergo, its a hyperbole.
2007-01-08 06:32:18 · answer #1 · answered by ghds 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I agree.
At the same time, just like the word "average", there are those who are solidly average (in the middle), and there are those who are borderline average (just below the cutoff for above average), and then there are those who are just barely average (just above the cutoff for fair/poor).
So, I think that the phrase "extremely mediocre" is not a so much a describing the object of mediocrity, but more the degree to which it is mediocre. In this case, it sounds as if the object is so founded in mediocrity as to be unremovable from that state.
Though I do think "solidly mediocre" would have been as effective but less awkward.
2007-01-08 05:51:21 · answer #2 · answered by Goyo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mediocre, to a great extent. Having a high level of mediocrity. Though in a sense, you're correct, it could be considered an oxymoron.
2007-01-08 05:41:19 · answer #3 · answered by Master Maverick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that phrase is very unique. Or, at least, I thought that when I was a little bit pregnant.
Puhlease. Mediocre means average. That's a binary thing... either you're average or you're not. No extremely about it.
2007-01-08 05:48:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the definition of "mediocre" is ordinary or inferior in quality, the word pretty much says the whole thing, so I think the phrase would be up there with "truly unique" and (my personal favorite) "the department of redundancy department."
2007-01-08 05:46:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Mediocre' is word that has no degrees - like 'perfect' and 'unique'.
However, I can understand how you could be tempted to say 'extremely mediocre' in an effort to convey how 'very ordinary' something is.
2007-01-08 11:30:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
mediocre is of the usual nothing special nothing to get excited about, just plain and already done or heard about. when someone says extremely they mean its worse than mediocre i would think, just plain boring, or mundane to the extreme~
2007-01-08 05:46:42 · answer #7 · answered by pa625 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very sub par, the extreme in the negative realm
2007-01-08 05:40:24 · answer #8 · answered by trlrpkgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oxymoron
2007-01-08 05:40:24 · answer #9 · answered by ♥ Etheria ♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not as bad as 'very unique' (but nearly)
2007-01-08 06:31:27 · answer #10 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋