44. Truisms and Contradictions in Terms
A contradiction in terms is often little more than a truism turned inside out; we shall therefore group the two together, and with them certain other illogical expressions, due to a similar confusion of thought.
Praise which perhaps was scarcely meant to be taken too literally.–Bagehot.
Where no standard of literalness is mentioned, too literally is 'more literally than was meant'. We may safely affirm, without the cautious reservations perhaps and scarcely, that the praise was not meant to be taken more literally than it was meant to be taken. Omit too.
He found what was almost quite as interesting.–Times.
If it was almost as interesting, we do not want quite: if quite, we do not want almost.
Splendid and elegant, but somewhat bordering on the antique fashion.–Scott.
Bordering on means not 'like' but 'very like'; 'somewhat very like'.
A very unique child, thought I.–C. Brontë.
A somewhat unique gathering of our great profession.–Halsbury.
There are no degrees in uniqueness.
Steady, respectable labouring men—one and all, with rare exceptions, married.–Times. (all without exception, with rare exceptions)
To name only a few, take Lord Rosebery, Lord Rendel, Lord...,...,...,..., and many others.–Times.
Take in this context means 'consider as instances'; we cannot consider them as instances unless we have their names; take must therefore mean 'let me name for your consideration'. Thus we get: 'To name only a few, let me name...and many others (whom I do not name)'.
More led away by a jingling antithesis of words than an accurate perception of ideas.–H.D. Macleod.
'Guided by an accurate perception' is what is meant. To be
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