Oleomargarine is what margarine was originally called, sometimes shortened to 'oleo'. This makes it one of a select few: words which can be broken into two words, so that each of the two and the original word are synonymous. That is: oleomargarine = oleo = margarine. Can you find another two English words that share this property?

(In reply to Huh?? (re: Two more) by Sam)

Oh woe is me! What is the world coming to, when I find myself defending Penny's responses! :-)

Anyway, Sam, I think, in context, all of these are synonyms:

• We watched until the play was over/done.
  
• He drank so much beer, his pot/belly hung over his belt. (okay... reaching a bit here)
  
• The soldiers were doing pushups, but now they're up/standing. (not quite equal to 'upstanding citizen', but...)
  
• The running back received quite a hit, and now he's down/fallen
  
• over much--I can't think of appropriate context
  
• We had our man/servent announcing guests as they arrived. (Not thrilled with context, but valid.)
  

Posted by SilverKnight on 2004-02-11 12:31:10