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Chris -- 2018-04-11
Polar opposites vs. Total opposites
Both expressions seem to be in widespread use, but I just get the sense that one of them predated the other and dragged it into existence.
An example of each:
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An educational award winner, Equazzleâ„¢ successfully combines what kids think are total opposites: Math and Fun! The 5 to 8-yea… $26.95
www.dominoes.com/results.aspx?cat=Educational+Games · Cached page
Analysis: McCain, Obama polar opposites – Decision ‘08- msnbc.com
Americans will choose between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama this fall, two men who campaign as bipartisan reformers yet are polar opposites.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24956561 · Cached page
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“Polar opposites†are like things that are “diametrically opposedâ€. “Diametrically†comes to mean “totallyâ€: people say things like “I am diametrically in favor of that proposalâ€. It seems like “polar†could do the same. But in any case, I use both expressions and do not think of either as the same expression as the other, though of course they are synonymous (i.e. as close in meaning as synonyms typically get.)
*If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand,
we would be too simple-minded to understand it* .
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