Contronyms

and some more

  • buckle: to fasten (a belt), or to collapse under pressure.
  • clip: to fasten with a clip, or to cut with scissors.
  • consult: to give advice, or to get advice.
  • custom:common practice or a specially made item
  • dike: a wall, or a ditch
  • dust: to remove fine particles, or to apply them (e.g., dusting a cake).
  • fast: moving rapidly, or unmoving
  • finished: completed or destroyed
  • garnish: to add decorative touches (to food or drink) or to take/withhold from (as in wages)
  • handicap: an advantage given to equalise chances of winning (as in golf) or a disadvantage that makes equality difficult
  • hold up: support or hinder
  • lease: to rent property or to offer property for rent
  • left:  departed or remained behind
  • off:  not operating (turn off the light) or operating (the alarm went off)
  • out: visible (the stars are out) or invisible (the lights are out)
  • oversight: close supervision, or a careless mistake
  • peer: an equal or a Lord
  • peruse: to skim or to read very carefully
  • ravel: to separate or to become entangled
  • rent: to lease something or to offer an something for lease
  • reservation: firm commitment or hesitation
  • secrete: to bring forth or to hide
  • seed: to add seed (“seeding the lawn”) or to remove seed (“seeding a watermelon”)
  • stone: to remove or throw
  • sanction To order someone to do something or to prohibit someone from doing something
  • strike: to hit or to miss while trying to hit
  • top: to put something on top or to take the top off
  • trim:  to add (decorations) or to take away (extra hair or fabric, for example)
  • wear: to endure or to deteriorate
  • screen: to show (a movie), or to hide/filter.

Author: Janet Carr

Fashion, beauty and animal loving language consultant from South Africa living in Stockholm, Sweden.

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