Select the figure of speech used in the expression:
The canteen waiter greeted us with polite rudeness, smiling as he banged our plates down on the table.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Oxymoron
“Polite” and “rudeness” are opposites, and they stand together in “polite rudeness”. The waiter smiles, which looks polite, but he bangs the plates down, which is rude.
| Figure | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Paradox | a statement that seems to go against itself but still holds a truth | The more Varun rests before an exam, the more work he gets done. |
| (2) Oxymoron (answer) | two opposite words put side by side | Riya felt a sweet sorrow on her last day of school. |
| (3) Antithesis | two opposite ideas placed side by side in a balanced way | Meena speaks softly at home but loudly on the stage. |
| (4) Hyperbole | a big exaggeration made for effect | Raghu’s grandmother knows every person in Kerala. |