"Flores Drops Bombshell Lawsuit"

"Gov. Newsom Pitches Plan To Reopen Public Schools"

"Red Tape Holds Up Bridge"

Did Flores withdraw his suit? Did Newsom ditch his plan? Is the bridge supported by red tape?

Why are these headlines ambiguous? Blame it on contronyms — words or phrases with two opposite meanings. "Drop" can mean either to introduce, e.g., "The singer dropped a new album," or to discontinue. "Pitch" can mean either to promote or to get rid of. "Hold up" can mean either to delay or to support.

These Jekyll and Hyde words lurk everywhere. When we "dust crops," for instance, we put dust on them, but when we dust tables, we take dust from them. When we trim a Christmas tree, we add things to it, but when we trim a budget, we take things from it. When we seed a field, we put seeds into it, but when we seed a watermelon, we remove seeds from it.

Likewise, "temper" can mean to weaken (The bitter cold tempered their enthusiasm) or to strengthen (The veteran troops had been tempered by combat). Likewise, "weather" can mean to wear away (The wood weathered quickly) or to endure (The wood weathered the storm).

Perhaps the most two-faced contronym is the verb "sanction." It can mean to approve something (The A.A.U. sanctioned the track and field meet) or to penalize something (The U.S. sanctioned Iran).

When using "sanction," always provide some context or wording to make your meaning clear. "University Sanctions Professor's Controversial Research" is ambiguous. "University Sanctions Professor for Controversial Research" is not.

Now see whether you can spot the ambiguity caused by the contronyms in these sentences:

1. Corporate leaders decided to execute the plan. 2. The tension in the meeting wound up. 3. Sally flogged the council's proposal. 4. Tom cleaved the ropes. 5. Anita really went for my proposal. 6. Let's make the boat fast. 7. I'm going to bag this job. 8. The executive overlooked the project. 9. She's trying to rent an apartment. 10. He takes a good photo.

Ambiguities:

1. Kill or implement it? 2. Did the tension increase or end? 3. Did she criticize it or promote it? 4. Did he connect the ropes or cut them? 5. Did she attack it or like it? 6. Did they make it speedy or tie it to the dock? 7. Will he be quitting a job or be taking one? 8. Did she supervise it or was she unaware of it? 9. Is she a landlord or a would-be tenant? 10. Does he shoot good photos, or does he look good in photos?

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His new book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

Photo credit: Connygatz at Pixabay