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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
I found this phrase in a financial news bulletin:
The European Central Bank left its key interest rates unchanged Thursday, maintaining accommodative policy as the euro zone struggles to pull itself together after nearly two years of contraction.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Yes, but what is funny in this?
Contraction
NOUN:
*The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.
*A word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds of a longer phrase.
*The formation of such a word.
*Physiology The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
*A period of decreased business activity.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,554
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,554 |
In the USA the phrase pull yourself together means to control your emotions so you can function, so I can see where the juxtaposition of phrases within "...to pull itself together after nearly two years of contraction" might be considered funny. No? Oh well, I'll laugh anyway. 
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
I just figured it was funny because contacting is already pulling together, no?
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Yes, I see, sorry wsieber. I didn't see it. :-) Sorry too this redundancy is a square reality.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 291
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 291 |
Sounds like tautology to me!!
live in the moment
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