He is a faithful liar The line above is an example of

1. Analyze the question The line "He is a faithful liar" joins two words that seem to contradict each other: "faithful" (loyal, truthful) and "liar" (someone who is untruthful). We need to name this figure of speech.

2. Explain the concept

• Epigram: a short, witty, memorable saying, often with a twist (e.g., "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it").
• Oxymoron: two contradictory words placed side by side in one phrase to create a striking effect (e.g., "deafening silence", "bittersweet", "cruel kindness").
• Euphemism: a mild or polite expression used in place of a harsh one (e.g., "passed away" for "died").
• Antithesis: contrasting ideas set against each other in balanced phrases or clauses (e.g., "To err is human, to forgive divine").

3. Solution

• "Faithful" and "liar" are directly adjacent, with the adjective modifying the noun.
• Their meanings clash, because a faithful person is not expected to lie. That is a contradiction within a single phrase.
• It is not a euphemism, since nothing is being softened.
• It is not an epigram, since it is not a witty, self-contained saying.
• Antithesis contrasts ideas across balanced structures, whereas here the contradiction is compressed into one adjective-noun pair. That makes it an oxymoron.

4. Answer The line is an oxymoron, which is option B.

5. Exam tip Ask yourself whether the contradiction is packed into one tight phrase, usually adjective + noun. If yes, it is an oxymoron. If two opposing ideas sit in separate balanced clauses, it is antithesis. A quick memory aid: "oxy-moron" is a phrase that seems foolish because it argues with itself.