Is it possible for a door to be left "firmly ajar"?

Question

Actually or figuratively? There is something about "firmly ajar" that just doesn't seem right to me.

Answer 1

friend,

yes when the bolts and nuts of the door are loosely tightened.

Answer 2

If the hinges etc are wrong and it doesn't close right, then yes. Ajar. Not good for safety/fire reasons.

Answer 3

I agree that it doesn't sound right.  For something to be "firmly" anything, it is usually in the context of its relationship to something else.  For example, the hutch was placed firmly against the door in an attempt to stop the thieves from entering.

As a door can technically be ajar anywhere from less than an inch to maybe a few feet, it

doesn't really sound correct that it could be firmly ajar.  When it is ajar, it is surrounded obviously by air and is in fact rather easy to move.

As other posters have stated, I guess if you wanted to get into the nuts-and-bolts mechanics of the door, there might be a context where this would make sense, but in day to day language it doesn't sound right.

Just my opinion, tho.

Answer 4

maybe it's firmly ajar because it's stuck open.  but that does sound slightly oxymoronic...