Opposite of "Dry Run"?
Ethymology of "dry run" is explained here: "Where does the phrase "dry run" come from?". What is its antonym?
However I wonder, what is the opposite of "dry run". I guess it might vary a lot depending on context. I am starting from programming context (many programs have option "dry run" , I wonder how to call opposite option "wet run"?). However I would be happy to receive more universal overview (as "dry run" can be used in contexts of : showing presentation, running production process, army test and many more)
Solution 1:
It depends on what you mean by an opposite. Nouns and noun phrases don't always have opposites - e.g. what is the opposite word for hospital, car, etc? It strays into philosophy, but we can consider functional opposites, that is, opposites in the sense of their effect or position, etc.
Since a dry run is a practice event, the candidates that come to mind for an 'opposite' meaning are:
- not practice, i.e. the event itself - event or run (akin to linked definition 5) or execute (linked definition 2); or
- opposite time relative to the event - clean up or tear down.
Update @Michael's comment to the question includes the excellent 'not practice' opposite live run.
Solution 2:
The term wet run appears to have at least some usage:
At Brooks International, we use the terms “dry run” and “wet run” to describe activity leading to the “I Date,” where the client’s strategic imperative is fully implemented and beginning to return benefits at the rate required in the initial agreement (cash flow).
A Salem Daily News article from July 6, 1896, describes a contest between fire companies as dry runs (this is the first known usage of the term). The contests did not use water. Fire company drills with water were and may still be known as wet runs.
However, having just run into the same wording problem, I decided to go for non-dry run, for the following reasons:
- in my case (and possibly in yours too), both expressions (dry and non-dry) would appear near each other, making the connection clear.
- non-dry run is understandable on its own and can be easily associated with dry run (personal opinion).
- wet run is practically not used despite my above example (most of the few cases found by Google are from different contexts anyway), and would thus likely be perceived as odd and possibly not understood at all.