Questions tagged [irony]
for questions about irony and ironic statements.
86 questions
73
votes
6
answers
11k
views
Has 'fat chance' always been used sarcastically or was it once a factual term?
That 'fat chance' means 'a small chance' (and is always used sarcastically) is clear to me. But what I was wondering about is if the term used to be factual and then changed meaning because it started ...
- 781
19
votes
8
answers
17k
views
Is there a word analogous to 'shooting yourself in the foot'?
Specifically I'm wondering if there's a word that describes the phenomenon where some party takes some action to remedy a situation and the result of that action makes the original situation worse.
...
- 293
15
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Is there a proper way of talking about a negative "privilege"?
I'm writing about a video I watched at the moment. I want to ironically describe "having had the privilege of watching it". The video is terrible, hence my writing about it, so I'd like to put ...
- 1,284
12
votes
6
answers
39k
views
What does the word "rich" mean in the reactionary sarcastic phrase "That's rich!"?
What does the word "rich" mean in the reactionary sarcastic phrase "That's rich!" (Google shows 67M hits).
I take it to mean "rich" as in "rich in irony". What it is the source of the phrase and how ...
- 1,244
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
A cell phone company talking about the dangers of texting — irony or not? [duplicate]
There was a presentation at our school about texting and driving. It was held by AT&T, a cell phone company. Would it be considered ironic that a cell phone company is talking about the dangers of ...
- 225
8
votes
5
answers
6k
views
What exactly is "verbal irony"
My daughter has been given the task - by me - of explaining irony. She identified and did a jolly good job of explaining 5 of the 6 apparent types of irony: dramatic, cosmic, socratic, situational, ...
user4770
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Sarcasm without contradiction between literal and appeared meaning
What exactly is the definition of sarcasm?
As I’ve understood it, verbal irony is when the literal meaning of a sentence differs from the appeared meaning (it is opposite/close to opposite). If the ...
- 177
7
votes
2
answers
16k
views
When did ironic use of "as in" start?
As far as I (as non-native speaker) understand the words as in, this is short for for instance, as in:
Understanding “that” as in this statement
It's my impression that at some point in time ...
- 369
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Ironic phrase for something becoming more complicated specifically because of efforts to 'simplify' it?
My linguistic skills fail me and I'd like some advice.
I have a project that currently works exactly as intended, short and sweet, yet a higher up has changed their mind and are asking for it to be ...
- 73
6
votes
8
answers
847
views
Convoluted Synonym for “Convoluted”
Does anyone know of a complicated, preferably large word that is synonymous with convoluted?
- 435
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Term for Exaggeration, Used in Argument
Is there a term for the use of exaggeration or hyperbole, when it is used to the opposite effect of demeaning or minimizing? This often occurs in informal disagreements.
For example, woman says, You ...
- 2,602
6
votes
3
answers
912
views
Word for a phrase that by ambiguity could be accidentally self-deprecating
There is a literary technique in comedies where a person says something intending for it to be reassuring and confident, but their words are humorous because when interpreted differently, the phrase ...
- 453
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
When did calling someone "Einstein" ironically become common?
In “The Children” (1937) by Howard Fast, a mentally-handicapped youngster is ironically referred to as “Thomas Edison” as Edison probably was, in the USA, the best-known "smart guy".
Today, ...
- 611
5
votes
2
answers
369
views
What is the term for using a famous person's name to describe another person? [duplicate]
Names of exceptional people are sometimes used colloquially to describe other people. The most prominent example is referring to someone ironically as "Einstein" or "an Einstein," ...
- 61
5
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Etymology of "Utopia"; counterintuitive
How did the word "Utopia" (coined by Sir Thomas More) come to mean an ideal place when the Greek etymology specifically means "Not a place."
Relatedly, while this might be the prime use of the word "...
- 95
4
votes
3
answers
439
views
Is this an example of irony?
It's ironical that Linux, the most secure OS, is commonly used to hack other machines.
Is that sentence correct, with respect to the irony part?
- 141
4
votes
2
answers
16k
views
Meaning of 'Way to [something]'
I was wondering if "way to do something" means it is right or wrong to do something.
I thought it meant that something was done right, until I read this:
Just a few doors down, Lynette's ...
- 10k
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Is this event ironic or a funny coincidence: (explain why as well)
Is this event ironic or a funny coincidence: (explain why as well)
Bob is walking with Jerry outside after it has just finished raining.
Bob starts on about this time some "stupid, aloof" guy ...
- 189
4
votes
5
answers
237
views
Does this situation constitute a "Pyrrhic Victory"? Irony?
Consider the following situation:
A person, Alice, is hired to do a job for a company, ZooBiz.
Alice is able to entirely outsource her job. She pays the outsourcer 50% of what she makes, and no ...
- 163
4
votes
1
answer
85
views
Is it ironic to write on a dry-erase board with a permanent marker?
There is a dry-erase board. It has a shopping list on it. At the bottom of the shopping list, I added "Dry-erase Markers". But I did this in permanent marker, because we were all out of dry-erase ...
- 915
4
votes
0
answers
149
views
Irony - Alanis Morisette Song [duplicate]
This is old news ...but I am having trouble understanding why some of Alanis Morisette's examples from her song 'Ironic' are not ironic.
For example: "An old man turned ninety-eight. He won the ...
- 709
3
votes
2
answers
384
views
"Truth, Justice AND the American Way"?
Folk-blues artist Richie Havens, in his 1972 album "Live at the Cellar Door," made a comment about the Superman introduction which said that the Man of Steel fought for "Truth, Justice and the ...
- 3,336
3
votes
3
answers
715
views
Is this Irony/Idiomatic speech? [closed]
I was reading this blog post and had trouble understanding this comment on the piece:
Or you could appropriate the Freudian hermeneutic: "Sometimes a vessel
is just a vessel."
I understand "...
- 227
3
votes
1
answer
838
views
Is this phrase an example of irony?
The dictionary defines irony as "the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning."
I also understand that irony is a form of humor. This phrase ...
- 453
3
votes
3
answers
679
views
Is the use of the word "irony" correct in this paragraph?
I recently came across a Facebook post, about a city in India known as Patiala. I was arguing with the admin, about the correct usage of the word irony. Is the word correctly used in the following ...
- 133
2
votes
3
answers
710
views
Is this the right definition of literal?
I just asked whether dictionaries (specifically the OED) might, for one lemma, state several different definitions which are literal. And there seems to be some confusion about my use of 'literal' ...
user99677
2
votes
3
answers
20k
views
Is this a paradox, oxymoron, or irony?
The sentence is
Laughter was his way of expressing his alarm and despair.
I know this is the definition of an oxymoron:
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in ...
- 153
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Example of Irony
Recently I had a test in college that asks us to give an example of irony.
I wrote this word by word:
An astronaut had over 200 missions into space over two decades. Ironically, two days after he ...
- 123
2
votes
2
answers
414
views
Is there a better / correct term for the de facto usage of ‘ironic’?
The word ‘ironic’ is known to be quite frequently misused, to the point that some dictionaries have actually started accepting the de facto usage as another definition, usually calling it situational ...
- 2,373
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the meaning of "ironically" in this passage?
A rocket launched and shortly afterward exploded, on Tuesday. Below is passage from a news article written about it:
This was the second launch attempt for the mission. Monday evening's try was ...
- 83
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is this correct usage of the word irony?
Comment on Reddit
Today I learned that TIL Mark David Chapman planned to kill David Bowie and had a front row seat (along with John & Yoko) for Bowie's Broadway show the day after killing John
...
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
998
views
Can dramatic irony function retrospectively?
Please do not read the following if you have never read Oedipus or are unfamiliar with the plot of the play, in case it spoils the reading for you:
In Sophocles' play Oedipus the King, the dramatic ...
- 2,505
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Word to use instead of "irony"
I have read exchanges such as the following being described as Irony:
A: "I'm going they're now" B: "It's "there". Your such an idiot"
However I'm a bit at a loss whether it could be described as ...
- 376
2
votes
0
answers
214
views
Connotation of a sentence in a listening material from TPO
(Here for the original audio source (MP3 file). The part in question begins approximately at 2'18'')
This conversation is an excerpt from one listening material in a TPO (TOEFL Practice Online) test, ...
- 1,030
2
votes
4
answers
13k
views
If it's not ironic, what is it?
There seems to be a lot of confusion about the word ironic. A good example is Alanis Morissette's "Ironic". I looked at three articles discussing it, and one said that the song was ironic because the ...
- 29
1
vote
7
answers
10k
views
What’s a “ ‘friend’ friend”, and is that meant to be ironic? [duplicate]
Here is a quote from the "Lois & Clark" series:
A: Who are you?
B [a guy]: I'm a friend of her ["her" is another female character whom B is looking for].
A: A boyfriend, a "friend" friend ...
- 19
1
vote
2
answers
325
views
Fake sympathy for a past event
What do you call it when you profess inauthentic sympathy for past behavior when that behavior has directly benefited you? Hypothetical Example: my family members from 175 years ago burned down some ...
- 13
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Ironic "Something-ism"
A couple weeks ago I was watching an episode of Forensic Files on Netflix, when a specific grammatical technique (I honestly don't know what else to call it) was mentioned. The name fails me, but I ...
- 218
1
vote
3
answers
931
views
Is irony used correctly in the following sentence?
I came across this sentence:
The most interesting job paid the least, in keeping with the laws of irony.
Someone please explain how is this ironic?
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
403
views
does apropos have contradictory meanings? [closed]
Definitions:
1) with reference to; concerning.
2) very appropriate to a particular situation.
3) used to state a speaker's belief that someone's comments or acts are unrelated to any previous ...
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
Is 'irony' the correct word to describe a character's delusionary observations?
In the following passage, would it be correct to say that the bolded sentence uses irony?
She walks past one of the farm workers (is his name John?), a robust,
small- headed man wearing a potato-...
- 169
1
vote
2
answers
4k
views
What does the sentence "say hello to karma" mean?
It's a part of a Dilbert's strip you can find
here:
I understand every word. But not the joke as a whole. Can you explain the irony?
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
49
views
Does "for all the" mean a contrast or a cause and effect or a irony?
Does "for all the" mean a contrast or a cause and effect?
"For all the work he put in, the project was sure a disaster. "
Does this mean because of all the work he put in, the ...
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
93
views
Is "that's what you get" likely to be used sarcastically/to rub something in?
Take this phrase:
"That's what you get."
The wording implies that it could be used both positively and negatively, à la 'what goes around comes around.' That is, if I do something good, I '...
- 111
1
vote
3
answers
940
views
What is a word that describes when you try to fix something bad but destroy something good in the process?
I am watching a video of a person releasing a mouse from a plastic trap into the "wild," but it was actually released in an open field. The freed mouse gets across the field and then a large ...
user366142
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Irony in "Every dog should own a man" by Corey Ford [closed]
In the text "Every dog should own a man" (http://thevizslaksentinel.com/index.asp?ID=249), the roles of the dog and the man are reversed; as in this sentence:
There is nothing like a well-behaved ...
- 143
1
vote
1
answer
117
views
Grammar matters - explanation of example
I just stumbled over this from http://braythwayt.com/2015/05/04/grammar-matters.html :
"I'd like to thank the employees of FormerCo, who made me feel that my contribution mattered."
"...
- 216
1
vote
2
answers
24k
views
Ironic question "Do you now?"
From time to time I encounter the sentence "Oh, do you now?" which I suppose expresses some kind of irony. Is the question grammatically correct?
The question was asked also here: http://forum....
- 483
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Difference between "ironic" and "facetiously"?
What is the difference between those adjectives? I've understood that facetiously is used when you're saying something that you don't mean- you're joking, but what differentiates it from (humorous) ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Best word for blunt, honest humor where you say something shocking to get a laugh?
What's the best word for the type of humor where you state something very honestly and bluntly with the intent to be a little shocking and a little humorous? Potentially because people don't expect a ...
- 11