irony

Pluralironies

1. 1
   opposite meaningnounrhetoriccountable or uncountable

   Saying one thing but meaning another, often the opposite, usually to be funny.

   Like saying 'great job' when someone drops all the plates: the words and the meaning point in opposite directions.

   'Nice weather,' he said with heavy irony as the rain soaked us.

   There was clear irony in her voice when she thanked him for being so 'helpful.'

   Similarsarcasm, satire, mockery, wryness

   Oppositesincerity, earnestness

   Note
2. 2
   unexpected outcomenouncolloquialcountable or uncountable

   When what happens is the opposite of what you would expect.

   Like a spelling teacher who spells her own name wrong.

   Everyone noticed the irony when the fire station itself burned down.

   It was pure irony that the lifeguard had to be rescued.

   Similarparadox, incongruity, contradiction

3. 3
   opposite meaningnounrhetoriccountable

   A remark that means something different from what the words really say.

   Calling the tiny car 'the limousine' was an irony everyone enjoyed.

   He answered with a dry irony: 'Of course, the printer never breaks.'

   Note
4. 4
   audience knowsnouncountable or uncountable

   A moment in a play or movie when the audience knows something important that the characters do not.

   Like watching a friend walk toward a surprise party: you know what is coming, but they do not.

   We felt the irony because we knew the box was empty, but the characters kept guarding it.

   The movie's irony works because we can see the trap long before the hero does.

   Note
5. 5
   feigned ignorancenouncountable or uncountable

   Pretending not to know something in order to trap or test the other person in an argument.

   Like a chess player who pretends to make a weak move so the other player walks into a trap.

   The teacher used irony, acting confused so the students would explain the answer themselves.

   With playful irony, Dad kept asking 'what's a video game?' until we showed him every button.

   Similardissimulation, pretense

   Note
6. 6
   like ironadjective

   Having to do with the metal iron, like the taste, smell, or look iron gives something.

   The old pipes gave the water an irony taste.

   The metal railing left an irony smell on my hands.

   Similarmetallic, rusty, ferrous

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 7