Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
irony
English answer:
Audrey is oblivious to her tacky choice of site for the party
Added to glossary by
Buttercup
Feb 18, 2004 18:42
20 yrs ago
English term
irony
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
Those in the pop-culture realm who've decided irony is dead have never met Audrey, because for her it's an entirely new concept. He engagement party was being held at a cheesy roller skating rink in Glendale that hadn't been redecorated since 1980.
What does irony mean here?
What does irony mean here?
Responses
Responses
+2
3 hrs
workfluently
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
MBA, Educator, Word Gumshoe
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English
Selected
Audrey is oblivious to her tacky choice of site for the party
I believe the phrase actually means Audrey does not understand the irony (the kitsch, the camp) of her choice of the roller rink for her party. The author says some people think irony is dead (as in, it has been overdone, abused, it has gone out of style). But for Audrey, it's not disappeared off the horizon; it has never appeared, never occurred to her "for her it's an entirely new concept". If she had already developed a taste for irony, it wouldn't be a new concept, and so it seems to me she is unaware that her choice would be perceived by some as being counter-culture, tongue-in-cheek cool.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+6
2 mins
Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
The American Heritage Dictionary lists various definitions for "irony." This one seems closest to your contex.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
verbis
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Asghar Bhatti
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Refugio
5 hrs
|
| agree |
EKM
7 hrs
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| agree |
Rajan Chopra
10 hrs
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| agree |
Jörgen Slet
12 hrs
|
+1
2 mins
Nikita Kobrin
Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania
Translator/Journalist/Voiceover Pro
Native in: Russian (Variants: Standard-Belarus, Standard-Ukraine, Standard-Russia, Standard-Latvia, Standard-Lithuania) 
Works in: English to Russian, Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
35
the contradiction between the said and implied
.
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-02-18 18:47:31 GMT)
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IRONY:
a stylistic device in which the contextual evaluative meaning of a word is directly opposite to its dictionary meaning
- the contradiction between the said and implied
- is subdivided into verbal irony and sustained irony The context is arranged so that the qualifying word in irony reverses the direction of the evaluation, and the word positively charged is understood as a negative qualification and (much-much rarer) vice versa. The context varies from the minimal - a word combination to the context of a whole book.
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-02-18 18:47:31 GMT)
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IRONY:
a stylistic device in which the contextual evaluative meaning of a word is directly opposite to its dictionary meaning
- the contradiction between the said and implied
- is subdivided into verbal irony and sustained irony The context is arranged so that the qualifying word in irony reverses the direction of the evaluation, and the word positively charged is understood as a negative qualification and (much-much rarer) vice versa. The context varies from the minimal - a word combination to the context of a whole book.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alex Zelkind (X)
14 hrs
|
6 mins
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
2249
Background info - not for points
"Ironic deeds have some consequence more or less the reverse of what the doer intends. Examples: Macbeth thinks that by killing Duncan he will gain happiness, but he finds that his deed brings him sleepless nights. Brutus thinks that by killing Caesar he will bring liberty to Rome, but he brings tyranny."
Sylvan Barnet
Sylvan Barnet
13 hrs
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
&
English
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
615
Merriam-Webster says:
"a : humor, ridicule, or light sarcasm that adopts a mode of speech the intended implication of which is the opposite of the literal sense of the words (as when expressions of praise are used where blame is meant) b : this mode of expression as a literary style or form *a gift for irony* c : an ironic utterance or expression"
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Note added at 13 hrs 15 mins (2004-02-19 07:57:24 GMT)
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i.e. to say one thing but to mean another...
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Note added at 13 hrs 15 mins (2004-02-19 07:58:02 GMT)
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in your specific case it sounds like homegirl doesn\'t like jokes of any kind
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Note added at 13 hrs 15 mins (2004-02-19 07:57:24 GMT)
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i.e. to say one thing but to mean another...
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Note added at 13 hrs 15 mins (2004-02-19 07:58:02 GMT)
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in your specific case it sounds like homegirl doesn\'t like jokes of any kind
1 day 6 hrs
two
two or double: an expression which could be sarcastic or humorous, implying one meaning to some, while intending a contradictory meaning to other people. Irony involves deceit.
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