Table of Contents
What is it called when you say something but mean the opposite?
irony
Antiphrasis is the rhetorical device of saying the opposite of what is actually meant in such a way that it is obvious what the true intention is. Some authors treat and use antiphrasis just as irony, euphemism or litotes.
When a person says one thing but means another English?
facetiously
People who say things facetiously are being a little bit sarcastic, saying one thing and meaning another, or treating a serious subject in a funny way.
When a phrase means the opposite?
The term you’re looking for is oxymoron, which comes from a Greek word whose literal translation is ‘pointedly foolish’. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two apparently contradictory terms appear together. Examples include a deafening silence, harmonious discord, an open secret, and the living dead.
What’s the opposite of literal thinking?
Concrete thinking is literal thinking that is focused on the physical world. It is the opposite of abstract thinking. People engaged in concrete thinking are focused on facts in the here and now, physical objects, and literal definitions.
Which is the opposite of ” literal ” language?
“Figurative”, “Metaphorical”, and “Proverbial” all spring to mind. Figurative language is a general term describing anything in language that has a meaning other than its literal meaning–this is probably your best bet ifor a direct antonym of “literally.”
What does the word opposite Mean in literature?
The use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its literal or usual meaning; incompatibility between the actual result of a sequence of events and the expected result; the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning Mood The feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage
What is the meaning of the word literally?
According to the Oxford dictionary, literally now has two definitions, The traditional meaning: Or, the informal meaning: So, depending on the context and emphasis, you could say the following: The couple came across a literal ‘pot of gold’ when they bought their new house, and found it included a bucket of 16th Century silver coins.
Which is the best definition of the word irony?
Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always), irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms).