What is it called when you call someone the opposite of what they are?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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.

What is an ironic nickname?

Sometimes, a character is given a name that is ironic considering their personality, lifestyle, or whatnot. See Ironic Nickname for cases when the character’s nickname, instead of their given name, is ironic.

When a name means the opposite?

A contronym, often referred to as a Janus word or auto-antonym, is a word that evokes contradictory or reverse meanings depending on the context. Specifically, a contronym is a word with a homonym (another word with the same spelling but different meaning) that is also an antonym (a word with the opposite meaning).

What is a Janus word?

A ‘Janus word’ is a word that is its own opposite—like ‘fast’, which can refer both to moving very quickly and to staying put. Frequently described as “words that are their own opposites,” Janus words are also known as contronyms, antagonyms, or auto-antonyms.

What does Antiphrasis mean in writing?

Introduction to antiphrasis Antiphrasis is a literary device which uses words or phrases to convey the opposite sense of their real meanings.

What is the opposite of nick name?

What is the opposite of nickname?

Why sanction has two opposite meanings?

However, the word “sanction” can have an opposite meaning: an official approval for an action. For example, you might read a news story about a legal dispute. The story might say, “Critics say the policy lacked legal sanction.” Because “sanction” has a second, opposite meaning, it is a contronym.

Is there such a thing as an ironic name?

Yes, sometimes, a character is given a name that is ironic considering their personality, lifestyle, or whatnot. Often, this is Played for Laughs, but more serious examples do exist. See Ironic Nickname for cases when the character’s nickname, instead of their given name, is ironic. Subtrope of Non-Indicative Name .

Is it ironic to say “just as I was planning to call?

Critics claim the words irony and ironic as they are used in cases lacking a striking reversal, such as “Isn’t it ironic that you called just as I was planning to call you?,” are more properly called coincidence.

How do you use the word ironic in a sentence?

The word irony has come to be applied to events that are merely curious or coincidental, and while some feel this is an incorrect use of the word, it is merely a new one. She has an ironic sense of humor. It’s ironic that computers break down so often, since they’re meant to save people time.

What are some nicknames for very small people?

Ironic Nickname. The same is true for “Shorty” or “Pipsqueak” or any variation on a name or nickname implying “very small.”. Very popular in Australia, where a bald man will be called “Curly” and a redhead “Bluey.”. Also popular in the Chicano (Mexican-American) culture, where a rotund man will be called “El Flaco” (“The Skinny Man”),…