Which figure of speech involves saying what is meant but not literally, often with opposite meaning?

Which figure of speech involves saying what is meant but not literally, often with opposite meaning?

• A. Dramatic Irony
• B. Verbal Irony
• C. Sarcasm
• D. Hyperbole

Answer: (B)

Verbal irony is at work when someone says something that means the opposite of what the words say, often to be funny or to criticize without stating it directly. The clue here is the idea of meaning something different from the literal words, typically with a contrasting, opposite intent. For example, commenting “Nice weather” during a downpour is not about the weather being literally nice; it’s using the opposite meaning to highlight the bad conditions. Dramatic irony involves readers knowing more than the characters, not the speaker’s opposite intent in their words. Sarcasm is a sharper, more biting form of verbal irony aimed at mocking or insulting someone, whereas verbal irony covers a broader, lighter use of saying one thing while meaning another. Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration, not opposite meaning.

Verbal irony is at work when someone says something that means the opposite of what the words say, often to be funny or to criticize without stating it directly. The clue here is the idea of meaning something different from the literal words, typically with a contrasting, opposite intent.

For example, commenting “Nice weather” during a downpour is not about the weather being literally nice; it’s using the opposite meaning to highlight the bad conditions. Dramatic irony involves readers knowing more than the characters, not the speaker’s opposite intent in their words. Sarcasm is a sharper, more biting form of verbal irony aimed at mocking or insulting someone, whereas verbal irony covers a broader, lighter use of saying one thing while meaning another. Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration, not opposite meaning.