Spell Bee Word: irony

Basic Details

Word: Irony

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: A situation where the opposite of what you expect happens, often in a funny or surprising way.

Synonyms: Sarcasm, satire, paradox

Antonyms: Sincerity, straightforwardness

Idioms and Phrases

1. Irony of fate: A situation where fate leads to an unexpected or contradictory outcome. Example: "It was truly the irony of fate that the fire station burned down."
2. Verbal irony: When someone says the opposite of what they really mean. Example: "When she smiled and said, ‘Oh, great job!’ after a mistake, it was clear she was using verbal irony."

Usage Examples

Example 1: The irony of the situation was that the firefighter’s house caught fire while he was out fighting another blaze.

Example 2: It was ironic that the teacher, who always encouraged reading, was caught not having read her favourite book.

Example 3: When the chef burned his famous dish during a cooking competition, it was a classic case of irony.

Fun Fact

Did you know the word "irony" originates from the Greek word "eironeia," which means "dissimulation" or "feigned ignorance"? It reflects a form of communication that highlights contradictions.

Famous Quote

"The irony of life is that those who wear masks often tell us more truths than those with open faces." - Marie Lu

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does "irony" mean?

a) A type of metal
b) A situation where the opposite of what you expect happens
c) A musical note
d) A winter sport

Answer: b) A situation where the opposite of what you expect happens

2. Which of these is a synonym of "irony"?

a) Joy
b) Sarcasm
c) Happiness
d) Anger

Answer: b) Sarcasm

3. Which word is an antonym of "irony"?

a) Fun
b) Sincerity
c) Laughter
d) Surprise

Answer: b) Sincerity

4. Which sentence uses "irony" correctly?

a) I love sunny days; today is perfect for swimming, but it is snowing! That is irony.
b) Irony is a delicious dessert.
c) She wore irony like a badge of honour.
d) It was irony when the cat chased the dog.

Answer: a) I love sunny days; today is perfect for swimming, but it is snowing! That is irony.

5. What does "verbal irony" refer to?

a) When someone literally means what they say.
b) When someone says the opposite of what they really mean.
c) The use of jokes during conversations.
d) An ironic song.

Answer: b) When someone says the opposite of what they really mean.