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Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said or done and what is meant or expected to happen.

Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said or done and what is meant or expected to happen.

The term is is commonly used in U.S. English to refer to a type of [[rhetoric]] whereby a statement or assertion is made with the intention to put across the opposite meaning. E.g. "Oh I ''really'' like your coat." In British English this is more commonly referred to as [[sarcasm]].  Whether a particular statement is construed as irony or sarcasm can often be a matter of opinion.  The Sarcasm Society <ref> http://www.sarcasmsociety.com/howtorecognizeirony/</ref> offers the following distinction:

The term is is commonly used in U.S. English to refer to a type of [[rhetoric]] whereby a statement or assertion is made with the intention to put across the opposite meaning. E.g. "Oh I ''really'' like your coat." In British English this is more commonly referred to as [[sarcasm]].  Whether a particular statement is construed as irony or sarcasm can often be a matter of opinion.  The Sarcasm Society <ref> http://www.sarcasmsociety.com/howtorecognizeirony/</ref> offers the following distinction:

'''Irony of situation''', a discrepency between the expected result and actual results. An example of this definition of ''irony'' might be a boxer betting his life savings on a fight he expects to lose, and then accidentally winning the fight.

'''Irony of situation''', a discrepency between the expected result and actual results. An example of this definition of ''irony'' might be a boxer betting his life savings on a fight he expects to lose, and then accidentally winning the fight.

The current situation is further clouded by the fact that literature, cinema, fashion and behaviour can now be described as [[post irony|post ironic]]. This term is often used when a statement is made which is insulting, and which potentially could be true, is not meant as an insult. An example of this is being asked "Does my bum look big in this?", and replying: "It's looks bigger than an elephant's". This taken on face value could be seen to be insulting. However the implication here is that this latter statement is ironic, and no insult is intended. The problem with post irony is that it is often difficult to distinguish between fashion gaffs, insults and poor literature and attempts to be 'cool', 'subtle', and 'sophisticated'. <ref> For further clarification on this see the urban dictionary definition at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=post-ironic </ref>

The current situation is further clouded by the fact that literature, cinema, fashion and behaviour can now be described as [[post irony|post ironic]]. This term is often used when a statement is made which is insulting, and which potentially could be true, is not meant as an insult. An example of this is being asked "Does my bum look big in this?", and replying: "It's looks bigger than an elephant's". This taken on face value could be seen to be insulting. However the implication here is that this latter statement is ironic, and no insult is intended. The problem with post irony is that it is often difficult to distinguish between fashion gaffs, insults and poor literature and attempts to be 'cool', 'subtle', and 'sophisticated'. <ref> For further clarification on this see the urban dictionary definition at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=post-ironic </ref>

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