Antiphrasis is the
rhetorical device
In rhetoric, a rhetorical device, persuasive device, or stylistic device is a technique that an author or speaker uses to convey to the listener or reader a meaning with the goal of persuading them towards considering a topic from a perspective, ...
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
Irony, in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what, on the surface, appears to be the case with what is actually or expected to be the case. Originally a rhetorical device and literary technique, in modernity, modern times irony has a ...
,
euphemism
A euphemism ( ) is when an expression that could offend or imply something unpleasant is replaced with one that is agreeable or inoffensive. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse, while others use bland, inoffensive terms for concepts that the u ...
or
litotes
In rhetoric, litotes (, ), also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour, is a figures of speech, figure of speech and form of irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, o ...
.
When the antiphrasal use is very common, the word can become an
auto-antonym
A contronym or contranym is a word with two Opposite (semantics), opposite word sense, meanings. For example, the word ''wikt:original, original'' can mean "authentic, traditional", or "novel, never done before". This feature is also called enanti ...
,
having opposite meanings depending on context.
For example, Spanish
originally meant "fortunate, blissful" as in , "fortunate land", but it acquired the ironic and colloquial meaning of "infortunate, bothersome" as in , "Damned flies!".
Etymology
Antiphrasis is a Greek word which means 'opposite words'.
Antiphrasis as euphemism
Some
euphemism
A euphemism ( ) is when an expression that could offend or imply something unpleasant is replaced with one that is agreeable or inoffensive. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse, while others use bland, inoffensive terms for concepts that the u ...
s are antiphrasis, such as "Eumenides" 'the gracious ones' to mean the
Erinyes
The Erinyes ( ; , ), also known as the Eumenides (, the "Gracious ones"), are chthonic goddesses of vengeance in ancient Greek religion and mythology. A formulaic oath in the ''Iliad'' invokes them as "the Erinyes, that under earth tak ...
, deities of vengeance.
Examples
* "Take your time, we've got all day", meaning "hurry up, we don't have all day".
* "Tell me about it", in the sense of "don't bother, I already know".
* "Great!", an exclamation uttered when something unpleasant had happened or is about to happen.
See also
*
Irony
Irony, in its broadest sense, is the juxtaposition of what, on the surface, appears to be the case with what is actually or expected to be the case. Originally a rhetorical device and literary technique, in modernity, modern times irony has a ...
*
Litotes
In rhetoric, litotes (, ), also known classically as antenantiosis or moderatour, is a figures of speech, figure of speech and form of irony in which understatement is used to emphasize a point by stating a negative to further affirm a positive, o ...
*
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is the caustic use of words, often in a humorous way, to mock someone or something. Sarcasm may employ ambivalence, although it is not necessarily ironic. Most noticeable in spoken word, sarcasm is mainly distinguished by the inflectio ...
*
Satire
Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of exposin ...
Notes
{{Figures of speech
Figures of speech