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Antiphrasis

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Antiphrasis

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Antiphrasis is the use of words in a sense opposite to its real meaning.

Example

Oh, I am so beautiful! My long nose and pimple so attractive!

I am but a child of sixty years.

That is the worst performance I have seen. Oh, look at your face! -- actually I loved it.

Discussion

When something does not make sense, it surprises people, making them stop and think about what is really meant. A reversal is a very simple puzzle to solve, so people will generally get the meaning quite quickly.

Irony uses incongruity to create wry humor. The reversal in antiphrasis is hence a very easy way of creating ironic statements.

Antiphrasis can also be used for sarcasm, reversing something to show that you know well what is intended.

Antiphrasis comes from the Greek 'anti', meaning 'opposite', and 'phrasis', meaning 'diction'; also 'antiphrazein,' meaning 'to express by antithesis or negation.'

Classification: Reversal, Meaning

See also

Surprise principle

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

Please help and share:

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

– About
– Guest Articles
– Blog!
– Books
– Changes
– Contact
– Guestbook
– Quotes
– Students
– Webmasters

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed