What is a verbal expression whose intended implication is the opposite of its literal sense?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Irony
• C. Prologue
• D. Sides

Answer: (B)

Verbal irony is when a speaker says something but means the opposite, and the intended message is different from the literal words. This often relies on context or tone to signal that relief, sarcasm, or critique is intended rather than a straightforward statement. For example, commenting “Nice weather” on a really rainy day uses verbal irony—the literal words seem to praise the weather, but the real meaning is the opposite, conveyed through the situation. Among the options, metaphor is a direct comparison that doesn’t imply opposite meaning, a prologue is just an opening section of a text, and “sides” isn’t a figure of speech. Therefore, the description fits verbal irony perfectly.