In the movie “Reality Bites,” Winona Ryder is interviewing for a job, and the interviewer asks her to define irony, and she sputters, “I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it.”

Towards the end of the same movie, Ethan Hawke tells her, “It is when the actual meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning.”

When I heard that, I thought to myself, “Hmmm- that sounds sufficient but not necessary.”

So I went and looked the word up in the dictionary, and the definition there was, “When the actual meaning is at variance with the literal meaning or when the actual outcome is at variance with the expected outcome.”

When I read that I thought, “That sounds necessary but not sufficient.”

So I think we’re left with Winona Ryder’s answer. I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it.

Uh, never heard that term… But apparently it has something to do with a person being a supporter of positive re enforcement, clicker training and believes that corrections should never be used. I know a few – well, actually, a LOT – of other dog owners who act like this. In the years I didn’t have a dog I probably thought that way too. I guess some people are just lucky and get a dog that is incredibly soft and easy to train so they trust their technique. Everything’s fine until they get a dominant dog that needs more consistent training. Then I guess they will have to adopt other techniques. Since most of these people don’t affect the way I take care of my dog, I don’t necessarily mind them. I believe that training methods can just be based in an individual experience.

Here is what I have copied for you:

1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.

2. Literature. a. a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.

b. (esp. in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., esp. as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion.

It’s Ironic that the Alanis Morissette song has nothing to do with irony. (thx Ed Byrne). Should be called isn’t it annoying. Which (maybe ironically) pretty much sums up my feelings about Alanis.

or: Almost, but not quite, an object used to smooth wrinkles in clothing.

When you expect something and another thing happens (situational irony) or when you say something and mean the opposite of what you said(verbal irony AKA sarcasm).

Its like a no smoking sign on your cigarette break or

10,000 spoons when all you need is knife or

meeting the man of your dreams and then meeting his beautiful wife or

a free ride when you’ve already paid or

Rain on your wedding day

An unexpected outcome.

Posting this question at the same time someone posts the answer.

With this joke:

After killing both of his parents, the man asked for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.

C. :)!!

With a dictionary