Stylistic Devices – Antiphrasis
What is antiphrasis?
Antiphrasis is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used to mean the opposite of its normal meaning to create ironic humorous effect. From the Greek : anti “opposite” and phrasis, “diction”. The adjective form is antiphrastic.
Examples of antiphrasis
He’s only a child of 50 years old.
She’s so beautiful. She has an attractive long nose.
“Get in , little man,” he told his fat old friend.
It is a cool 45 degrees Celsius in the shade.