Metaphor vs. Irony — What's the Difference?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas.

Irony (from Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía 'dissimulation, feigned ignorance'), in its broadest sense, is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or event in which what on the surface appears to be the case or to be expected differs radically from what is actually the case. Irony can be categorized into different types, including verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony.

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in "a sea of troubles" or "All the world's a stage" (Shakespeare).

An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol

Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs

The use of a word or phrase to refer to something other than its literal meaning, invoking an implicit similarity between the thing described and what is denoted by the word or phrase.

An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity

A word or phrase used in such implied comparison.

Dramatic irony.

The use of an everyday object or concept to represent an underlying facet of the computer and thus aid users in performing tasks.

Socratic irony.

(intransitive) To use a metaphor.

(rhetoric) The quality of a statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean something different from, or the opposite of, what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention, often in a humorous context.

(transitive) To describe by means of a metaphor.

(countable) An ironic statement.

The transference of the relation between one set of objects to another set for the purpose of brief explanation; a compressed simile; e. g., the ship plows the sea.

Dramatic irony: a theatrical effect in which the meaning of a situation, or some incongruity in the plot, is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play.

A figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity

Socratic irony: ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.

(informal){{cite-journal

Of or pertaining to the metal iron.

Made or consisting of iron; partaking of iron; iron; as, irony chains; irony particles; - In this sense iron is the more common term.

Resembling iron in taste, hardness, or other physical property.

Dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.

A sort of humor, ridicule, or light sarcasm, which adopts a mode of speech the meaning of which is contrary to the literal sense of the words.

Witty language used to convey insults or scorn;

Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs;

A trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs