What should you say?
Imagine you are waiting in a very, very long line that is moving very slowly. Your friend says, “My, how time flies.” What does “Time flies” mean? Is this ironic?
What does “Time flies” mean?
Is this ironic?
Your tone, words, and body language
There are many different ways to respond when someone says something ironic. Usually, you just say something to show that you understand that the speaker doesn’t really mean it. It’s important that your tone remains playful or ironic or that you give a little smile.
Your words
When you respond, you are showing that you understand that the speaker is being ironic. You should use an ironic tone—your tone should match the situation and not the words that the speaker says. Here are some ways to respond to irony:
- Right?
- I know.
- Ha ha.
- Very funny.
Listen to this exchange:
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Your body language
People often just smile when they hear something ironic. They might also nod or roll their eyes, like this:
Eye-rolling is often used to show annoyance or to show that you don’t believe what someone is saying. However, if you smile while you do it, then it can mean I understand that you are being ironic now.