Question

1. A mean old man ate a large meal at a restaurant. The waitress tried to provide him with excellent service, but every time she brought him a dish, he complained. First he thought that the soup was too cold when it was hot. Then he said that his steak was dry and chewy, when it was moist and succulent. Then he complained that one of her blonde hairs was in his mashed potatoes, but the hair was actually grey like his own. She remained patient and continued to try to help him until the end of the meal, when he left her a quarter for a tip. She replied on his way out, “Thank you for the generous tip, Mister.”
Which type of irony is used? _______________________________________________________

Answer 1

Verbal irony is the use of words to mean something different from what a person actually says. Verbal irony is used here because the man gave her a tip that was not generous but she replied that it was. Hence what she said meant the opposite of what she meant. The above is an example of verbal irony.