Noun

Singular sarcasm

Plural sarcasms

sarcasm (plural sarcasms)

  1. (uncountable) A form of humor that is marked by mocking with irony, sometimes conveyed in speech with vocal over-emphasis. Insincerely saying something which is the opposite of one's intended meaning, often to emphasize how unbelievable or unlikely it sounds if taken literally, thereby illustrating the obvious nature of one's intended meaning.
  2. (countable) An act of sarcasm.

Synonyms

Derived terms

From Wiktionary under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fri Feb 19 15:54:10 2010

Sarcasm is the rhetorical device of using a characterization of something or someone in order to express contempt. It is closely connected with irony, in that the two are often combined in the same statement.

Origin of the term

It is first recorded in English in The Shepheardes Calender in 1579:

Tom piper) An Ironical [Sarcasmus], spoken in derision of these rude wits, which make more account of a rhyming Rimbaud, then of skill grounded upon learning and judgment.Edmund Spenser

It comes from the ancient Greek σαρκάζω (sarkazo) meaning 'to tear flesh' but the ancient Greek word for the rhetorical concept of taunting was instead χλευασμός (chleyasmόs). Sarcasm appears several times in the Old Testament, for example:

Lo, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence?Achish, king of Gath , I Sam 21:10-15

Usage

Hostile, critical comments may be expressed in an ironic way such as saying "don't work too hard" to a lazy worker. The use of irony introduces an element of humour which may make the criticism seem more polite and less aggressive, but understanding the subtlety of this usage requires second-order interpretation of the speaker's intentions. This sophisticated understanding is lacking in some people with brain damage, dementia and autism, and this perception has been located by MRI in the right parahippocampal gyrus.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Thu Feb 11 14:43:17 2010

Is it possible that one can mistake someone elses Poor Sarcasm for being a witch?
Q. There is this woman I know..and she always comes off extremely stuck up and witchy but I may have over looked the fact that it may just be sarcasm and she just really sucks at portraying sarcasm. How do you find out? Do you just point blank at the person or would this be rude?
Asked by J.J. - Wed Mar 25 12:00:17 2009 - - 8 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Hush child, I'm casting a spell! Why are you worried about being rude to a person that clearly doesn't care about your feelings? Sarcasm is an art form practiced by the people that care nothing for the ones they hurt. Done correctly, a person can say something truly offensive, and make you laugh while making their point. Otherwise, they're just being mean, and rude to you. Why would you worry about hurting the feelings of a person that isn't even smart enough to try and do it right? She is below you,but don't sink to her level. Just step over the smelly carcass of her comments and go about your merry way.
Answered by Tio Paco - Wed Mar 25 12:18:51 2009

Why is sarcasm seen as a positive 'skill' in America whereby everywhere else in the world it is abhorred?
Q. In the UK and Europe sarcasm is seen as really pathetic but Americans love it. Why is that?
Asked by Trevor - Tue Oct 21 18:47:11 2008 - - 3 Answers - 1 Comments

A. its something to do with our insecurities
Answered by larry w - Tue Oct 21 18:59:17 2008

Do you feel that sarcastic questions go right over your head or just sarcasm?
Q. Is sarcasm humorous to you? What's you favorite kind of humor. Poll: Andy Samburg or Adam Sandler Jim Carrey or Robin Williams I like your style or you rub me the wrong way Thanks for participating, goodie bags available at the exits
Asked by Mary C - Fri Sep 26 04:40:37 2008 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You have met my hubby right!?! Duh I love sarcasm. Poll. Adam Sandler both... I love em you have my style so... yeah sure I like your style OOOooo goodie bags, are the "grown up" goodie bags =) you do live in the grown up capital of the world.
Answered by Jess - Fri Sep 26 11:37:33 2008

From Yahoo Answer Search: "sarcasm"
Mon Mar 1 21:12:32 2010

Sarcasm (from the Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmos), mockery, sarcasm) is a form of bitter or cutting irony.

Quotes

  • Sarcasm I now see to be, in general, the language of the Devil; for which reason I have, long since, as good as renounced it.
  • Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded.
  • Sarcasm and compassion are two of the qualities that make life on earth tolerable.
  • Sarcasm is not the rapier of wit its wielders seem to believe it to be, but merely a club: it may, by dint of brute force, occasionally raise bruises, but it never cuts or pierces.

External links

Wikipedia has an article about: Sarcasm Look up sarcasm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Category: Discourse

From Wikiquote under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Wed Feb 10 08:56:05 2010

Sarcasm Wars: Proprietary SarcMark Gets Some Sarcastic Open Competition - Techdirt
news.google.com
Sarcasm Wars: Proprietary SarcMark Gets Some Sarcastic Open Competition

Techdirt

You may recall, last month, we wrote about some jokers who came up with the idea of the SarcMark to indicate when you were being sarcastic . ...

SarcMark: Changing the way jokes are texted U Weekly



all 2 news articles »
Student wins Facebook suit - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
news.google.com
Student wins Facebook suit

Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)

Nice job with the sarcasm . You people need to engage your brain before your keyboard. Dan's post was an obvious sarcastic rant. The clue, even if you were ...



and more »
Icelandic opposition to EU membership hardens - Telegraph.co.uk (blog)
news.google.com
Icelandic opposition to EU membership hardens

Telegraph.co.uk (blog)

It can be tricky to impart sarcasm over the Interweb. after the way brown dumped on them on the banking thingy, can you really blame them for wanting to ...

From Google News Search: "sarcasm"
Mon Mar 1 21:06:31 2010

sarcasm jpg
i109.photobucket.com
sarcasm jpg
400px x 500px | 24.10kB

[source page]

We are not to be trifled with House better than sliced bread

National Sarcasm Society T shirts by strk3
rlv.zcache.com
National Sarcasm Society T shirts by strk3
400px x 400px | 35.20kB

[source page]

National Sarcasm Society funny tshirt No seriously

National Sarcasm Society T shirt by strk3
rlv.zcache.com
National Sarcasm Society T shirt by strk3
400px x 400px | 27.80kB

[source page]

National Sarcasm Society funny tshirt No seriously

From Yahoo Image Search: "sarcasm"
Tue Feb 9 11:42:15 2010

 Sarcasm : The Frontal Cortex
scienceblogs.com
Sarcasm : The Frontal Cortex

Jonah Lehrer

hu, 25 Feb 2010 17:01:44 GM

Sarcasm. is a cognitive challenge. In order to get the . sarcastic. sentiment, we can't simply decode the utterance, or decipher the literal meaning of the sentence. Instead, we have to understand the meaning of the words in their larger ...

what a cute couple [/ sarcasm ]
lipstickalley.com
what a cute couple [/ sarcasm ]

A LA GRACE.

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:18:30 GM

what a cute couple [/. sarcasm. ] Alley Paparazzi. ... Old Re: what a cute couple [/. sarcasm. ]. Who are they trying to convince? Enough of the random bedroom photos. You're married now - just be done with the whole thing and keep moving. ...

Language Log Sarcasm punctuation mark sure to succeed:-!
languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu
Language Log Sarcasm punctuation mark sure to succeed:-!

Chris Potts

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:29:56 GM

Via John Gruber at Daring Fireball, I've learned that a company called . Sarcasm. , Inc., is marketing a ". Sarcasm. punctuation mark" called SarcMark, which people are supposed to use to "emphasize a . sarcastic. phrase, sentence or message". ...

From Google Blog Search: "sarcasm"
Mon Mar 1 21:07:47 2010

  • IdlewormIdleworm
    idleworm.com
    Features commentary and Flash animations about celebrities, current event, politics and war.
  • Home Of The Right Wing ConspiracyHome Of The Right Wing Conspiracy
    angelfire.com
    Farcical monthly rant to members.
  • TweakTweak
    tweak.com
    Stories, comics and images illustrate a twisted look at reality.
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Sun Feb 14 13:18:00 2010