Sarcasm
Sarcasm is saying something but meaning the opposite.
Sarcasm can be very confusing. It usually happens when someone is joking or teasing. They say something, but they actually mean the opposite. It is like they are pretending.
Here is an example: It is raining outside and someone says, "Oh great, just what I wanted, more rain!" but they actually mean that they don't want it to rain at all.
Here is another example: Imagine someone is offered a piece of cake that they really want to eat. Instead of saying, "Yes, please, I would love some cake," they say "Oh, no thank you, I would rather eat broccoli!" They say this just to be funny. It is a joke because most people prefer cake over broccoli.
When people use sarcasm their voice and speech usually changes a little. This is known as a sarcastic voice.
Sarcasm is a way someone may try to be funny. They say things that are not what they really mean. Usually they speak it in a way that shows that they are joking.
When someone is being sarcastic
Someone is being sarcastic when they say something but actually mean something else.
Sarcasm usually happens when someone is having fun with us. To have a joke with us, they use words that say one thing when they actually mean the opposite.
Sarcasm can be confusing. But there are clues that can help us work out when someone is being sarcastic:
Do their words fit with the situation? If not they may be being sarcastic.
Has the tone of their voice changed? When someone is being sarcastic their voice often sounds different from normal.
Are they smiling or laughing? Sarcasm is often meant to be a funny joke. Sometimes they try to hide their smile but if you look carefully you can see that they are joking.
Sarcasm is okay. It is usually just a way friends joke and have fun together. But it should never make someone upset. Using sarcasm to make someone upset is not okay.
It is okay when someone is being sarcastic. It can be confusing but it is usually just people having fun together.
