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It depends.

If it is intentional, it could be called deceit, lying, misleading, mendacity, etc etc.

Otherwise it could be a slip of the tongue (parapraxis)where a word is accidentally replaced by another. In a sexual (or otherwise nervous) setting, a slip of the tongue can be called a Freudian Slip. eg saying "I have to wash his balls" instead of "I have to wash his smalls"

It can also be innuendo, whereby ones says something which is apparently innocent but means something else, usually of a sexual nature eg What does it mean if someone says to a pretty market stallholder "Can I feel your melons?"

It can be metaphor, where a difficult idea is expressed in simple or picturesque terms eg "It's raining cats and dogs" to mean "Its raining heavily".

It can be euphemism, where the word(s) used substitute for other words or ideas that are being avoided, for reasons of sensitivity, secrecy, etc.

It can be hyperbole, (exaggeration) where the truth is stretched for emphasis eg "I've told you a million times not to do that" when you mean "I've told you many times"

It can be metonym, where a simple idea is used to represent a larger concept eg the White House to represent the US presidency. You might say "The White House is debating the war" when you mean "The Presidency is discussing the war".

It can be slang. A Londoner might say "Where's my trouble and strife" when he means "Where's my wife"

It can be a malapropism where a word is accidentally replaced by a similar sounding one eg "I can say without fear of contraception.." instead of "I can say without fear of contradiction.."

It can be a spoonerism, where the initial letters of two words are swapped eg saying "Its roaring with pain" instead of "Its pouring with rain"

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Wiki User

13y ago
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Wiki User

13y ago
Answer:Sarcasm: remarks that mean the opposite of what they seem to say and are intended to mock.

For instance, John asks his friend a question, "Are you scared of Spiders?"

John's friend replies sarcastically, "Oh, yes, I'm sooooscared of them!" with various inflections indicating that he doesn't think spiders are scary at all.

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Wiki User

9y ago

The term used for when a poet writes one thing but means another is called metonymy. This is the use of metaphors in writing and is used in poetry and other forms of fiction and non-fiction.

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Wiki User

8y ago

It is called irony when you say one thing, but you mean something else.

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Wiki User

14y ago

sarcasm or verbal irony

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Wiki User

13y ago

rediculous

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

alliteration

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

f

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Q: What is it called when you say one thing and mean another?
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