Verbal irony occurs when a speaker on stage says the opposite of what the speaker means. It is a figure of speech in which words are used in a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. The speaker intentionally says something that is opposite or contradictory to their true beliefs or feelings in order to express their attitude or to emphasize a point. Verbal irony is often used for humorous or dramatic effect, and it requires the audience to understand the intended meaning behind the words.