Irony.

We all know that people misuse the the term 'irony' on the internet and in daily conversation.  

What I'm trying to remember (having a bit of a brain fart at the moment) is what it is that people actually mean when they usually say something is 'ironic'.  For a while I thought maybe 'piquant' but I dunno.  Seems they've both been a bit misappropriated as blanket terms for just about any circumstance or event that seems mildly curious, interesting or coincidental with another.

to me,irony is getting run over by a bus whilst avoiding walking under a ladder coz its bad luck.

The most common misappropriation of the word irony I've noted is it's use to sub for something like 'coincidence' or 'bad luck'.  See Alanis Morrisette's 'Ironic' for an example.

Doesn't 'ironic' mean that it something is made of iron?
And 'irony' means that it contains a lot of iron?

Shortly before Ronald Reagan forgot who he was, it was actually the word he used to introduce himself to newcomers.

"Hey!  Irony!  I-RON-YYYY".

Irony - that's what Cinderelli's mice help her with when she is getting ready for special occasions.

It's actually iRony and is an iPod compatible with Mac & Cheese

Irony is writing a song full of examples of irony, when in fact non of those examples actually are ironic.

iRon Butterfry!

When (on facebook) someone tags you in a photo that says: "Please do not tag me in photos and videos I am not in" :-)

The biggest irony about irony is that not everyone understands irony!

Here's something worth checking out about irony ("The 3 Most Common Uses of Irony"): http://theoatmeal.com/comics/irony

Irony is like goldy and bronzy only it's made of iron.