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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2023 July 2

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July 2

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Hype

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The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

This news report [1] begins:

Last summer the UK posted a new record temperature as the mercury tipped above 40C for the first time in history. Now, in a chilling prediction, experts have said this could soon be much more common.

The use of the word "chilling" in the context seems counter-intuitive. Is there a word for this kind of metaphor? 2A00:23A8:0:3D01:B146:4391:37DC:D954 (talk) 11:21, 2 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

It's a pun or play on words; being ironic, funny (intentionally or not). ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots12:02, 2 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]
There is this concept of "mixed metaphor", although I'm not sure whether it applies here. [2] 惑乱 Wakuran (talk) 16:44, 2 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]
I scanned down the list in Figure of speech, but didn't see anything obvious. A character in an Arthur Schnitzler play goes on about the "lively" red dress he saw worn at a funeral... AnonMoos (talk) 15:39, 2 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]