socratic irony
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Leading on your opponent in an argument by simulating ignorance, so that he "ties himself in knots" and eventually falls an easy prey — a form of procedure used Avith great effect by Socrates.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “socratic irony” mean?
Leading on your opponent in an argument by simulating ignorance, so that he "ties himself in knots" and eventually falls an easy prey — a form of procedure used Avith great effect by Socrates.
Is “socratic irony” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.