B2-03 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 03

Sarcasm Fail

Separating a joke's intention from its effect

SceneAfter work, Frank and Tina meet at a café. Tina tells him about a conversation with a colleague after today's meeting.

The friends talking in a cafe after work.
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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

After work, Frank and Tina meet at a café. Tina tells him about a conversation with a colleague after today's meeting.

仕事帰り、フランクとティナはカフェで会っている。ティナが、今日の会議後に同僚と交わした会話を話している。

Tina01

Okay. I might have misunderstood how sarcasm works.

ねえ。私、皮肉の使い方を誤解してたかもしれない。

Frank02

What happened, exactly?

正確には、何があったの?

Tina03

A colleague loved today's meeting. I was bored, so I said, "Oh, yeah. Best hour of my life."

同僚が、今日の会議をすごく気に入ってたの。私は退屈だったから、「ええ、人生最高の1時間だったわ」って。

Frank04

And?

それで?

Tina05

She thought I meant it. Started telling me how great the meeting really was.

本気だと思われたの。会議がどれだけ素晴らしかったか、語り出したわ。

Frank06

Did you explain that you were—

ちゃんと説明した?それは——

Tina07

I could've. Instead, I kept giving more exaggerated compliments, thinking she'd realize I was joking. For six minutes.

説明はできたのよ。でも、もっと大げさに褒めれば冗談だって気づくと思って、続けちゃった。6分間も。

Frank08

Six— did she ever catch on?

6——彼女、結局気づいたの?

Tina09

Only when I finally told her I was joking. Then she asked why I'd spent six minutes making fun of something she'd enjoyed.

最後に私が冗談だって説明して、やっとね。そしたら、自分が楽しんだものをどうして6分間もからかってたのかって聞かれたわ。

Frank10

Ouch. You meant the meeting was boring. She heard you making fun of her for enjoying it.

うわ。君は会議が退屈だったと言いたかった。でも彼女には、楽しんだ自分をからかわれたように聞こえたんだね。

Tina11

Fair. I apologized. Next time, if someone takes me seriously, I'll explain instead of making the joke bigger.

そうよね。謝ったわ。次は、本気にされたら冗談を大げさにするんじゃなくて、説明する。

Tina12

Great. Another flawless day on Earth. ...That was sarcasm. See? I'm learning.

最高。また地球で完璧な一日を過ごせたわ。……今のは皮肉よ。ほら、学んでるでしょ。

Frank13

I got it. No need for the six-minute version.

通じたよ。6分版は要らないからね。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“did she ever catch on?”

Catch on means to realize what is happening or understand an intention. Here Frank asks whether the other person recognized Tina's sarcasm. Ever adds the sense of whether she eventually noticed at any point.