I&#x27;ve seen tons of people pointing out some non-existent error with Alanis&#x27; use of &quot;ironic&quot; in that song.<p>Most of them have this dictionary definition in mind: &quot;the expression of one&#x27;s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.&quot;<p>But they seem to forget the other meaning, probably because they never bothered to check the lemma in their dictionary:<p>&quot;a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result&quot;<p>The first case is &quot;being ironic&quot;. The second is about the inherent &quot;irony&quot; in certain situations.<p>That you never seem to find something (e.g. a beer opener) when you need it, and you chance upon it anytime you don&#x27;t do is a mild example of the latter.<p>As is getting presented with or chancing upon &quot;ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife&quot;.