What Does derisory Mean
Coming from the Latin word irrisorius , the adjective ridiculous allows us to qualify that which causes laughter . The ridiculous, therefore, is amusing or mocking .
The most common use of the concept is linked to what, as small or insignificant, is funny since it cannot be taken seriously . For example: "The Government offered teachers a ridiculous salary increase that was immediately rejected by the workers" , "Thanks to the exchange rate, it is possible for Europeans to eat for a ridiculous price in our country" , "The companies promised a week of promotions but finally they only offered ridiculous discounts ” .
In the first case, the Government intends to solve a problem related to the budget allocated to education with a proposal that borders on insult, so that the teachers do not accept it because they consider that they deserve a much higher payment. These types of decisions by those who have in their hands the resources for the development of a country are as regrettable as they are common.
It is necessary to point out that the nuance that links the term ridiculous with laughter should not be related to joy, a factor that is present when we laugh spontaneously, but rather to irony : we secretly make fun of what has been said calling it ridiculous, since instead of grace it causes us sorrow.
The example of the situation some people find themselves in abroad given the exchange rate is also unfortunate for local people: while tourists lead a kingly life with a middle-class salary during their holidays, locals struggle every month to cover their basic expenses despite working twice as many hours as them or more, with far fewer privileges on a social level.
Finally, a week or a period in which major stores promise their customers a series of incredible discounts that ultimately do not materialize, can be very frustrating for the latter. However, it is a fairly common practice, sometimes masked by tactics such as supposedly selling out the most tempting products in a matter of minutes, even if they have never been for sale.
Take the case of a soccer player who earns $ 500,000 per month in his current team. As his contract expires, he begins to hear offers from other clubs. Thus, when meeting with the president of an entity interested in adding him to its staff, the manager proposes a contract of $ 15,000 per month . The offer seems laughable to the player , since the figure barely reaches 3% of what he currently earns.
Suppose that the employees of a transportation company are negotiating a salary increase with the managers of the firm. In this framework, the company offers an increase of 8% ; However, as inflation last year was 25% in the country, the workers' delegates reject the proposal, calling it "ridiculous" and announce a strike as a measure of protest. With this initiative, the workers intend to exert pressure and force the company to make a new salary proposal, with a much more significant increase.
Let's see below some of the most common synonyms of the ridiculous term : comic, grotesque, ridiculous , funny, insignificant, insignificant, minimal, despicable and tiny . Among its antonyms, which can also help us understand its meaning in greater depth, are valuable, important and serious . Ultimately, the reaction of an individual to a situation considered laughable is negative, frustration, disappointment, but not laughter in the literal sense of the word.