Life’s little ironies

Origin of: Life’s little ironies

Life’s little ironies

Usually appears in the form of one of life’s little ironies and is now a cliché that refers to the minor problems or tribulations in life. It is also frequently used as an understatement to describe life’s major problems. The origin is the title of a collection of short stories and sketches Life’s Little Ironies written by Thomas Hardy and first published in 1894.