figure of speech words definition

Figure of Speech

Definition of figure of speech.

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that is used in a non-literal way to create an effect. This effect may be rhetorical as in the deliberate arrangement of words to achieve something poetic, or imagery as in the use of language to suggest a visual picture or make an idea more vivid. Overall, figures of speech function as literary devices because of their expressive use of language. Words are used in other ways than their literal meanings or typical manner of application.

For example, Margaret Atwood utilizes figures of speech in her poem “ you fit into me ” as a means of achieving poetic meaning and creating a vivid picture for the reader.

you fit into me like a hook into an eye a fish hook an open eye

The simile in the first two lines sets forth a comparison between the way “you” fits into the poet like a hook and eye closure for perhaps a garment. This is an example of rhetorical effect in that the wording carefully achieves the idea of two things meant to connect to each other. In the second two lines, the wording is clarified by adding “fish” to “hook” and “open” to “eye,” which calls forth an unpleasant and even violent image. The poet’s descriptions of hooks and eyes are not meant literally in the poem. Yet the use of figurative language allows the poet to express two very different meanings and images that enhance the interpretation of the poem through contrast .

Types of Figures of Speech

The term  figure of speech covers a wide range of literary devices, techniques, and other forms of figurative language, a few of which include:

Personification

Understatement.

• Alliteration
• Onomatopoeia
• Circumlocution

Common Examples of Figures of Speech Used in Conversation

Many people use figures of speech in conversation as a way of clarifying or emphasizing what they mean. Here are some common examples of conversational figures of speech:

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that utilizes extreme exaggeration to emphasize a certain quality or feature.

• I have a million things to do.
• This suitcase weighs a ton.
• This room is an ice-box.
• I’ll die if he doesn’t ask me on a date.
• I’m too poor to pay attention.

Understatement is a figure of speech that invokes less emotion than would be expected in reaction to something. This downplaying of reaction is a surprise for the reader and generally has the effect of showing irony .

• I heard she has cancer, but it’s not a big deal.
• Joe got his dream job, so that’s not too bad.
• Sue won the lottery, so she’s a bit excited.
• That condemned house just needs a coat of paint.
• The hurricane brought a couple of rain showers with it.

A paradox is a figure of speech that appears to be self-contradictory but actually reveals something truthful.

• You have to spend money to save it.
• What I’ve learned is that I know nothing.
• You have to be cruel to be kind.
• Things get worse before they get better.
• The only rule is to ignore all rules.

A pun is a figure of speech that contains a “ play ” on words, such as using words that mean one thing to mean something else or words that sound alike in as a means of changing meaning.

• A sleeping bull is called a bull-dozer.
• Baseball players eat on home plates.
• Polar bears vote at the North Poll.
• Fish are smart because they travel in schools.
• One bear told another that life without them would be grizzly.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that connects two opposing ideas, usually in two-word phrases, to create a contradictory effect.

• open secret
• Alone together
• controlled chaos
• pretty ugly

Common Examples of Figure of Speech in Writing

Writers also use figures of speech in their work as a means of description or developing meaning. Here are some common examples of figures of speech used in writing:

Simile is a figure of speech in which two dissimilar things are compared to each other using the terms “like” or “as.”

• She’s as pretty as a picture.
• I’m pleased as punch.
• He’s strong like an ox.
• You are sly like a fox.
• I’m happy as a clam.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things without the use of the terms “like” or “as.”

• He is a fish out of water.
• She is a star in the sky.
• My grandchildren are the flowers of my garden.
• That story is music to my ears.
• Your words are a broken record.

Euphemism is a figure of speech that refers to figurative language designed to replace words or phrases that would otherwise be considered harsh, impolite, or unpleasant.

• Last night , Joe’s grandfather passed away (died).
• She was starting to feel over the hill (old).
• Young adults are curious about the birds and bees (sex).
• I need to powder my nose (go to the bathroom).
• Our company has decided to let you go (fire you).

Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human characteristics to something that is not human.

• I heard the wind whistling.
• The water danced across my window.
• My dog is telling me to start dinner.
• The moon is smiling at me.
• Her alarm hummed in the background.

Writing Figure of Speech

As a literary device, figures of speech enhance the meaning of written and spoken words. In oral communication, figures of speech can clarify, enhance description, and create interesting use of language. In writing, when figures of speech are used effectively, these devices enhance the writer’s ability for description and expression so that readers have a better understanding of what is being conveyed.

It’s important that writers construct effective figures of speech so that the meaning is not lost for the reader. In other words, simple rearrangement or juxtaposition of words is not effective in the way that deliberate wording and phrasing are. For example, the hyperbole “I could eat a horse” is effective in showing great hunger by using figurative language. If a writer tried the hyperbole “I could eat a barn made of licorice,” the figurative language is ineffective and the meaning would be lost for most readers.

Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating figures of speech into their work:

Figure of Speech as Artistic Use of Language

Effective use of figures of speech is one of the greatest demonstrations of artistic use of language. Being able to create poetic meaning, comparisons, and expressions with these literary devices is how writers form art with words.

Figure of Speech as Entertainment for Reader

Effective figures of speech often elevate the entertainment value of a literary work for the reader. Many figures of speech invoke humor or provide a sense of irony in ways that literal expressions do not. This can create a greater sense of engagement for the reader when it comes to a literary work.

Figure of Speech as Memorable Experience for Reader

By using effective figures of speech to enhance description and meaning, writers make their works more memorable for readers as an experience. Writers can often share a difficult truth or convey a particular concept through figurative language so that the reader has a greater understanding of the material and one that lasts in memory.

Examples of Figure of Speech in Literature

Works of literature feature innumerable figures of speech that are used as literary devices. These figures of speech add meaning to literature and showcase the power and beauty of figurative language. Here are some examples of figures of speech in well-known literary works:

Example 1:  The Great Gatsby  (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.

Fitzgerald makes use of simile here as a figure of speech to compare Gatsby’s party guests to moths. The imagery used by Fitzgerald is one of delicacy and beauty, and creates an ephemeral atmosphere . However, the likening of Gatsby’s guests to moths also reinforces the idea that they are only attracted to the sensation of the parties and that they will depart without having made any true impact or connection. This simile, as a figure of speech, underscores the themes of superficiality and transience in the novel .

Example 2:  One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.

In this passage, Garcia Marquez utilizes personification as a figure of speech. Time is personified as an entity that “stumbled” and “had accidents.” This is an effective use of figurative language in that this personification of time indicates a level of human frailty that is rarely associated with something so measured. In addition, this is effective in the novel as a figure of speech because time has a great deal of influence on the plot and characters of the story. Personified in this way, the meaning of time in the novel is enhanced to the point that it is a character in and of itself.

Example 3:  Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?

In this passage, Bradbury utilizes metaphor as a figure of speech to compare a book to a loaded gun. This is an effective literary device for this novel because, in the story, books are considered weapons of free thought and possession of them is illegal. Of course, Bradbury is only stating that a book is a loaded gun as a means of figurative, not literal meaning. This metaphor is particularly powerful because the comparison is so unlikely; books are generally not considered to be dangerous weapons. However, the comparison does have a level of logic in the context of the story in which the pursuit of knowledge is weaponized and criminalized.

Related posts:

• Speech: “Is this a dagger which I see before me
• Speech: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

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Figure of Speech

Figure of Speech Definition

What is a figure of speech? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

A figure of speech is a literary device in which language is used in an unusual—or "figured"—way in order to produce a stylistic effect. Figures of speech can be broken into two main groups: figures of speech that play with the ordinary meaning of words (such as metaphor , simile , and hyperbole ), and figures of speech that play with the ordinary arrangement or pattern in which words are written (such as alliteration , ellipsis , and antithesis ).

Some additional key details about figures of speech:

• The ancient Greeks and Romans exhaustively listed, defined, and categorized figures of speech in order to better understand how to effectively use language. The names of most figures of speech derive from the original Greek or Latin.
• Figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words are called tropes , while figures of speech that play with the order or pattern of words are called schemes .
• Figures of speech can take many forms. A figure of speech can involve a single word, a phrase, an omission of a word or phrase, a repetition of words or sounds, or specific sentence structures.

Figure of Speech Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce figure of speech: fig -yer of speech

Figures of Speech vs. Figurative Language

There's a lot of confusion about the difference between the terms "figures of speech" and " figurative language ." Most of the confusion stems from the fact that different people often use "figurative language" to mean slightly different things. The two most common (and most acceptable) definitions of figurative language are:

• Figurative language refers to any language that contains figures of speech. According to this definition, figurative language and figures of speech are not quite the same thing, but it's pretty darn close. The only difference is that figures of speech refer to each specific type of a figure of speech, while figurative language refers more generally to any language that contains any kind of figures of speech.
• Figurative language refers to words or expressions that have non-literal meanings : This definition associates figurative language only with the category of figures of speech called tropes (which are figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words). So according to this definition, figurative language would be any language that contains tropes, but not language that contains the figures of speech called schemes.

You might encounter people using figurative speech to mean either of the above, and it's not really possible to say which is correct. But if you know about these two different ways of relating figurative language and figures of speech, you'll be in pretty good shape.

Figures of Speech, Tropes, and Schemes

The oldest and still most common way to organize figures of speech is to split them into two main groups: tropes and schemes.

• Tropes are figures of speech that involve a deviation from the expected and literal meaning of words.
• Schemes are figures of speech that involve a deviation from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.

The scheme/trope classification system is by no means the only way to organize figures of speech (if you're interested, you can find all sorts of different categorization methods for figures of speech here ). But it is the most common method, and is both simple and structured enough to help you understand figures of speech.

Generally, a trope uses comparison, association, or wordplay to play with the literal meaning of words or to layer another meaning on top of a word's literal meaning. Some of the most commonly used tropes are explained briefly below, though you can get even more detail on each from its specific LitCharts entry.

• Metaphor : A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, if someone says "it's raining cats and dogs," this obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the weight of "cats and dogs" and heavy rain. Metaphors are tropes because their effect relies not on the mechanics of the sentence, but rather on the association created by the use of the phrase "cats and dogs" in a non-literal manner.
• Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. To stick with cats and dogs, an example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
• Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love. Oxymorons are tropes because their effect comes from a combination of the two words that goes beyond the literal meanings of those words.
• Hyperbole : A hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels. Once again, this is a trope because its effect comes from understanding that the words mean something different from what they literally say.

Other Common Tropes

• Antanaclasis
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Periphrasis
• Rhetorical Question

Schemes are mechanical—they're figures of speech that tinker with words, sounds, and structures (as opposed to meanings) in order to achieve an effect. Schemes can themselves be broken down in helpful ways that define the sort of tinkering they employ.

• Repetition: Repeating words, phrases, or even sounds in a particular way.
• Omission: Leaving out certain words or punctuation that would normally be expected.
• Changes of word order: Shifting around words or phrases in atypical ways.
• Balance: Creating sentences or phrases with equal parts, often through the use of identical grammatical structures.

Some of the most commonly used schemes are explained briefly below, though you can get even more detail on each from its specific LitCharts entry.

• Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
• Assonance : A scheme in which vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the "ee" sound in the proverb: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another—it's a scheme because this effect is achieved through repetition of words with certain sounds, not by playing with the meaning of words.
• Ellipsis : The deliberate omission of one or more words from a sentence because their meaning is already implied. In the example, "Should I call you, or you me?" the second clause uses ellipsis. While its implication is "or should you call me," the context of the sentence allows for the omission of "should" and "call." Ellipsis is a scheme because it involves an uncommon usage of language.
• Parallelism : The repetition of sentence structure for emphasis and balance. This can occur in a single sentence, such as "a penny saved is a penny earned," and it can also occur over the course of a speech, poem, or other text. Parallelism is a scheme because it creates emphasis through the mechanics of sentence structure, rather than by playing with the actual meanings of words.

Other Common Schemes

• Anadiplosis
• Antimetabole
• Brachylogia
• Epanalepsis
• Parenthesis
• Polysyndeton

Figure of Speech Examples

Figures of speech can make language more inventive, more beautiful, more rhythmic, more memorable, and more meaningful. It shouldn't be a surprise, then, that figures of speech are plentiful in all sorts of written language. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.

Figures of Speech Examples in Literature

Literature is riddled with figures of speech because figures of speech make language colorful and complex.

Metaphor in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca

On and on, now east now west, wound the poor thread that once had been our drive. Sometimes I thought it lost, but it appeared again, beneath a fallen tree perhaps, or struggling on the other side of a muddied ditch created by the winter rains.

In this quote from Rebecca , Daphne du Maurier refers to a washed-out road as "the poor thread." This is a metaphor —and a trope—because the writer indirectly compares the thread to the road and expects that readers will understand that "thread" is not used literally.

Parallelism in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

In the famous opening line of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens uses parallelism —a scheme in which parts of a sentence repeat—in order to emphasize the contradictions of the time in which the book is set. Dickens has manipulated his sentence structure so that the parallel clauses emphasize the oppositional nature of his words ("it was the best of times, it was the worst of times"). The figure of speech doesn't play with the meaning of words, it emphasizes them through structure and repetition, which is why it is a scheme.

Alliteration in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark"

In this manner, s electing it as the s ymbol of his wife's liability to s in, s orrow, d ecay, and d eath, Aylmer's s ombre imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana's beauty, whether of s oul or s ense, had given him delight.

This passage from " The Birthmark " uses alliteration to tie together all of the things that Georgiana's birthmark is supposed to symbolize. By using words that alliterate—"sin and sorrow" and "decay and death," for example—Hawthorne is making the reader feel that these ideas are connected, rather than simply stating that they are connected. Alliteration is a figure of speech—a scheme—because it uses the mechanics of language to emphasize meaning.

Verbal Irony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men,

This quote from Julius Caesar comes from Marc Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral. Antony needs to hold Brutus and his conspirators accountable for Caesar's death without contradicting the crowd's positive impression of Brutus, so Antony uses verbal irony to simultaneously please and trouble the crowd. On the surface, Antony says what the audience wants to hear (that Brutus is honorable), but it becomes clear over the course of his speech that he means the opposite of what he says (and over time he convinces the audience to believe this opposite meaning as well). This is a figure of speech (a trope) because it's based on a play on the meaning of Antony's words.

Figures of Speech Examples in Music

Figures of speech are also common in music. Schemes fit naturally with songs because both schemes and songs manipulate sound and rhythm to enhance the meanings of words. Music also uses many tropes, because using words that have meanings beyond their literal ones makes language more interesting, and it allows songwriters to create music that uses just a few words to imply a complex meaning.

Assonance and Metaphor in Rihanna's "Diamonds"

So sh ine br igh t ton igh t, you and I We're beautiful l i ke d i amonds in the sk y Eye to eye , so al i ve We're beautiful l i ke d i amonds in the sk y

Rihanna uses assonance when she repeats the " eye " sound throughout the chorus of "Diamonds." This make the words echo one another, which emphasizes the similarity between the singer, the person she's talking about, and the "diamonds in the sky" to which she's comparing them both. Assonance is a scheme because it's using the sound of words—not their meaning—to draw a parallel between different things.

Rihanna also uses the phrase "Diamonds in the sky" as a metaphor for stars. This is a trope—a phrase that means something other than what it literally says—as Rihanna obviously doesn't think that there are actually diamonds in the sky. This verse is a good example of how figures of speech can often work together and overlap. In this case, the metaphor that allows her to use "diamonds" instead of "stars" also fits into her use of assonance (because "stars" lacks the "eye" sound).

Personification in Green Day's "Good Riddance"

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go

While the first line of this song uses "a fork stuck in the road" as a metaphor for a choice, the more arresting figure of speech at work here is the personification of time in the second line. By giving "time" human characteristics—the ability to grab a person and tell them where to go—Green Day is helping listeners to make sense of the power that time has over people. This is a trope because the line doesn't mean what it literally says; instead, it's asking listeners to make a comparison between the characteristics of time and the characteristics of a person.

Anastrophe in Public Enemy's "Fight the Power"

Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain

In the line "Straight up racist that sucker was," Public Enemy uses anastrophe (which is the inversion of typical word order) to preserve the rhythm of the verse. Instead of saying "That sucker was straight up racist," Public Enemy chooses an odd phrasing that has one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables— " ra cist that su cker was/ Sim ple and plain ." This way, the beat falls more regularly across those two lines, which allows the rapper to make his point (that Elvis was racist) without the flow sounding awkward. Since anastrophe manipulates the order of words in order to achieve a rhythmic effect, it's a scheme.

Why Do Writers Use Figures of Speech?

Figures of speech is a category that encompasses a broad variety of literary terms, so it's difficult to give one answer to this question. Writers use different figures of speech to achieve different effects.

Schemes (figures of speech that manipulate sound, syntax, and word order) can make language more beautiful, persuasive, or memorable. Writers can use schemes to draw attention to an important passage, to create a sound that mirrors (or contrasts with) the meaning of words, or to give language a rhythm that draws the reader in. As schemes tend to work through sound and rhythm, they generally produce a visceral effect, or an effect felt in the body—broadly speaking, schemes are more sensory than intellectual.

In contrast, writers use tropes to grab the reader intellectually by adding complexity or ambiguity to an otherwise simple word or phrase. Tropes can ask the reader to make a comparison between two unlike things, they can impose human qualities on nonhumans, and they can mean the opposite of what they say. Tropes engage the intellect because the reader has to be alert to the fact that tropes do not use language at face value—a trope never means what it literally says.

All figures of speech help a writer to communicate ideas that are difficult to say in words or that are more effectively communicated non-verbally. This could be by repeating harsh consonants to create a scary atmosphere, or by using a metaphor to impose the qualities of something concrete (say, a rose) onto something more difficult to define (say, love). In general, figures of speech attempt to bring out a reader's emotion and to capture their attention by making language more colorful, surprising, and complex.

Other Helpful Figure of Speech Resources

• Silva Rhetoricae on Figures of Speech : An excellent reference from BYU that explains the various ways that figures of speech have been categorized over history, including into schemes and tropes.
• Silva Rhetoricae on schemes and tropes :
• The Oxford Reference Page for Figure of Speech : A helpful definition of figures of speech in the context of the ancient study of rhetoric (did you know that the Roman rhetorician Quintillian defined "figure of speech" in 95 AD?)
• What Are Tropes in Language? Skip to the "Distinction Between Figures and Tropes" section and read to the end—full of informative and thought-provoking discussion about tropes.
• A YouTube video about tropes and schemes with pop culture examples.

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• When & How to Use Figures of Speech

I. What are Figures of Speech?

A figure of speech is a word or phrase using figurative language—language that has other meaning than its normal definition. In other words, figures of speeches rely on implied or suggested meaning, rather than a dictionary definition.  We express and develop them through hundreds of different rhetorical techniques, from specific types like metaphors and similes , to more general forms like sarcasm and slang.

Figures of speech make up a huge portion of the English language, making it more creative, more expressive, and just more interesting! Many have been around for hundreds of years—some even thousands—and more are added to our language essentially every day. This article will focus on a few key forms of figures of speech, but remember, the types are nearly endless!

III. Types of Figure of Speech

There are countless figures of speech in every language, and they fall into hundreds of categories. Here, though, is a short list of some of the most common types of figure of speech:

A. Metaphor

Many common figures of speech are metaphors. That is, they use words in a manner other than their literal meaning. However, metaphors use figurative language to make comparisons between unrelated things or ideas. The “peak of her career,” for example, is a metaphor, since a career is not a literal mountain with a peak , but the metaphor represents the idea of arriving at the highest point of one’s career.

An idiom is a common phrase with a figurative meaning. Idioms are different from other figures of speech in that their figurative meanings are mostly known within a particular language, culture, or group of people. In fact, the English language alone has about 25,000 idioms. Some examples include “it’s raining cats and dogs” when it is raining hard, or “break a leg” when wishing someone good luck.

This sentence uses an idiom to make it more interesting:

There’s a supermarket and a pharmacy in the mall, so if we go there, we can kill two birds with one stone.

The idiom is a common way of saying that two tasks can be completed in the same amount of time or same place.

A proverb is a short, commonplace saying that is universally understood in today’s language and used to express general truths. “Don’t cry over spilt milk” is a popular example. Most proverbs employ metaphors (e.g. the proverb about milk isn’t  literally  about milk).

This example uses a proverb to emphasize the situation:

I know you think you’re going to sell all of those cookies, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

Here, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means that you shouldn’t act like something has happened before it actually does.

A simile is a very common figure of speech that uses the words “like” and “as” to compare two things that are not related by definition. For example, “he is as tall as a mountain,” doesn’t mean he was actually 1,000 feet tall, it just means he was really tall.

This example uses a simile for comparison:

The internet is like a window to the world —you can learn about everything online!

The common phrase “window to the world” refers to a hypothetical window that lets you see the whole world from it. So, saying the internet is like a window to the world implies that it lets you see anything and everything.

E. Oxymoron

An oxymoron is when you use two words together that have contradictory meanings. Some common examples include s mall crowd, definitely possible, old news, little giant , and so on.

A metonym is a word or phrase that is used to represent something related to bigger meaning. For example, fleets are sometimes described as being “thirty sails strong,” meaning thirty (curiously, this metonym survives in some places, even when the ships in question are not sail-powered!) Similarly, the crew on board those ships may be described as “hands” rather than people.

Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always), irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms). For example, maybe you eat a really bad cookie, and then say “Wow, that was the best cookie I ever had”—of course, what you really mean is that it’s the worst cookie you ever had, but being ironic actually emphasizes just how bad it was!

IV. The Importance of Figures of Speech

In general, the purpose of a figure of speech is to lend texture and color to your writing. (This is itself a figure of speech, since figures of speech don’t actually change the colors or textures on the page!) For instance, metaphors allow you to add key details that make the writing more lively and relatable. Slang and verbal irony, on the other hand, make the writing seem much more informal and youthful (although they can have the opposite effect when misused!) Finally, other figures of speech, like idioms and proverbs, allows a writer to draw on a rich cultural tradition and express complex ideas in a short space.

V. Examples of Figures of Speech in Literature

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)

This is one of the most famous metaphors ever crafted in the English language. Shakespeare uses his extended metaphor to persuade the audience of the similarities between the stage and real life. But rather than making his play seem more like life, he suggests that life is more like a play. His metaphor calls attention to the performative, creative, and fictional aspects of human life.

“Our words are b ut crumbs that fall down from the feast o f the mind.” (Khalil Gibran, Sand & Foam )

Gibran’s timeless metaphor succeeds for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is not a cliché – had Gibran said “words are just the tip of the iceberg ,” he would have been making roughly the same point, but in a much more clichéd way. But the feast of the mind is a highly original metaphor. In addition, it’s a successful double metaphor. The crumbs and the feast are two parts of the same image, but they work together rather than being “mixed” (see How to Use Figures of Speech ).

“If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.” (Russian Proverb)

Like many proverbs, this one draws on a simple metaphor of chasing rabbits. The rabbits can stand in for all sorts of objectives, from jobs to relationships, but the coded message is quite clear – focus your energy on a single objective, or you will likely fail. This literal statement, though, is quite dry and not terribly memorable, which shows the power of figures of speech.

VI. Examples of Figures of Speech in Pop Culture

The chorus to Sean Kingston’s Fire Burning contains a couple of figures of speech. First of all, there’s the word “shorty” used as a slang term (see Related Terms ) for a young woman. She may or may not be literally short, but the figure of speech applies either way (though it could easily be taken as belittling and derogatory). Second, Kingston sings the metaphor: “she’s fire, burning on the dance floor.” Hopefully this is a figure of speech and not a literal statement; otherwise, Kingston and everyone else in the club are in mortal danger!

“Oh, thanks! This is much better!” (Townspeople, South Park )

This is an example of irony. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, South Park satirized the government’s response to the disaster by writing about a similar disaster in South Park. In a bumbling effort to rescue people from the floods, the authorities accidentally spill oil on the flood waters and set it on fire, making the situation far more dangerous. In response, they ironically “thank” the people responsible—their meaning is obviously the opposite of their words!

Years of talks between Washington and Havana resulted in Obama’s historic visit to Cuba on March 21st. (Patreon 2016)

This is a common form of metonym in foreign policy and news media. The capital city of a country is used as a metonym for the national government. The talks, of course, are not literally between these two cities, but between the leaders and government officials of the two countries (US and Cuba).

VII. Related Terms

Literal and figurative language.

Language is generally divided into two categories: literal, and figurative. Literal language relies on the real definition of words and phrases, or their literal meanings. Figurative language, on the other hand, relies on implied meanings, which can be understood differently depending on the location or who is using it. For example, “the sky is blue” relies on the literal definition of the word “blue,” while “I am feeling blue” relies on the figurative definition. All figures of speech rely on the use of figurative language for their meaning.

Sarcasm is mocking or bitter language that we use to express different meaning than what we say; often the exact opposite. When your intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning, that’s irony (another type of figure of speech), which includes common phrases like “Oh, great…” when you really mean something is bad.

Slang is language that uses atypical words and phrases to express specific meanings. It varies greatly by region, demographic, and language—for example, you would find different slang in the U.S. and in the U.K. even though they are both English speaking countries. Likewise, teenagers and the elderly will use different slang terms, as would Spanish and English. Many slang terms are figures of speech. For example, “bro” could be used to describe a friend rather than an actual brother; this would be using the word as a figure of speech.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

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figure of speech

noun phrase

Definition of figure of speech, examples of figure of speech in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'figure of speech.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1751, in the meaning defined above

Articles Related to figure of speech

What is figurative language?

Paint a picture with words

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning

Dictionary Entries Near figure of speech

figure of merit

figure of the earth

Cite this Entry

“Figure of speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20of%20speech. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

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Figure of Speech

What is a figure of speech.

• Jack has a few skeletons in the cupboard .
• You are driving me up the wall .

The Seven Most Common Figures of Speech

Table of Contents

Examples of Figures of Speech

Metaphors used as figures of speech, similes used as figures of speech, personification used as figures of speech, hyperbole used as figures of speech, idioms used as figures of speech, euphemisms used as figures of speech, metonyms used as figures of speech, a broader definition of figure of speech, why figures of speech are important.

• This bedroom is a prison.
• He's a real gannet.
• He listened with a stone face.
• We don't need dinosaurs in this company.
• He eats like a gannet.
• This sandwich tastes like sawdust between two doormats.
• She sings like an angel.
• It's like water off a duck's back.
• The tide waits for no man.
• My car tends to give up on long hills.
• Summer's healing rays
• I have a million problems.
• We won a tonne of cash.
• I'll die if I don't finish this crossword.
• Be careful not to miss the boat.
• This is the last straw.
• You can't pull the wool over my eyes.
• Don't sit on the fence. Say what you mean.
• kicked the bucket = has died
• knocked up = is pregnant
• letting you go = you're fired
• lost his marbles = is mad
• Tongue = language
• Sweat = hard work.
• Capitol Hill = American seat of government
• took to the bottle = took to alcohol
• my word = my promise
• a suit = business executive, a lawyer (typically)
• Figure of speech: the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner.

Alliteration

• The plate was filled with b eautiful b uns b ursting with b erries.
• The squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se.
• I will pi ck or cra ck the lo ck .

Logosglyphs

• She had eyes like pools .

Onomatopoeia

• The NASA humans-to-Mars program is all sizzle and no steak.
• During interphase, the protein binds to DNA with its elbow and then digs in with its fingers during mitosis. (Professor Leonie Ringrose)
• Team, we must throw a party in our guests' mouths. Got it? Yes, chef. Yes, chef. Yes, chef. Yes, Geoff. Did someone just call me Geoff? (Comedian Chris Wells)
• Use a figure of speech to express an idea more clearly or more interestingly.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Meaning of figure of speech in English

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• allegorically
• anthropomorphic
• anthropomorphize
• figuratively
• metaphorical
• mixed metaphor
• non-literal
• non-metaphorical
• so to speak idiom
• unironically

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

a figure of speech | American Dictionary

A figure of speech, examples of figure of speech, translations of figure of speech.

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on top of the world

extremely happy

Keeping up appearances (Talking about how things seem)

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What is Figure of Speech? Definition, Examples of Figures of Speech

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Figure of Speech? Definition, Examples of Figures of Speech

Figure of speech definition: Figure of speech is the use of language to add richness to the literal meaning of words.

Common Figures of Speech

Here are some common figures of speech:

Metaphor : A metaphor is the comparison of two unlike things without the use of like or as.

• In this sentence, we have the metaphor “boy was a wild animal”. The boy is being compared to a wild animal because of his behavior in the store.

Simile : A simile is the comparison between two unlike things using such words as like, as, or so.

• In this sentence, we have the simile “boy was like a ninja”. The young boy’s stealthy behavior is being compared to that of a ninja. It is a simile rather than a metaphor because the word “like” was included.

Hyperbole : A hyperbole is an over exaggeration.

• In this example, the hyperbole is the over exaggeration of hunger that Ashley has after her day of swimming, for she is not literally as hungry as a hippo.

Personification : Personification is when human traits are given to anything nonhuman.

• Here, the sun is being given the human trait of smiling.

The Function of Figures of Speech

The purpose of using figures of speech is to add richness to writing that will have an effect on the reader. By using these comparisons, it allows the reader to have a greater understanding and ability to imagine the situations being described in the writing.

How Figures of Speech are Used in Literature

Here are some examples of figures of speech in literature:

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , he uses a metaphor in the famous balcony scene. Romeo exclaims, “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east and Juliet is the sun”.

• “Juliet is the sun” = metaphor
• This metaphor is used to emphasis the overwhelming brightness of Juliet’s beauty.

In James Hurst’s short story The Scarlet Ibis , he uses a simile to set the somber mood at the beginning of the story, “the oriole nest in the elm was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle”.

• “Oriole nest…rocked back and forth like an empty cradle” = simile
• This simile is used to create a somber mood by comparing the movement of the nest to that of an empty cradle, which has a negative connotation associated with it.

The Scarlet Ibis also includes examples of hyperbole . Hurst writes, “We danced together quite well until she came down on my big toe with her brogans, hurting me so badly I thought I was crippled for life”.

• “hurting me so badly I thought I was crippled for life” = hyperbole
• This hyperbole is used to exaggerate the pain felt by the young child when his aunt stepped on his toe while dancing.

In Eric Litwin’s Pete the Cat series, personification is used with the starring character, Pete. In the book I Love My White Shoes, he writes, “Did Pete cry? Goodness, no! He kept walking along and singing his song”.

• In this example, a cat is given human traits such as singing. Many children’s book employ personification due to the inclusion of nonhuman characters.

Summary: What Does Figure of Speech Mean?

Define figure of speech mean? In summation, figures of speech are used to add richness and imagery to a work of literature in order to achieve an effect for the reader.

Final example,

In Pat Mora’s poem “Old Snake”, it states “Leave / those doubts and hurts / buzzing like flies in your ears”.

• “doubts and hurts / buzzing like flies in your ears” = simile

This simile is used to compare the left behind worries to just a buzz in the ear like a fly. A comparison to a fly is used because flies are often seen as an annoyance just like having constant doubt or worry.

figure of speech

What is a figure of speech definition, usage, and literary examples, figure of speech definition.

Figures of speech  (FIG-yurs of SPEEchuh) are words or phrases used in a non-literal sense for  rhetorical  effect. They are often constructed using literary devices such as  metaphor ,  simile ,  alliteration , metonymy, synecdoche, and personification. Figures of speech allow writers to apply familiar ideas and  imagery  to less familiar concepts, and they are widespread in written and spoken language.

Figure of Speech Categories

Figures of speech fall into two broad categories: tropes and scheme. These are  dozens of figures of speech  that fall into each category, so the following are a select few examples.

These are figures of speech that play with syntax, sound, and words. They often achieve their effects by utilizing repetition of words, phrases, or sounds; omission of words or punctuation; unexpected changes in word order; or paired identical grammatical structures.

• Alliteration : Repeating consonant sounds in a series of words
• Diacope: Repeating words or phrases, interrupted by one or two other words
• Homonyms: Identical words that have different meanings
• Sibilance: Repeating hissing sounds
• Asyndeton: Omitting conjunctions between related series of clauses
• Brachylogia: Omitting conjunctions between individual words
• Ellipsis: Omitting words without losing  context  or understanding
• Syncope: Omitting word or phrase parts

Changes in Word Order

• Anastrophe: Rearranging the subject, object and verb order in a phrase
• Apposition: Two phrases, often separated by commas, where the second defines the first
• Parenthesis: A rhetorical, qualifying phrase inserted into a sentence or passage
• Spoonerism: Switching syllables between two words

Paired Grammatical Structures

• Antithesis : Juxtaposing ideas
• Isocolon: Consecutive phrases of identical length in words or syllables
• Parallelism: Similar grammatical structure between two or more clauses
• Tricolon: Three consecutive phrases of identical length in words or syllables

These are figures of speech that deviate in some way from the literal meanings of words. They tend to include association or comparison to shift readers’ perceptions from words’ true definitions to a layered figurative meaning. They can be broken into five categories: reference, word play/puns, substitutions, overstatement/understatement, and inversion.

• Allegory : A narrative that is an indirect metaphor for a broader, real-world concept
• Allusion : An intertextual reference to another creative work
• Metaphor : A direct comparison between two unrelated things
• Personification: Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities

Word Play/Puns

• Innuendo: A phrase or  sentence  with a hidden (often salacious) meaning
• Malapropism: Confusing a word with a similar sounding one
• Paraprosdokian : An unexpected ending to a phrase
• Pun : Word play that makes use of a word’s multiple meanings

Substitutions

• Dysphemism: Using a harsh word or phrase to replace a gentler one
• Euphemism : Using a more agreeable word or phrase to replace an offensive one
• Metonymy: Replacing a word or term with something associated with it
• Synecdoche: Referring to a whole by its part(s) or vice versa

Overstatement/Understatement

• Grandiloquence: Speech that is pompous or grandiose
• Hyperbole : An emphatic exaggeration
• Litotes : Emphasizing a statement by negating its opposite
• Satire: Criticism of society through humorous means
• Irony : Conveying the opposite of a word’s literal meaning
• Oxymoron : Using contradictory words together
• Paradox: Using contradictory ideas to make a point
• Synesthesia: Using sensory-specific words to describe a different sense

Most Common Figures of Speech

The following are some of the most common figures of speech that appear in literature and other written forms.

• Alliteration :  This is a scheme that uses repetition of the same first consonant sound to create a musical effect. “Francine found France quite lovely” is an example of alliteration because of the repeating  f  sound in the words  Francine ,  found , and  France .
• Apostrophe:  With apostrophe, a speaker directly addresses an inanimate object, an abstract concept, or a person who is either imaginary or not present. John Donne use apostrophe in his poem “ Holy Sonnet: Death, be not proud ,” wherein he speaks directly to a personified idea of death.
• Chiasmus:  This is a scheme where the second half of an expression is balanced against the first half in a reversed order. “You should eat to live, not live to eat” is one example; it repeats the words  eat  and  live  but reverses the order the second time they occur.
• Euphemism:  This literary device takes a mild or indirect word or expression and replaces something harsh, unpleasant, or offensive with it. Saying someone  passed on  is a euphemism for  died ;  powder my nose  is a euphemism for  go to the bathroom .
• Hyperbole:  This is the use of exaggeration for emphasis or heightened effect. “If I don’t nap right now, I will die” is a hyperbolic statement; it conveys the experience of feeling tired, but readers understand the speaker won’t literally die.
• Irony:  This literary device occurs when words are used to convey the opposite of their meaning or when a situation seems directly contrary to what is expected. Famously, Alanis Morissette’s song “Ironic” lists many situations she deems ironic when they aren’t ironic at all; thus, irony.
• Litotes:  This figure of speech refers to a type of understatement. It is used to negate a statement in a way that actually affirms it. For example, saying “That’s no small chunk of change” indicates that the sum in question is, in fact, large.
• Metaphor :  A form of trope, metaphors make an implicit comparison between two unrelated things. “Love is a battlefield” is metaphoric, as it implies the experience of being in love is the same as being on a battlefield.
• Onomatopoeia :  Words that are onomatopoeic evoke the sounds of the thing they are referring to.  Hiss ,  crash , and  tick tock  are all examples because they sound like what they are describing—the sound of a snake, thunder, and a clock, respectively.
• Oxymoron:  This literary device consists of contradictory words paired together. Although the words initially appear to negate each other, they make sense when joined.  Deafening silence  is an oxymoronic pair; the adjective  deafening  means “a volume so high that nothing can be heard over it,” and the noun  silence  means “without sound.” These words are incongruous, but together they mean an overbearing, noticeable absence of sound.
• Personification:  When greater qualities of animation are given to a non-human or inanimate object, that is personification. In T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” fog is described as “The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes/The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes.” Here, Eliot is personifying the fog by giving it the attributes of a cat.
• Pun :  This is a humorous play on words, often using homonyms, homographs, or homophones. For example, “I’ve been to the dentist many times, so I know the drill” is a pun; it plays with the double meaning of the word  drill  as a tool of the dentistry trade and as a concept of something being routine.
• Simile :  Related to metaphors, similes are explicit comparisons made using the words  like  or  as . “Lucille’s dress was as red as a fire truck” makes an explicit comparison between the color of the dress and the color of a fire truck. This allows the reader to properly visualize what Lucille is wearing.
• Synecdoche:  This is a figure of speech wherein a part of something stands in for the whole thing. “All hands on deck” is a synecdoche because  hands  stands in for the whole crew of a ship.”

Figure of Speech and Figurative Language

People often use the terms  figurative language  and  figure of speech  interchangeably; however, they are not the same. Instead, figurative language is a broad category that contains figures of speech, as well as  imagery  and  sound devices .

Imagery adds additional aesthetic resonance to texts through the evocation of sensory details. Sound devices enhance the text through sonic means. These elements, in conjunction with figures of speech, give a deeper meaning to the language a writer uses in their work.

Why Figures of Speech Are Used

These literary devices emphasize, embellish, or clarify written or spoken language. They allow an audience to understand ideas through implied or suggested meaning, thus giving the language a more surprising, creative, and playful effect. Some figures of speech enhance imagery, while others allow writers to employ rich cultural traditions to express their ideas. Even further, other figures of speech allow writers to experiment with structure and sound to create specific effects. No matter which type is used, the expressive quality of figures of speech helps keep audiences engaged.

Examples of Figures of Speech in Literature

1. Hafizah Geter, “ Testimony ”

Geter begins her  poem :

Mr. President,

After they shot me they tackled my sister.

the sound of her knees hitting the sidewalk

made my stomach ache. It was a bad pain.

The poem is a  dramatic monologue  spoken by Tamir Rice, a 12-year old black child who was killed by police officers who mistook his toy gun for a real one. This poem uses apostrophe as the speaker, Tamir, talks directly to “Mr. President” (then president Barack Obama).

2. William Shakespeare,   Macbeth

In Act III, Scene iii., of this play, before King Duncan’s murder is discovered, Lennox and Macbeth converse:

LENNOX: The night has been unruly: where we lay,

Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they say,

Lamentings heard i’the air; strange screams of death,

And prophesying with accents terrible

Of fire combustion and confused events

New hatch’d to the woeful time: the obscure bird

Clamour’d the livelong night: some say, the earth

Was feverous and did shake.

MACBETH: ‘Twas a rough night.

LENNOX: My young remembrance cannot parallel

A fellow to it.

Pathetic fallacy is a type of trope. It occurs when human feelings and attributes are ascribed to nature. This figure of speech is used throughout this  Shakespearean  tragedy. In this particular scene, Lennox describes how terrible and strange the weather was on the evening of the murder. The way the wind and earth seem to embody the horror of King Duncan’s death is pathetic fallacy.

3. Karl Marx,   Das Kapital

In Part I (“Commodities and Money”) of Marx’s treatise on economics, philosophy, history, and political science, he claims:

In the pre-capitalist stages of society, commerce rules industry. In capitalist society, industry rules commerce.

These two sentences are an example of chiasmus. Here, “commerce” first rules “industry,” and then “industry” rules “commerce.” By reversing the order of these words/concepts, Marx employs chiasmus.

4. Toni Morrison,  Sula

The last line of Morrison’s novel is considered by some to be one of the best lines in fiction and nonfiction. The sentence describes protagonist Nel’s grief at the death of her childhood friend Sula:

It was a fine cry—loud and long—but it had no bottom and it had no top, just circles and circles of sorrow.

This sentence is rich in alliteration: “loud and long” contain  L  sounds at the beginning, as well as the repetition of  c  and  s  sounds with  cry ,  circles ,  circles , and  sorrow . The latter is also an example of sibilance.

5. Oscar Wilde,   The Importance of Being Earnest

In Wilde’s play, the main characters John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pose as men named Ernest, only for Jack to learn that his given name really is Ernest. He delivers the final line of the play:

On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being Earnest.

Jack/Ernest’s declaration is a homographic pun. It means both that he understands the importance of being Ernest (his real name), as well as the importance of being  earnest  (sincere).

6. Aimee Nezhukumatathil, “ On Listening to Your Teacher Take Attendance ”

In this poem, Nezhukumatathil describes the experience of one’s name being mispronounced by a teacher taking attendance:

everyone turns around to check out

your face, no need to flush red and warm.

Just picture all the eyes as if your classroom

is one big scallop with its dozens of icy blues

and you will remember that winter your family

took you to the China see and you sank

your face in it to gaze at baby clams and sea stars

She uses a simile, “Just picture all the eyes as if your classroom/is one big scallop with its dozens of icy blues,” to explicitly compare the staring kids to the dozens of eyes that a sea scallop has.

Further Resources on Figure of Speech

Thought Catalog has a wonderful list of  figures of speech used by Homer Simpson  in  The Simpsons.

Jamcampus published a  great list  of twenty examples of metaphors in popular songs.

This is an entertaining round up of  oxymorons .

SuperSummary's library of resources and content , such as " A Beginner's Guide to Literary Analysis " and " How to Write a Summary ."

Related Terms

• Figurative language

Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples

Illustration by Hugo Lin. ThoughtCo.

• An Introduction to Punctuation

Common Types of Figures of Speech

• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In common usage, a figure of speech is a word or phrase that means something more or something other than it seems to say—the opposite of a literal expression. In rhetoric, a figure of speech is a type of figurative language (such as metaphor, irony, understatement, or anaphora) that departs from conventional word order or meaning. Nevertheless, figures of speech retain an element of truth, even if they may be misinterpreted. 

There are hundreds of figures of speech, and we often utilize them in everyday life. Here are common figures of speech with example phrases and passages.

Examples of common figures of speech include alliteration , which repeats the initial consonant sounds in neighboring words, and simile , which compares two unlike things using "like" or "as."

Anaphora is another figure of speech involving the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis. Hyperbole , on the other hand, exaggerates or overstates a situation for emphasis or effect.

Other common figures of speech are  antimetabole , antithesis , apostrophe , assonance , irony , metonymy , onomatopoeia , paradox , personification , pun , synecdoche , and understatement .

Watch Now: Common Figures of Speech Explained

Figure of speech examples.

Following are a few figures of speech that are a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Mr. Burns, "American History X-cellent," "The Simpsons," 2010

"Break a leg, everyone" (to a passing employee). "I said break a leg." (The employee then breaks his own leg with a hammer.) "My God, man! That was a figure of speech. You're fired!"

Peter Falk and Robert Walker, Jr., "Mind Over Mayhem," "Columbo," 1974

Lieutenant Columbo: "So you had an hour to kill before you had to get back to the airport." Dr. Neil Cahill: "I take it you mean to use that phrase, to kill.' You mean that literally ." Lieutenant Columbo: "No, I was just using a figure of speech. I'm not making an accusation."

Jonathan Baumbach, "My Father More or Less," "Fiction Collective," 1982

"What if there were a gun to your head, what would you say?" "Whose gun are you thinking of putting to my head?" "It was just a figure of speech, for God's sake. You don't have to be so literal about it." "It's only a figure of speech when you don't have a gun in your possession."

Carmen Carter et al., "Doomsday World (Star Trek: The Next Generation, No. 12)," 1990

"'Yes,' said Coleridge. 'The new Commercial Trading Hall... The emptiest building in town, gentlemen. If there are twenty people in it at any given time, I'll eat my tricorder on the spot.' "Data looked at the archaeologist, and Geordi caught the look. 'That's only a figure of speech, Data. She doesn't really intend to eat it.' "The android nodded. 'I am familiar with the expression, Geordi.'"

Metaphor as a Figure of Thought

A  metaphor  is a  trope  or figure of speech, in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common, as these quotes show.

Ning Yu, "Imagery," "Encyclopedia of Rhetoric and Composition," 1996

"In its broad sense, a metaphor is not only a figure of speech but also a figure of thought . It is a mode of apprehension and a means of perceiving and expressing something in a radically different way. In such a sense, figurative images are not simply decorative but serve to reveal aspects of experience in a new light."

"Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major," adapted by Ronald Kidd from the play by Tom Isbell, 2008

"Reaching into her pocket, [Ethel] pulled out the paper, held it in the moonlight, and read, 'Beneath this brilliant metaphor will there treasure be.' "What's a metaphor?' I asked. "Ethel said, 'It's a word that compares one thing to another, to show how they might be alike.' "'Well,' I said, 'if the metaphor is brilliant, maybe it's the chandelier.' "They stared at me. I don't know why. If you ask me, the clue had seemed pretty obvious. "'You know,' said Kermit, 'I think Archie is right.' He turned to Ethel. 'I can't believe I just said that.'"

Simile as Another Kind of Comparison

A simile is a figure of speech in which two fundamentally unlike things are explicitly compared, usually in a phrase introduced by like or as, as these quotes demonstrate.

Donita K. Paul, "Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball," 2010

"'What's a simile?' asked Sandy. She looked to Cora for an answer. "'When you compare something to something else to get a better picture of it in your head. The clouds look like cotton balls. The edge of the snow shovel is sharp like a knife.'"

Jay Heinrichs, "Word Hero: A Fiendishly Clever Guide to Crafting the Lines That Get Laughs," 2011

"The simile is a metaphor that gives itself away. 'The moon is a balloon': that's a metaphor. 'The moon is like a balloon': that's a simile."

Oxymoron as an Apparent Contradiction

An  oxymoron  is a figure of speech usually one or two words in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side.

Bradley Harris Dowden, "Logical Reasoning ,"  1993

"A contradiction in terms is also called an oxymoron. Debates are often started by asking whether a term is an oxymoron. For example, is artificial intelligence an oxymoron? Jokes are often based in oxymorons; is military intelligence an oxymoron?"

Dianne Blacklock, "False Advertising," 2007

"Her husband got hit by a bus. What was Gemma supposed to say? More to the point, what did Helen want to hear? "'Well,' said Gemma, going to sit on the bed beside Helen, who looked a little taken aback as she shifted to make room. 'You can't have an accident on purpose,' Gemma went on. 'That's an oxymoron. If there was intent, it wasn't an accident.' "'I guess I'm wondering if there isn't hidden intent in everything we do,' said Helen."

Hyperbole as Exaggeration

Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect.

Steve Atinsky, "Tyler on Prime Time," 2002

"Samantha and I sat in chairs that had been set up near the table. "'What's hyperbole?' I asked her. "'It's a fancy way of saying bull.'"

Thomas S. Kane, "The New Oxford Guide to Writing," 1988

"Mark Twain was a master of hyperbole, as he reveals in this description of a tree after an ice storm: '[I]t stands there the acme, the climax, the supremest possibility in art or nature, of bewildering, intoxicating, intolerable magnificence. One cannot make the words strong enough.'"

Understatement as Beauty or Sarcasm

Understatement, the opposite of hyperbole, is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

Fiona Harper, "English Lord, Ordinary Lady," 2008

"She read what [Will] was going to say in his eyes before the words left his lips. "'I love you.' "So simple. No frills, no grandiose gestures. It was so Will. Suddenly, she understood the beauty of understatement."

Steph Swainston, "No Present Like Time," 2006

"[Serein] sat in the doorway, legs out onto the half deck, huddling in his greatcoat. 'Comet,' he said. 'You weren't well.' "'Is that understatement a new type of sarcasm you're experimenting with?'"

A  cliché   is a trite expression whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.

David Punter, "Metaphor," 2007

"[I]t is interesting that the phrase 'just a figure of speech' has become a cliché as if for something to be a figure of speech in some way downgrades it. It may not be going too far to say that there is a certain denial going on in this view; that it is more convenient and comfortable to pretend that there are some speech forms [that] do not use figures of speech and thus give us access to a solid, incontrovertible perception of the real, in contrast to which the figure of speech is in some way abstracted, lacking in purchase."

Laura Toffler-Corrie, "The Life and Opinions of Amy Finawitz," 2010

"I'm quite sure he doesn't really think you have been abducted by aliens. It was just a figure of speech, like 'Oh, she's just little Miss Sunshine' or 'What a clown.' When you use expressions like that (which I totally never do), it doesn't mean a person is really an inhumanly hot solar ball or that they're a member of the circus. It's not literal."

More on Figures of Speech

For more information on figures of speech, you can explore the following:

• Brief Introductions to 30 Figures of Speech
• Figure of Sound  and  Figure of Thought
• Literally and Figuratively: Commonly Confused Words
• 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons
• 100 Sweet Similes
• The 10 Greatest Hyperboles of All Time
• Top 20 Figures of Speech
• The Top 20 Figures of Speech
• Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech
• AP English Exam: 101 Key Terms
• Hyperbole: Definition and Examples
• Simile Definition and Examples
• How Figurative Language Is Used Every Day
• 20 Figures of Speech That We Never Heard About in School
• Valentine's Day Language: Learning Idioms, Metaphors, and Similes
• Figure of Thought in Rhetoric
• Figurative vs. Literal Language
• Metaphor Definition and Examples
• Definition and Examples of Litotes in English Grammar
• Use Song Lyrics (with Caution) to Teach Figures of Speech
• Understatement
• What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis?

Figures of Speech: Definition and Types with Examples

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that is used in a non-literal sense to add emphasis or artistic effect. For example, if someone says “The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop,” they are using a figure of speech to exaggerate the silence in the room for emphasis.

Figures of speech are literary devices that are used to create a more imaginative and engaging way of speaking or writing. These literary devices are often used to create vivid images or to express complex ideas in a more concise and impactful way.

Some common examples of figures of speech include metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and irony. These devices are often used in poetry and literature to add depth and meaning to the text.

Most Common Figures of Speech in English Grammar

There is no fixed number of figures of speech in English grammar. New figures of speech can be created and old ones can fall out of use, so the number is constantly changing. Additionally, different sources may classify figures of speech differently, so the number can vary depending on the criteria used. Some common figures of speech in English include:

In simple terms, a simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” It’s a way of describing something by saying it’s similar to something else.

Imagine you’re trying to describe how fast a cheetah runs. You could say, “The cheetah runs like lightning.” By using the word “like,” you’re comparing the cheetah’s speed to the speed of lightning. This is a simile because you’re saying the cheetah is similar to lightning in terms of speed.

Similes help make our language more interesting and descriptive. They can create vivid images in our minds and help us understand something better by relating it to something more familiar. For example, if you say, “Her smile is as bright as the sun,” you’re comparing the brightness of her smile to the brightness of the sun.

So, similes are like little tools that writers and speakers use to make their descriptions more engaging and imaginative. They allow us to compare things in a fun and creative way, using “like” or “as” to highlight the similarities between them.

Here are a few more examples of similes:

• “He is as brave as a lion.” This simile compares someone’s bravery to the courage of a lion, emphasizing their fearlessness.
• “Her voice was like music to my ears.” In this simile, the person’s voice is being compared to the pleasant and melodious nature of music.
• “The water shimmered like diamonds under the sunlight.” This simile compares the sparkling quality of water to the brilliance and shine of diamonds.
• “She ran as fast as a cheetah chasing its prey.” Here, the speed of the person running is likened to the incredible speed of a cheetah in pursuit of its prey.
• “His anger erupted like a volcano, spewing fiery words.” This simile compares the sudden and intense anger to the eruption of a volcano, highlighting the force and intensity of the emotions.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things by saying that one thing is another thing, even though they are not literally the same. It’s a way of describing something by using a word or phrase that is unrelated to the thing being described. Metaphors make our language more imaginative and creative.

Let’s look at an example to help explain it better. Imagine you want to describe a person who is very brave. You could say, “He is a lion.” Now, obviously, the person is not actually a lion. What you’re doing is using the word “lion” to describe his bravery. Lions are known for their courage and strength, so by calling him a lion, you’re saying that he has similar qualities.

Here are a few more examples to help you understand:

• “Her eyes are sparkling diamonds.” Here, the person’s eyes are being compared to diamonds to emphasize their brightness and beauty.
• “Time is money.” In this metaphor, time is compared to money to convey the idea that time, like money, is valuable and should be used wisely.
• “Life is a journey.” This metaphor suggests that life can be thought of as a journey, with ups and downs, detours, and destinations.
• “He has a heart of gold.” Here, someone’s kind and generous nature is being compared to a heart made of gold, emphasizing their good-heartedness.
• “The world is a stage.” This metaphor compares the world to a stage, suggesting that life is like a play with different roles and performances.

Metaphors help us see things in new and interesting ways. They add depth and layers of meaning to our language by comparing one thing to another. By using metaphors, we can express ourselves creatively and make our descriptions more engaging and imaginative.

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech that gives human qualities or attributes to non-human things or abstract concepts. It’s a way of making something (that is not alive or human) seem like it has human characteristics or abilities.

Let’s suppose you’re describing a storm. Instead of just saying, “The storm was loud and powerful,” you could use personification and say, “The storm roared and unleashed its fury.” By using the word “roared” and attributing the ability to unleash fury to the storm, you’re giving it human-like qualities of sound and emotions.

Personification helps us create a more vivid and relatable image in our minds. It helps us understand and connect with things that are not human by making them seem more familiar.

• “The flowers danced in the breeze.” Here, the flowers are given the human quality of dancing, even though flowers cannot literally dance.
• “The sun smiled down on us.” This personification gives the sun the human ability to smile, adding a sense of warmth and happiness to the description.
• “The leaves whispered secrets to each other.” By attributing the action of whispering secrets to leaves, this personification creates a sense of intimacy and secrecy among the leaves.
• “The car coughed and sputtered before finally starting.” The act of coughing and sputtering is typically associated with humans, but here it is attributed to a car, giving it human-like qualities.
• “Time flies .” This personification suggests that time moves quickly, just like a bird or an insect in flight.

Personification helps make our language more colorful and imaginative. By giving non-human things human qualities, we can relate to them better and create more engaging and memorable descriptions.

Alliteration

Alliteration is a literary technique that involves the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of closely connected words or stressed syllables. It’s a way of creating a rhythmic and musical effect in writing or speech.

To understand alliteration, let’s look at an example. Suppose you want to describe a rainy day and you say, “The raindrops danced delicately on the roof.” The repetition of the “d” sound in “raindrops,” “danced,” and “delicately” is an example of alliteration. It adds a pleasing and melodic quality to the sentence.

• “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” This famous tongue twister is a playful example of alliteration, with the repeated “p” sound.
• “She sells seashells by the seashore.” In this phrase, the repeated “s” sound creates a smooth and flowing rhythm.
• “A big brown bear bounced on the bed.” The repeated “b” sound in this sentence adds emphasis and creates a strong beat.
• “Misty mountains majestically rise.” Here, the repeated “m” sound captures the sense of grandeur and adds a musical quality.
• “Silent as a shadow, he slipped through the night.” The repeated “s” sound in this sentence creates a sense of stealth and smoothness.

Alliteration is like a musical instrument in writing. It helps create a pleasing and rhythmic effect, making the language more memorable and engaging. It adds a touch of playfulness, emphasis, and sometimes even a sense of sound effects to the words.

Assonance is a literary device that involves the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. It’s a technique used to create a musical or melodic effect in writing or speech.

To understand assonance, let’s look at an example. Imagine you want to describe a serene lake, and you say, “The serene scene of the lake.” The repetition of the long “ee” sound in “serene,” “scene,” and “lake” is an example of assonance. It creates a soothing and harmonious quality in the sentence.

• “I feel the heat as I read.” In this sentence, the repeated “ee” sound in “feel,” “heat,” and “read” creates a flowing and musical effect.
• “The cat sat on the mat.” Here, the repeated short “a” sound in “cat,” “sat,” and “mat” adds a rhythmic quality to the sentence.
• “Hear the mellow wedding bells.” The repeated long “e” sound in “hear,” “mellow,” and “bells” creates a soft and melodic tone.
• “The owl howled at the moon.” In this example, the repeated long “o” sound in “owl” and “howled” adds emphasis and creates a haunting effect.
• “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.” This famous phrase from the musical “My Fair Lady” demonstrates assonance with the repeated long “a” sound.

Assonance helps create a musical and lyrical quality in writing. It adds a pleasing and melodic effect, making the language more memorable and engaging. Assonance, along with other sound devices like alliteration and rhyme, can enhance the overall beauty and rhythm of a piece of writing or speech.

Consonance is a literary device that involves the repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words, specifically in the middle or at the end of words. It is a technique used to create a harmonious and musical effect in writing or speech.

To understand consonance, let’s look at an example. Imagine you want to describe the sound of the waves, and you say, “The waves crashed and splashed.” The repeated “sh” sound in “crashed” and “splashed” is an example of consonance. It creates a soothing and rhythmic quality in the sentence.

• “Mike likes his bike.” In this sentence, the repeated “k” sound in “Mike,” “likes,” and “bike” adds a crisp and sharp quality to the sentence.
• “Pitter-patter, raindrops scatter.” The repeated “t” and “r” sounds in this phrase create a sense of lightness and quick movement.
• “She sells seashells by the seashore.” Here, the repeated “s” and “sh” sounds add a soft and smooth rhythm to the sentence.
• “The whisper of the wind.” In this example, the repeated “w” sound in “whisper” and “wind” creates a gentle and airy effect.
• “A sweet tweet from a little bird.” The repeated “t” sound in “sweet,” “tweet,” and “little” adds emphasis and creates a playful tone.

Consonance helps create a musical and harmonious quality in writing. It adds a pleasing and rhythmic effect, making the language more memorable and engaging. Consonance, along with other sound devices like alliteration and rhyme, can enhance the overall beauty and rhythm of a piece of writing or speech.

Anaphora is a literary device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It’s a technique used to add emphasis and create a powerful effect in writing or speech.

To understand anaphora, let’s look at an example. Imagine you want to inspire a group of people, and you say, “We will fight for justice. We will fight for equality. We will fight for a better future.” In this example, the repetition of the phrase “We will fight” at the beginning of each sentence is anaphora. It creates a sense of determination and reinforces the message.

• “I have a dream that one day… I have a dream that one day…” In Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, the repetition of the phrase “I have a dream” at the beginning of multiple sentences emphasizes the vision and hope.
• “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is selfless.” The repetition of the word “love” at the beginning of each sentence highlights different aspects of love.
• “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” In this phrase, the repetition of “let it snow” creates a sense of longing or excitement for snowfall.
• “I came, I saw, I conquered.” This famous quote from Julius Caesar demonstrates anaphora with the repetition of “I” at the beginning of each phrase, emphasizing the speaker’s actions.

Anaphora helps create a strong and memorable effect in writing or speech. By repeating words or phrases, it adds emphasis, rhythm, and power to the message being conveyed. Anaphora can be used to inspire, persuade, or create a sense of unity by reinforcing key ideas or themes.

An apostrophe is a figure of speech that involves addressing or speaking to someone or something that is not present or cannot respond as if they were present and able to listen. It’s a way of giving human-like qualities or directly addressing an absent person, an inanimate object, or even an abstract concept.

To understand apostrophe, let’s look at an example. Imagine you’re looking at a beautiful sunset, and you say, “Oh, Sun, your golden rays embrace the world.” In this sentence, you are directly addressing the Sun as if it can hear you and feel its rays. This is an example of apostrophe.

• “O, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is speaking to Romeo, who is not physically present. She is expressing her longing for him.
• “O, Death, be not proud.” In John Donne’s poem “Death, be not proud,” the poet directly addresses death and challenges its power.
• “Ocean, you mighty force, swallow my sorrows.” Here, the speaker is speaking to the ocean, personifying it as a powerful entity capable of engulfing their sorrows.
• “Hello, old friend, how I’ve missed you.” This is an example of addressing an absent friend, expressing the speaker’s sentiment of longing or nostalgia.

Apostrophe allows writers and speakers to give life and voice to non-living things or absent individuals. It adds emotional depth, expresses intense feelings, and helps create a sense of connection with the subject being addressed. Apostrophe is a powerful tool to convey emotions, explore ideas, and create a dramatic effect in literature and poetry.

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or dramatic effect. It’s a way of making something sound much bigger, greater, or more extreme than it actually is.

To understand hyperbole, let’s look at an example. Imagine you’re really hungry, and you say, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse!” Now, of course, you don’t actually mean that you could eat an entire horse. By using hyperbole, you’re exaggerating your hunger to emphasize just how strong it is.

• “I’ve told you a million times!” Here, the speaker is exaggerating the number of times they have told someone something to emphasize their frustration.
• “This suitcase weighs a ton!” The speaker is exaggerating the weight of the suitcase to emphasize how heavy it feels.
• “I’m as old as the hills.” This hyperbole suggests that the speaker is very old, even though they may not be that old in reality.
• “She cried an ocean of tears.” This exaggeration emphasizes the intensity and amount of tears shed by the person.
• “I have a million things to do today.” The speaker is exaggerating the number of tasks they need to accomplish to emphasize a busy schedule.

Hyperbole helps create emphasis, adds humor, and makes a point more memorable. By using extreme exaggeration, writers and speakers can draw attention to a particular aspect or evoke strong emotions in their audience. It adds a touch of excitement and playfulness to the language.

Litotes is a figure of speech that involves expressing an idea by using understatement or negation to convey the opposite meaning. It’s a way of making a point by stating something in a negative or ironic way, rather than directly affirming it.

To understand litotes, let’s look at an example. Suppose someone asks you if you enjoyed a movie that you absolutely loved, and you respond, “Oh, it wasn’t bad.” By using litotes, you’re downplaying your true enthusiasm and expressing it indirectly. The negative statement of “wasn’t bad” actually means that you really enjoyed the movie.

• “She’s not unfamiliar with the topic.” This litotes suggests that the person is actually quite knowledgeable about the topic.
• “He’s not the friendliest person.” This understatement implies that the person is not very friendly at all.
• “It’s not a bad view from here.” This litotes implies that the view is actually quite good or impressive.
• “She’s no ordinary singer.” This statement suggests that the person is an exceptional or extraordinary singer.
• “He’s not unfamiliar with trouble.” This litotes implies that the person is frequently involved in troublesome situations.

Litotes allows writers and speakers to make a point indirectly by using a form of understatement or negation. It adds a layer of subtlety, irony, or modesty to the language, and can be used to downplay or highlight certain qualities or situations. Litotes adds depth and nuance to expressions and can be an effective way to make a statement more memorable.

Euphemism is a figure of speech that involves using mild or indirect words or phrases to replace harsh, blunt, or sensitive terms. It’s a way of softening or sugar-coating the language to convey a potentially uncomfortable or offensive idea in a more polite or socially acceptable manner.

To understand euphemism, let’s look at an example. Suppose someone is talking about a person who passed away, and instead of saying “he died,” they say “he passed away.” By using euphemism, they’re choosing a gentler phrase to talk about the sensitive topic of death.

• “She’s in a better place now.” This euphemism is often used to refer to someone who has died, suggesting that they are in a peaceful or happier state.
• “He’s let go from his job.” This euphemism is used to soften the idea of being fired or terminated from employment.
• “I’m under the weather.” This phrase is a euphemism for saying that you’re feeling sick or unwell.
• “She’s expecting.” This euphemism is used to indicate that someone is pregnant.
• “He’s a little challenged in that area.” This euphemism is used to avoid directly saying that someone is lacking in a particular skill or ability.

Euphemisms help us navigate sensitive or potentially offensive topics by using more polite or less harsh language. They allow us to convey ideas with a touch of diplomacy, respect, or cultural sensitivity. Euphemisms are widely used in social settings, formal contexts, or when discussing delicate matters. They provide a way to discuss difficult subjects while maintaining politeness and decorum.

Antithesis is a figure of speech that involves contrasting or juxtaposing two opposing ideas, words, or phrases within a sentence or paragraph. It’s a way of highlighting the stark contrast between two things to create a powerful effect or emphasize a point.

To understand antithesis, let’s look at an example. Suppose you want to describe a character who is both kind and cruel, and you say, “She was both the epitome of kindness and the embodiment of cruelty.” In this sentence, the contrasting ideas of kindness and cruelty are placed side by side, creating an antithesis. It emphasizes the stark opposition between the two qualities.

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” In this famous line from Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities,” the contrast between the best and worst of times emphasizes the extreme nature of the era being described.
• “Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.” This antithesis juxtaposes the idealized notion of love with the practical reality of marriage.
• “Give me liberty or give me death.” This well-known phrase by Patrick Henry highlights the choice between freedom and death, creating a powerful antithesis.
• “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” This antithesis contrasts the fallibility of human nature with the divine quality of forgiveness.

Antithesis allows writers and speakers to highlight the stark opposition between two contrasting ideas, emphasizing their differences and creating a strong impact. By placing contrasting words or phrases side by side, antithesis adds emphasis, drama, and clarity to the language. It can be used to convey deeper meaning, create memorable statements, or draw attention to the stark contrast between concepts.

A paradox is a figure of speech that involves a statement or situation that appears to be contradictory or absurd, but upon closer examination, reveals a deeper truth or logic. It’s a way of presenting a seemingly illogical or contradictory idea to provoke deeper thinking and contemplation.

To understand paradox, let’s look at an example. Imagine someone says, “I can resist anything except temptation.” At first, it may seem contradictory because resisting implies not giving in to something, while temptation suggests a strong desire to indulge. However, the paradox reveals the human struggle and the irony that resisting temptation can be particularly challenging.

• “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.” This paradox highlights the idea that as knowledge increases, awareness of one’s own ignorance also grows.
• “I’m nobody.” This paradoxical statement suggests that by claiming to be nobody, one may actually be asserting their individuality or unique perspective.
• “This is the beginning of the end.” This paradox captures the contradictory notion that an ending can also mark the start of something new.
• “You have to be cruel to be kind.” This paradox suggests that sometimes, an act of apparent cruelty can actually be a kind or compassionate action in the long run.

Paradoxes challenge our thinking by presenting ideas that seem contradictory on the surface but contain a deeper truth or insight. They engage our minds, provoke reflection, and encourage us to question assumptions and explore complexities. Paradoxes can be found in literature, philosophy, and everyday language, and they help us grapple with the complexities of life and the inherent contradictions within our world.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposite terms to create a new meaning or concept. It’s a way of expressing a paradoxical idea by placing contrasting words side by side.

To understand an oxymoron, let’s look at an example. Imagine someone says, “bittersweet.” The term “bitter” and “sweet” are opposites, as bitterness and sweetness are contradictory tastes. However, when used together as an oxymoron, “bittersweet” creates a unique meaning that expresses a complex blend of both positive and negative emotions.

• “Jumbo shrimp.” The word “jumbo” suggests something large, while “shrimp” refers to something small. Together, they create an oxymoron that plays on the contrasting sizes.
• “Living dead.” This oxymoron combines the idea of being alive (“living”) with the notion of being deceased (“dead”).
• “Deafening silence.” The word “deafening” suggests a loud and overwhelming sound, while “silence” refers to the absence of sound. This oxymoron creates a powerful image of a silence that is so profound it becomes almost overwhelming.
• “Cruel kindness.” This oxymoron combines the contrasting ideas of cruelty and kindness, suggesting a kind act that may have an unintended negative impact.

Oxymorons add depth, complexity, and intrigue to language. By combining contradictory terms, they create a vivid and memorable effect. Oxymorons often capture the nuances and complexities of human experiences by highlighting the coexistence of opposing elements. They challenge our expectations, provoke thought, and provide a fresh perspective on familiar concepts.

An epigram is a short and witty statement or verse that expresses a clever or insightful idea. It’s a concise and memorable way of conveying a thought, often with a touch of humor or irony.

To understand an epigram, let’s look at an example. Imagine someone saying, “I can resist everything except temptation.” This short statement by Oscar Wilde captures a clever twist on the idea of resisting temptation, highlighting the humorous struggle many people face.

• “In youth, we learn; in age, we understand.” This epigram by Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach captures the idea that as we grow older, we gain wisdom and a deeper understanding of life.
• “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” This epigram by Alexander Pope highlights the idea that having limited knowledge on a subject can be more harmful than having no knowledge at all.
• “I can resist everything but temptation.” This playful epigram by Oscar Wilde adds a humorous twist by emphasizing the difficulty of resisting temptation.
• “Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.” This epigram plays on the idea that sometimes, unconventional or unexpected approaches can yield surprising results.

Epigrams are often used to encapsulate a complex idea concisely and cleverly. They provide a memorable way to express a thought, provoke thought, or offer a fresh perspective on a subject. Epigrams are commonly found in literature, speeches, and everyday conversations. They add a touch of wit, humor, and insight to the language, making them a powerful and engaging form of expression.

Irony is a figure of speech that involves the use of words or expressions to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal meaning. It is a way of using language to express a contrast between what is said and what is meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

To understand irony, let’s look at an example. Imagine it’s raining heavily outside, and someone looks out the window and says, “What a beautiful day!” Here, the statement is ironic because the speaker’s words directly contradict the reality of the rainy weather.

There are three main types of irony:

• Verbal irony: This involves saying one thing but meaning the opposite. For example: “Oh, that’s just great. Now we’re really in trouble.” (said sarcastically when something goes wrong)
• Dramatic irony: This occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in a story or play do not. For example: In the play “Romeo and Juliet,” the audience knows that Juliet is not really dead, but Romeo does not, and he kills himself in despair.
• Situational irony: This involves a situation in which the outcome is the opposite of what was expected or intended.
• A fire station burns down. This is an example of situational irony because it’s unexpected and contrary to what one would normally expect to happen.
• A dentist with bad teeth. This is an example of verbal irony because it’s a contradiction between what is said (a dentist is someone who takes care of teeth) and the situation (the dentist has bad teeth).
• A person saying “I love waking up early” when they’re known for always sleeping in. This is an example of irony because their words contradict their actions or reputation.
• A person saying “Great job!” sarcastically when someone makes a mistake. This is an example of dramatic irony because the person’s words convey the opposite of what they truly mean.

Irony adds depth and complexity to language by highlighting contradictions or unexpected outcomes. It can be used to convey humor, make a point, or create a sense of surprise. Irony often relies on context or an understanding of the situation to appreciate the contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs. It’s a powerful tool in literature, comedy, and everyday communication.

A pun is a figure of speech that involves the use of words that have multiple meanings or that sound similar to create a humorous or clever effect. It is a play on words that relies on the use of words that have more than one meaning or that sound similar to create a humorous or clever effect.

To understand a pun, let’s look at an example. Imagine someone says, “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.” In this pun, the word “dough” has a double meaning. It can refer to the bread-making ingredient, but it is also used colloquially to mean money. The pun cleverly plays on this dual meaning to create a humorous effect.

• “I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!” This pun relies on the double meaning of “put down” as both physically placing something down and losing interest in a book.
• “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough bread. It wasn’t my knead.” This pun plays on the words “bread” and “knead,” using a word that sounds similar to “need” to create a humorous effect.
• “I’m glad I know sign language; it’s pretty handy.” This pun relies on the double meaning of “handy” as both having practical skills and being physically helpful.
• “Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!” This pun uses the word “outstanding” to play on the idea of the scarecrow being exceptional in his field (the field where crops grow).

Puns are a form of wordplay that adds humor, cleverness, and wit to language. They rely on the multiple meanings, homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings), or wordplay to create a humorous or clever effect. Puns can be found in jokes, advertising slogans, literature, and everyday conversations. They’re a playful and entertaining way to engage with language and tickle our funny bones.

Metonymy is a figure of speech that involves using a word or phrase to represent something closely associated with it, but not actually part of it. It’s a way of referring to something by mentioning another word or phrase that is related to it.

To understand metonymy, let’s look at an example. Imagine someone says, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Here, the word “pen” is used to represent writing or communication, while the word “sword” symbolizes warfare or violence. The phrase suggests that the power of words and ideas (represented by the pen) can be more influential than physical force (represented by the sword).

• “The crown” refers to a king or queen. In this case, the word “crown” is used to represent the power and authority associated with royalty.
• “The White House issued a statement.” Here, “White House” is used to represent the government or the President of the United States, as the White House is closely associated with political decision-making.
• “Let me give you a hand.” In this expression, “hand” is used to represent assistance or help, indicating a willingness to support or lend a hand.
• “The press” refers to journalists or the media. Here, the word “press” is used to represent the industry or people involved in news reporting.

Metonymy allows us to use a word or phrase closely related to something to represent or refer to it. It adds depth, symbolism, and economy to language by using associations to convey meaning. Metonymy is commonly used in literature, poetry, speeches, and everyday conversations. It provides a way to express ideas concisely and indirectly, while still being understood within the context.

Synecdoche is a figure of speech that involves using a part of something to represent the whole or using the whole to represent a part. It’s a way of referring to something by mentioning a related, but distinct, part or whole.

To understand synecdoche, let’s look at an example. Imagine someone says, “All hands on deck!” Here, the word “hands” is used to represent the whole person or the entire crew on a ship. By referring to a part (hands), the speaker is actually referring to the larger group (the crew).

• “Nice wheels!” Here, the word “wheels” is used to refer to a car. The wheels are just a part of the car, but they represent the whole vehicle.
• “The law” refers to the police or legal system. In this case, the word “law” is used to represent the entire system of rules and law enforcement.
• “He’s a hired gun.” Here, the phrase “hired gun” is used to represent a person who is hired to carry out a specific task or job. The term “gun” refers to the person as a whole.

Synecdoche allows us to use a specific part or whole to represent something larger or smaller, creating a figurative meaning. It adds richness and depth to language by using associations and connections. Synecdoche can be found in literature, poetry, speeches, and everyday conversations. It provides a way to convey meaning in a concise and evocative manner by using familiar relationships between parts and wholes.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech that involves using words that imitate or mimic the sound associated with the object or action they describe. It’s a way of creating a connection between the word and the sound it represents, making the text more vivid and engaging for the reader or listener.

To understand onomatopoeia, let’s look at some examples. Imagine the sound of a clock ticking, and someone says, “tick-tock.” Here, the word “tick-tock” imitates the actual sound made by the clock, creating an onomatopoeic effect.

• “Buzz” represents the sound of a bee flying around.
• “Boom” imitates the sound of an explosion.
• “Hiss” imitates the sound a snake makes.
• “Splash” imitates the sound of something falling into water.

Onomatopoeic words add a sense of realism, sensory experience, and sound imagery to writing. They allow readers to imagine or hear the sounds being described more vividly. Onomatopoeia is commonly used in literature, poetry, comic books, and children’s stories. By using words that imitate sounds, writers and speakers can bring their descriptions to life and engage the senses of their audience.

Classification of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech can be classified into various categories based on the different ways they manipulate language. Here are some common classifications of figures of speech:

• Simile: Comparing two things using “like” or “as” (e.g., “She sings like an angel”).
• Metaphor: Describing something by equating it with another unrelated thing (e.g., “He’s a shining star”).
• Metonymy: Using a word or phrase to represent something closely associated with it (e.g., “The pen is mightier than the sword”).
• Synecdoche: Using a part to represent the whole or vice versa (e.g., “All hands on deck”).
• Hyperbole: Exaggerating or overstating for emphasis or effect (e.g., “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse”).
• Litotes: Understating or expressing something by negating its opposite (e.g., “She’s not unkind”).
• Alliteration: Repeating the same sound or letter at the beginning of closely connected words (e.g., “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”).
• Assonance: Repetition of similar vowel sounds within words (e.g., “fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese”).
• Apostrophe: Directly addressing an absent person or an abstract idea as if it were present (e.g., “O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?”).
• Irony: Expressing something contrary to the intended meaning for humorous or dramatic effect (e.g., “The teacher said the test was easy, but it was actually very difficult”).
• Oxymoron: Combining two contradictory terms to create a new meaning (e.g., “bittersweet” or “jumbo shrimp”).
• Anaphora: Repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences (e.g., “I have a dream… I have a dream…”).
• Epiphora or Epistrophe: Repeating the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences (e.g., “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child”).

These are just a few examples of how figures of speech can be classified. Note that some figures of speech may fall into multiple categories, and there can be variations and subcategories within each classification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of using figures of speech.

Figures of speech serve various purposes in communication. They add depth, creativity, and vividness to language, making it more engaging, memorable, and expressive. They help convey complex ideas, evoke emotions, create imagery, and enhance the overall impact of the message being communicated.

How do figures of speech enhance writing and speaking?

Figures of speech enhance writing and speaking by adding rhetorical devices and literary techniques that make the language more interesting and impactful. They capture the attention of the audience, evoke emotions, paint vivid pictures, and create a lasting impression. They make communication more persuasive, memorable, and engaging.

Can figures of speech be used in everyday conversations?

Absolutely! Figures of speech are not limited to formal writing or literature. They can be used in everyday conversations to make your speech more colorful, expressive, and engaging. Whether it’s using a simile to describe something, employing a metaphor to convey meaning, or utilizing a witty pun, figures of speech can add flair to your everyday communication.

How can one improve their use of figures of speech?

Improving the use of figures of speech involves developing a strong grasp of different types of figures of speech and their appropriate usage. Reading widely, exploring various literary works, and studying examples of figures of speech can enhance your understanding and help you recognize their applications in different contexts. Regular practice and experimentation in writing and speaking can also improve your ability to incorporate figures of speech effectively.

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Figures of Speech - Definition, Types and Usage with Examples

Are you as busy as a bee? Why not take some time off your busy schedule to learn how you can make your speech and writing sound and look extraordinary and engaging? There are many ways to make your language creative and interesting. One of the most effective ways to do it is to use figurative language. In this article, you will be introduced to what figures of speech are, their meaning and definition, the different types of figures of speech and how to use them effectively in sentences with examples.

Table of Contents

Definition of a Figure of Speech

Classification of figures of speech.

• How to Use a Figure of Speech in a Sentence? – Points to Remember

Examples of Figures of Speech

Frequently asked questions on figures of speech in english, what irs a figure of speech.

A figure of speech is an expression used to make a greater effect on your reader or listener. It includes making comparisons, contrasts, associations, exaggerations and constructions. It also gives a much clearer picture of what you are trying to convey.

Let us take a look at how different dictionaries define a figure of speech to have a much better idea of what it is.

A figure of speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meaning in order to create a particular mental picture or effect.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “an expression that uses words to mean something different from their ordinary meaning.” According to the Collins Dictionary, a figure of speech is “an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.”

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “ a form of expression (such as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener.” According to the Macmillan Dictionary, a figure of speech is defined as “an expression in which the words are used figuratively, not in their normal literal meaning.”

Figures of Speech in English Grammar

In English grammar , there are around fifteen to twenty figures of speech. However, there are a few of them which are used more often than the others. Let us look at the most commonly used figures of speech.

• Personification
• Alliteration
• Transferred Epithet

How to Use a Figure of Speech in English? – Points to Remember

You now know that a figure of speech can make your language look and sound a lot more poetical, interesting and flamboyant. However, the challenge is not about learning the different figures of speech but knowing when, where and how to use them. You cannot use it anywhere you like. Only if it is used right and where they are appropriate and necessary, will it make your language better.

Figures of speech are not meant to provide information literally, so it is not suggested that you use figurative language in professional presentations and writings like essays. Since they do not convey literal meanings, it is very important that you learn how each figure of speech can be used. What is more important is knowing what it would mean when used in a particular part of a sentence. So, the most significant point that you have to keep in mind when using figures of speech is to employ them only if they give you the desired effect and meaning.

The figures of speech can be categorized into types based on their functions when used in sentences. Accordingly, the main categories are composed of ones that:

• Show a Relationship or Resemblance
• Show Phonetic Resemblances and Representing Sounds
• Show Emphasis or Unimportance

Showing a Relationship or Resemblance

This category includes figures of speech which are designed to make comparisons to show a relationship or some resemblances. Similes, metaphors, personification, euphemism, metonymy and synecdoche are the figures of speech used for this purpose.

Showing Phonetic Resemblances and Representing Sounds

This category of figures of speech include alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia. The first two figures of speech are used to create an effect by using similar sounding words or words starting with the same consonant and vowel sounds, whereas onomatopoeia includes words that are used to represent sounds.

Showing Emphasis or Unimportance

The figures of speech belonging to this category are used to provide emphasis or show how important or unimportant something is. Hyperbole, antithesis, oxymoron, irony and litotes are figures of speech that can be used for this purpose.

Here are a few examples of the different figures of speech in English grammar.

• Simile – Rachel is as bright as the sun.
• Metaphor – The whole world is a stage.
• Personification – The wind whispered in my ears.
• Apostrophe – O William, you should be living now to see all this.
• Alliteration – Sally sold some seashells.
• Assonance – I seem to like your little green trees.
• Hyperbole – I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
• Oxymoron – Euthanizing their sick pet dog was considered as an act of kind cruelty.
• Epigram – The child is the father of man.
• Irony – A fire station burned down yesterday.
• Pun – Life depends upon the liver.
• Metonymy – The Bench decided that the man is guilty.
• Synecdoche – We need more hands to help us move this cupboard.
• Transferred Epithet – She had a sleepless night.

What is a figure of speech?

What is the definition of a figure of speech.

A figure of speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meaning in order to create a particular mental picture or effect.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “an expression that uses words to mean something different from their ordinary meaning.” According to the Collins Dictionary, a figure of speech is “an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “ a form of expression (such as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener.” According to the Macmillan Dictionary, a figure of speech is defined as “an expression in which the words are used figuratively, not in their normal literal meaning.”

What are the different figures of speech in English?

Here is a list of the different figures of speech in English.

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What Are Figures of Speech? Definition & 100+ Examples

Have you ever pondered how our words can paint vivid pictures, evoke intense emotions, or transport us to magical realms? Welcome to the enchanting world of figures of speech! As the spices of language, these expressive tools bring flavor to our conversations and help us articulate our thoughts with creativity and flair.

Join us as we embark on this exciting linguistic adventure, and unlock the secrets to using figures of speech effectively. Whether you’re a writer, a speaker, or simply someone who loves the art of language, this exploration promises to enlighten and inspire.

So grab your metaphorical paintbrush, and get ready to turn your words into a masterpiece!

Table of Contents

Figures of Speech: Definition

Figures of speech are expressive language devices used to add color, depth, and creativity to our communication. They go beyond the literal meaning of words and phrases, employing stylistic and imaginative techniques to convey ideas more vividly and engagingly.

By intentionally manipulating words and phrases, figures of speech create richer and more impactful expressions, giving language its poetic, persuasive, and emotive qualities.

Figures of speech breathe life into our language, making it more engaging and memorable. They enable us to paint vivid images, evoke emotions, and convey complex ideas with clarity and impact.

Types of Figures of Speech

There are numerous figures of speech, each serving a unique purpose in enhancing the beauty and expressiveness of language. Here are some of the types:

A metaphor is a powerful figure of speech that allows us to make connections between two dissimilar things by asserting that one thing is another. By drawing attention to a shared characteristic, metaphors create vivid images, enhance understanding, and enrich language. Unlike similes, metaphors don’t use comparative words such as “like” or “as.”

Here are some examples of metaphors and their meanings:

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two distinct things by using the words “like” or “as” to establish a connection. By highlighting a shared quality or characteristic, similes create vivid images and enhance the reader’s or listener’s understanding of the subject.

While metaphors make direct comparisons without using comparative words, similes explicitly use “like” or “as” to draw attention to the similarity between the two things being compared.

Here are some examples of similes and their meanings:

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that employs intentional exaggeration to create emphasis, drama, or humor. By magnifying a particular quality or characteristic, hyperboles draw attention to the subject and evoke strong emotions.

Although not meant to be taken literally, hyperboles effectively convey the intensity or extremity of a situation or feeling, enriching language and engaging the reader or listener.

Here are some examples of hyperboles and their meanings:

Alliteration

Alliteration is a figure of speech that features the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Often used in poetry, prose, and tongue twisters, alliteration adds a rhythmic and musical quality to language, making it more memorable and engaging.

Here are some examples of alliteration:

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposing terms to create a new concept or expression. By juxtaposing these contrasting words, oxymorons emphasize contrast, create paradoxes, and evoke curiosity or surprise in the reader.

They can also add depth, complexity, or humor to language, highlighting the nuances and contradictions in human experience.

Here are some examples of oxymorons:

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate or sound like the action they describe. This figure of speech is commonly used in poetry and helps to convey a more vivid image to the reader.

Here are some examples of onomatopoeia:

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human qualities, emotions, or actions to non-human objects, animals, or abstract concepts.

By giving human characteristics to inanimate objects or intangible ideas, personification helps to create vivid imagery, evoke emotions, and make abstract concepts more relatable and engaging for the reader or listener.

It is frequently used in poetry, prose, and other forms of creative expression to enhance the impact and appeal of language.

Here are some examples of personification:

A pun is a form of wordplay that exploits the multiple meanings or similar sounds of words to create humor, irony, or rhetorical impact. Puns often rely on homophones (words that sound alike but have different meanings) or homonyms (words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings).

They can be used to create jokes, add levity, or bring attention to a particular idea or concept. Puns are a popular form of humor in literature, advertising, and everyday conversation.

Here are some examples of puns:

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or conversely, the whole is used to represent a part. This literary device allows writers and speakers to create emphasis or simplification by using a representative term, making their language more concise, vivid, and engaging.

Synecdoche is commonly used in poetry, prose, and everyday speech to create impactful imagery and evoke emotions.

Here are some examples of synecdoche:

Irony is a figure of speech that uses words to convey a meaning that is opposite to or different from their literal or usual meaning, often to create humor, critique, or emphasize a point.

Irony highlights the discrepancy between what is said or expected and what actually occurs or is meant. It is commonly used in literature, conversation, and other forms of communication to engage the audience and provoke thought.

There are several types of irony, including verbal, situational, and dramatic irony.

Here are some examples of irony:

Litotes is a figure of speech that employs understatement or a double negative to emphasize a point or convey a positive meaning. By presenting a statement in a weaker or more modest form, litotes highlights the intended meaning through contrast or irony.

This rhetorical device is frequently used in literature, speeches, and everyday language to create emphasis, evoke humor, or express modesty and politeness.

Here are some examples of litotes:

Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a closely associated but non-literal term is substituted for the word it is intended to represent. This rhetorical device allows writers and speakers to create emphasis or simplification by using a representative term or symbol, making their language more concise, vivid, and engaging.

Metonymy is commonly used in poetry, prose, and everyday speech to create impactful imagery and evoke emotions.

Here are some examples of metonymy:

A euphemism is a figure of speech in which a mild or indirect expression is substituted for a harsh, blunt, or offensive one. This rhetorical device allows writers and speakers to convey sensitive or potentially uncomfortable information in a more delicate or polite manner.

Euphemisms are often used to address taboo subjects, unpleasant situations, or impolite language, helping to maintain a sense of decorum and respect in communication.

Here are some examples of euphemisms:

Antithesis is a figure of speech that places two opposing or contrasting ideas side by side to create a clear, contrasting relationship or an intense effect. This rhetorical device emphasizes the differences between the ideas and enhances the impact of both concepts by using their contrast to create a striking and memorable image or statement.

Antithesis is often used in literature, speeches, and other forms of communication to engage the audience, provoke thought, and highlight the complexity or depth of an idea.

Here are some examples of antithesis:

Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, an abstract concept, or a personified object. This rhetorical device allows writers and speakers to create a more emotional, intimate, or dramatic effect in their work, engaging the audience and evoking strong feelings.

Apostrophe is often used in literature, particularly poetry and drama, to convey deep emotions, personal reflections, or powerful messages.

Here are some examples of apostrophe:

Understatement

Understatement is a figure of speech that deliberately minimizes the importance or impact of something, often for humorous or ironic effect. This rhetorical device allows writers and speakers to convey their message in a subtle, indirect manner, emphasizing their point by downplaying its significance.

Understatement is often used in literature, speeches, and everyday conversations to create humor, irony, or to heighten the impact of a situation by contrasting it with its mild description.

Here are some examples of understatement:

A paradox is a figure of speech that presents a statement or situation that seems contradictory or illogical but can hold a deeper meaning or truth. This rhetorical device challenges the reader or listener to think beyond the surface and find a more profound understanding or insight.

Paradoxes are often used in literature, philosophy, and everyday language to create intrigue, provoke thought, and reveal the complexity of ideas or situations.

Here are some examples of paradox:

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words, often used to create internal rhymes and enhance the rhythm in poetry or prose. This figure of speech contributes to the musicality, mood, and overall atmosphere of a piece, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader or listener.

Assonance can also be employed for emphasis, to draw attention to certain words or ideas, and to create a sense of cohesion within a text.

Here are some examples of assonance:

Anaphora is a figure of speech involving the repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive clauses or sentences to emphasize an idea, create a sense of rhythm, and reinforce a particular point.

This rhetorical device is commonly used in poetry, speeches, and prose to establish a pattern, evoke emotion, and make a message more memorable and powerful.

Here are some examples of anaphora:

Chiasmus is a figure of speech where the order of words in one phrase is reversed in the following phrase, creating a mirrored or inverted structure. This rhetorical device is used to create emphasis, balance, and contrast, making a message more memorable and impactful.

Chiasmus is often found in literature, speeches, and everyday language to convey a sense of symmetry, harmony, or irony.

Here are some examples of chiasmus:

Figurative Language in Literature and Writing

Figurative language is a crucial aspect of literature and writing, serving to create vivid images and engaging scenes for readers.

It is commonly used in poetry, prose, and other forms of writing to enhance the narrative and provide deeper meaning. By employing various literary devices and wordplay, writers can evoke emotions, provoke thought, and create memorable experiences for their readers.

One of the primary purposes of figurative language is to convey abstract ideas and concepts through concrete images. Writers often use metaphors, similes, and personification to create connections between seemingly unrelated subjects.

Another common technique employed in literature and writing is the use of symbolism, where objects, characters, or events represent abstract ideas or concepts.

This can contribute to the development of themes, the exploration of human experiences, and the layering of meaning throughout a narrative. For example, a recurring motif of birds may symbolize freedom, while a shattered mirror may represent broken relationships.

Wordplay, such as puns, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, also enriches literary works and adds an element of sophistication to writing. These devices showcase the writer’s mastery of language and provide additional layers of interpretation for readers.

Using Figures of Speech in Writing: Strategies

Figures of speech are essential tools that writers use to refine their craft and convey meaning effectively. They can enrich writing by providing additional layers of meaning and enlivening prose by introducing distinctive language patterns.

One strategy for using figures of speech is to incorporate various literary devices such as similes, metaphors, and personification in text. These tropes allow writers to make comparisons that evoke strong mental images, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the content.

Another effective approach is to incorporate elements of grammar and structure, such as alliteration, anaphora, or chiasmus, to create memorable and captivating patterns in writing.

Incorporating irony, sarcasm, or understatement in text can also help writers convey meaning in a subtle, witty, or humorous manner. These figures of speech add another dimension to the narrative by contrasting what is said with what is meant or what is expected.

Lastly, it is crucial for writers to understand their audience and consider the context in which the writing will be read. Tropes that work well for one audience might not resonate with another, and overusing figures of speech may hinder understanding or distract from the message being conveyed.

Related Terms and Concepts

In the realm of figures of speech, several related terms and concepts can be found. These terms help clarify the various devices and techniques that contribute to a more evocative and effective use of language.

Circumlocution is a figure of speech in which a speaker or writer uses more words than necessary to express an idea, often with the purpose of avoiding a direct statement. Examples of circumlocution can be found in politics, science, and everyday conversation. It can be a useful tool in crafting an evasive response, obscuring a truth or maintaining diplomatic neutrality.

Pleonasm refers to the use of redundant words or phrases in a sentence. This figure of speech may seem superfluous, but it can be used intentionally to emphasize a point or create a specific effect. In some cases, pleonasm can add lyrical or rhythmic qualities to a phrase, as in poetry.

Epigram is a brief, witty, and often satirical statement that conveys a thought or observation in a concise and memorable way. Epigrams are often used in literature and social commentary to offer insight or provoke thought. Examples of epigrams can be found across diverse literary works, from ancient Greek and Roman texts to the modern-day writings of prominent authors.

Schemes refer to the arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence or paragraph, focusing on syntax and structure. These rhetorical devices can elevate language by creating patterns, contrasts, or emphasis.

Some common examples of schemes include parallelism, chiasmus, and antithesis. Schemes can be powerful tools in crafting engaging and meaningful writing across numerous fields, from science to poetry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a figure of speech and a literary device.

A figure of speech is a type of literary device that uses words or expressions in a non-literal or metaphorical way to create a particular effect, such as imagery, emphasis, or emotional impact.

Literary devices, on the other hand, are a broader category that encompasses various techniques and tools used by writers to enhance their work, create meaning, and engage readers.

Figures of speech are a subset of literary devices, which also include elements like symbolism, irony, foreshadowing, and alliteration.

Can using too many figures of speech be detrimental to communication?

While figures of speech can enrich language and make it more engaging, using too many of them can be detrimental to communication.

Overuse of figures of speech can make a text overly complicated, obscure the intended meaning, and even confuse or alienate readers who are unfamiliar with the expressions being used.

It’s essential to strike a balance between using figures of speech for stylistic effect and maintaining clarity and accessibility in communication.

Can understanding figures of speech improve critical thinking skills?

Yes, understanding figures of speech can contribute to the development of critical thinking skills.

By learning to identify and analyze various rhetorical devices in language, you become more adept at recognizing the underlying ideas, assumptions, and emotions that inform a message.

This heightened awareness can help you evaluate the validity and persuasiveness of arguments, identify potential biases or manipulative language, and make more informed decisions based on the information you encounter.

Can the use of figures of speech affect the tone of a piece of writing?

Yes, the use of figures of speech can significantly affect the tone of a piece of writing. Depending on the specific figure of speech used and the context, it can evoke various emotions, create a sense of humor, or convey a sense of seriousness or formality.

For instance, using a hyperbole can create a sense of exaggeration or humor, while employing a metaphor can add depth or poignancy to a description.

The choice and frequency of figures of speech can help establish the overall tone and style of a piece of writing, shaping the reader’s perception and experience of the text.

Figures of speech are versatile and powerful tools that breathe life into language, enabling writers and speakers to create vivid imagery, evoke emotions, and engage their audience.

By using various rhetorical devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, irony, and litotes, communicators can express ideas in creative, memorable, and impactful ways.

The artful application of figures of speech not only enriches language but also helps to forge connections between the communicator and their audience, ultimately elevating the quality and resonance of any form of communication.

Embrace the world of figures of speech, and watch your language take flight!

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Figure of Speech: Definition, types, and examples

Figures of speech are ways of using words that go beyond their literal meanings to create more interesting or effective expressions. They can add color, emotion, and emphasis to language, and can help to make writing and speech more vivid and engaging. Some figures of speech are very common and are often used without us even realizing it, while others are more specific and may be used for a particular effect or in a particular context. Some figures of speech, such as metaphor and simile, are used to make comparisons and help us to understand abstract concepts in more concrete terms. Others, such as hyperbole and irony, are used to create emphasis or to convey a meaning that is opposite to the literal meaning of the words. Still others, such as alliteration and onomatopoeia, are used to create a particular sound or rhythm in language. Overall, figures of speech are an important tool in the writer or speaker’s toolkit and can help to make the language more expressive and engaging. 

A figure of speech is a diversion from the usual utilization of words to enhance their impact. Due to its rhetorical effect, it is sometimes referred to as a rhetorical figure. It alters a statement’s actual essence or usual application to get the desired impact. In both written and spoken communication, it typically emphasizes, exaggerates, or enhances language.  Even newspapers, cartoons, billboards, slogans, and other media feature it. A figure of speech can quickly draw attention and attract people to the use. It’s intended to draw comparisons and provide drama when writing or speaking. It deepens the meaning of the text and makes the audience speculate, and gives the author’s ideas more vitality. The use of figurative language reveals the author’s objective and motivation for utilizing certain words. Poetry is commonly related to figurative language in writing. A figure of speech is a creative way to utilize language to produce a certain impact. Metaphors, similes, and metonymy are types of figures of speech that are used often in spoken language. Many, like antithesis, or circumlocution, require more writing practice to use well. 

A figure of Speech Types

There are many different types of figures of speech, but some common ones include;

• Alliteration: the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words, as in “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
• Simile: a comparison of two things using “like” or “as,” as in “She was as graceful as a swan.”
• Metaphor: a comparison of two things without using “like” or “as,” as in “He was a tiger on the football field.”
• Hyperbole: exaggeration for emphasis or effect, as in “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
• Irony: when something is said to mean the opposite of what it literally means, as in “I’m so glad it’s raining on my wedding day.”
• Personification: giving human characteristics to non-human things, as in “The wind was howling with anger.”
• Onomatopoeia: words that imitate the sound they describe, such as “buzz,” “hiss,” and “meow.”
• Allusion: a reference to something from literature, history, or popular culture, as in “He’s a real Romeo.”
• Oxymoron: a combination of two words that seem to contradict each other, such as “jumbo shrimp” or “deafening silence.”
• Pun: a play on words, often involving a word with multiple meanings or similar-sounding words, as in “Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems.”
• Idiom: a phrase or expression that has a meaning different from its literal words, such as “it’s raining cats and dogs.”
• Cliché: a phrase or expression that has been used so often that it has lost its originality or impact, such as “love is blind” or “the early bird gets the worm.”
• Antithesis: the juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas, as in “To be or not to be, that is the question.”
• Synecdoche: using a part to represent the whole, as in “All hands on deck” to mean “everyone on the ship.”
• Euphemism: using a mild or indirect word or phrase in place of a more direct or blunt one, as in “passed away” instead of “died.”
• Chiasmus: a figure of speech in which the order of words in the second half of a sentence is the reverse of the order in the first half, as in “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
• Litotes: a figure of speech in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its opposite, as in “It’s not a bad book” to mean “It’s a good book.”
• Antanaclasis: repeating a word or phrase, but with a different meaning each time, as in “I cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow.”
• Paradox: a statement that seems contradictory or absurd but may actually be true, as in “Less is more.”
• Rhetorical question: a question that is asked for effect, without expecting an answer, as in “How can anyone be so cruel?”

How are figures of speech used in writing?

Figures of speech are commonly used in writing to add emphasis, clarity, or appeal to a piece of writing. They can help to make writing more vivid and engaging by creating images, comparisons, or sounds that capture the reader’s attention and imagination. For example, a writer might use a metaphor to compare two things to help the reader understand a complex idea or concept. They might use a simile to create a vivid image or to draw attention to a particular quality or feature. They might use alliteration to create a sense of rhythm or flow in their writing or to draw attention to a specific word or phrase. Figures of speech can also be used to create a particular tone or mood in writing, such as using irony to create humor or using personification to create a sense of empathy or emotional connection. Overall, figures of speech are an important tool for writers and can help to make their writing more effective and engaging.

What are the 12 main figure of speech

Figures of speech are rhetorical devices or language patterns that add richness and depth to language. While there are many figures of speech, here are 12 main ones:

• Simile:  A figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared using “like” or “as.” Example: “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
• Metaphor:  Similar to a simile, but it directly asserts that one thing is another. Example: “The world is a stage.”
• Personification:  Giving human qualities to non-human entities or objects. Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”
• Hyperbole:  Exaggeration for emphasis. Example: “I’ve told you a million times.”
• Understatement:  Deliberately downplaying or minimizing something for ironic effect. Example: “It’s just a flesh wound” (said of a severe injury).
• Alliteration:  Repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words. Example: “She sells seashells by the seashore.”
• Assonance:  Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. Example: “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.”
• Consonance:  Repetition of consonant sounds within nearby words. Example: “Pitter-patter.”
• Onomatopoeia:  Words that imitate the sound they describe. Example: “Buzz,” “hiss,” “clang.”
• Irony:  A contrast between expectation and reality. Types include verbal irony (saying the opposite of what is meant), situational irony (a situation that is the opposite of what is expected), and dramatic irony (the audience knows something the characters do not).
• Oxymoron:  A combination of contradictory or incongruent words. Example: “Jumbo shrimp.”
• Pun:  A play on words, often for humorous effect, where a word is used in multiple meanings or similar-sounding words are used. Example: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

These figures of speech contribute to the beauty and expressiveness of language, allowing writers and speakers to convey ideas in more imaginative and impactful ways.

What is a figure of speech, and how does it enhance language

A figure of speech is a linguistic device or technique used to add richness, vividness, and expressiveness to language. It involves a deviation from the ordinary or literal use of words to create a more imaginative or impactful effect. Figures of speech are often employed in literature, poetry, rhetoric, and everyday language to evoke emotions, create mental images, and engage the audience’s senses. Here’s how figures of speech enhance language;

Imagery:  Figures of speech help create vivid mental images by comparing one thing to another, using similes and metaphors. This allows readers or listeners to better visualize and connect with the content.

Example: “The night sky was a blanket of stars."

Emphasis:  Figures of speech, such as hyperbole and understatement, are used to exaggerate or downplay situations for emphasis. This draws attention to specific details and heightens the impact of the message.

Example: “I’ve told you a million times!"

Engagement:  Figures of speech engage the audience by appealing to their emotions, senses, and intellect. They make language more interesting, capturing the attention of the reader or listener.

Example: “The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, tempting even the strictest dieter."

Clarity:  Certain figures of speech, like analogies, help in explaining complex or abstract ideas by drawing parallels with more familiar concepts. This enhances clarity and facilitates understanding.

Example: “Understanding the human brain is like deciphering a complex computer program."

Rhythm and Sound:  Alliteration, assonance, and consonance contribute to the musicality of language, adding a rhythmic quality that can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of a piece of writing or speech.

Example (alliteration): “She sells seashells by the seashore."

Persuasion:  Figures of speech are frequently used in persuasive writing and speech to make arguments more compelling. They can influence emotions and opinions, making the communication more persuasive.

Example: “Our plan is the beacon of hope in these troubled times, a guiding light toward a better future."

Creativity:  Figures of speech allow for creative expression, encouraging writers and speakers to play with language, explore new ideas, and invent novel ways of conveying meaning.

Example: “Time is a thief that steals our youth, leaving behind only memories."

In summary, figures of speech enhance language by making it more vibrant, memorable, and effective in conveying thoughts and emotions. They contribute to the artistry of language, making communication a richer and more nuanced experience.

Can you provide examples of similes and metaphors in everyday language

Similes and metaphors are ways of talking that compare things, but they do it a bit differently. Here are some examples in simple words;

• Brave like a lion:  He faced a tough situation with bravery, like a lion.
• Like a fish out of water:  She felt uncomfortable in the new school, like a fish out of water.
• Busy as a bee:  The office was very busy, just like a bee during its busy hours.
• Light as a feather:  The package was not heavy at all, as light as a feather.
• Clear as crystal:  The instructions were very easy to understand, clear like crystal.
• Time is a thief:  This means time takes away moments from our lives like a thief steals things.
• The world is a stage:  Life is compared to a play, where people play different roles.
• He has a heart of stone:  This says someone is unfeeling or not kind.
• The classroom was a zoo:  This means the classroom was very chaotic and disorderly.
• Love is a journey:  Love is described as a journey or experience, like traveling and exploring.

So, similes use “like” or “as” to show similarities, while metaphors say one thing is another. Both make language more interesting by adding meaning and creating clear pictures in people’s minds.

How does personification contribute to storytelling and poetry

Personification is a literary device where human qualities and characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, animals, or abstract concepts. It involves giving human traits, emotions, or actions to things that are not human. Personification contributes to storytelling and poetry in several ways;

Emotional Connection:  By personifying non-human elements, writers create a bridge between the reader and the subject. This fosters emotional connections and empathy, as readers can relate to the human-like experiences of the personified entity.

Example: “The wind whispered through the trees, sharing its ancient tales of love and loss."

Vivid Imagery:  Personification brings inanimate objects or abstract concepts to life, creating vivid and memorable images in the reader’s mind. It adds depth and visual appeal to the description.

Example: “The old house groaned as if burdened by the weight of its memories."

Enhanced Storytelling:  Personification can be used to animate characters or elements in a story, making them more dynamic and engaging. This technique is especially effective in children’s literature, where inanimate objects take on personalities and become part of the narrative.

Example: “The little blue engine huffed and puffed its way up the steep hill."

Symbolism:  Personification allows writers to use symbols in a more relatable and accessible manner. By assigning human attributes to abstract concepts, authors can convey complex ideas or themes in a way that is easier for readers to grasp.

Example: “Justice, blindfolded and wielding a sword, is a symbol of fairness and impartiality."

Allegory and Metaphor:  Personification is often employed in allegorical writing, where characters or elements represent larger concepts or ideas. It can also be used metaphorically to convey abstract qualities through human-like actions.

Example: “Hope danced on the horizon, promising a new beginning."

Conveying Atmosphere:  Personification can contribute to the overall mood or atmosphere of a piece. By attributing emotions or actions to natural elements, the writer sets a specific tone for the story or poem.

Example: “The stormy clouds angrily shouted their disapproval overhead."

Expressing Intangible Concepts:  Abstract concepts such as time, death, or fate can be made more accessible and relatable through personification. This allows writers to explore and communicate complex ideas in a more humanized form.

Example: “Time marched on, unyielding and indifferent to the struggles of mortals."

In summary, personification enriches storytelling and poetry by infusing life into non-human elements, fostering emotional connections, creating vivid imagery, and providing a creative way to convey themes and ideas.

Explain the role of hyperbole in creating emphasis and impact in communication

Hyperbole is a rhetorical device that is defined by overly dramatic language or assertions that aren’t intended to be accepted literally. It involves stretching the truth to make a point, often for emphasis, humor, or to create a strong impact in communication. The role of hyperbole in communication is to;

Emphasize Importance:  Hyperbole is used to highlight the significance of a point or idea. By exaggerating, speakers or writers draw attention to certain aspects, making them stand out and creating a sense of importance.

Example: “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!"

Create Memorable Impressions:  Exaggeration tends to be memorable. Hyperbolic statements stick in the mind of the audience, leaving a lasting impression that can enhance the overall impact of the communication.

Example: “The suitcase weighed a ton!"

Enhance Humor:  Hyperbole is often employed in humor to create comic effects. The exaggeration of situations or characteristics can make the audience laugh and add a playful element to the communication.

Example: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!"

Express Strong Emotion:  Hyperbole is a powerful tool for conveying intense emotions. By using extreme language, speakers can express their feelings in a way that resonates with the audience and conveys the depth of their emotions.

Example: “I’m so happy I could burst into song!"

Exaggerate for Effect:  Hyperbole is used to make a point more forcefully. It helps to convey the speaker’s or writer’s passion or intensity on a subject, grabbing the attention of the audience.

Example: “This is the worst day of my life!"

Simplify Complex Ideas:  Exaggeration can be used to simplify complex ideas or situations, making them more relatable and easier to understand by emphasizing key aspects.

Example: “I have a million things to do before the deadline."

Create a Sense of Drama:  Hyperbole adds a sense of drama and theatricality to communication. It can make the narrative more engaging and entertaining by amplifying certain elements.

Example: “The crowd roared like a thousand thunderstorms."

Strengthen Persuasion:  When used in a persuasive context, hyperbole can be effective in convincing or swaying opinions. The exaggeration can make a case more compelling and persuasive.

Example: “This product will change your life forever!"

It’s important to note that while hyperbole is a powerful tool, its effectiveness depends on context and the degree of exaggeration. When used judiciously, hyperbole can enhance communication, making it more engaging, memorable, and impactful.

Give examples of understatement in literature or everyday conversation

Understatement is when someone intentionally makes something seem less important, serious, or impressive than it really is. It’s like saying things in a way that downplays their true significance. Here are some examples of understatement in stories and everyday talk;

Literary Examples

• In a play by Shakespeare called “Julius Caesar,” a character named Mark Antony calls another character, Brutus, “the noblest Roman of them all.” This is an understatement because it downplays the complexity of Brutus’s character.
• In a funny essay by Jonathan Swift called “A Modest Proposal,” he suggests that poor Irish families could sell their children to solve money problems. This extreme idea is an understatement because it makes a very serious proposal sound less serious than it is.
• In a novel by Jane Austen called “Pride and Prejudice,” a character named Mr. Collins often downplays things when he talks. For example, he modestly says, “I cannot bear to imagine what would have become of Mr. Bennet if left to himself.” This is an understatement because it makes a big problem seem smaller than it is.
• In a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald called “The Great Gatsby,” the narrator, Nick Carraway, talks about Jay Gatsby’s big parties in a modest way. He says they were “celebrated, there were hospitality and merriment, and dancing and wine.” This is an understatement because it downplays the grandness of the parties.

Everyday Conversation Examples

• When it’s raining a lot, someone might say, “I think it’s just a little bit of rain.” This is an understatement because it makes heavy rain sound less serious than it is.
• After something bad happens, someone might say, “I’ve had better days.” This is an understatement because it downplays how bad the day really was.
• If a room is really messy, someone might say, “It’s a little untidy in here.” This is an understatement because it makes a very messy room sound less messy than it is.
• When a task is really hard, someone might say, “It might be a bit tricky.” This is an understatement because it downplays how difficult the task really is.
• After waiting for a very long time, someone might say, “I’ve been waiting for a while.” This is an understatement because it downplays the length of the wait.

Understatement is a rhetorical tool that adds subtlety and humour by rendering things seem less significant or serious than they actually are. It depends on the listener’s ability to discern between what is being said and what is actually taking place.

How does alliteration contribute to the rhythm and sound of a piece of writing

Alliteration is a writing trick where words in a row start with the same sound. It helps make writing sound nice and has a few cool effects;

Rhythmic Flow:  Alliteration makes words flow together in a nice rhythm. It’s like a musical beat that makes reading more enjoyable.

Example: “Sally sells seashells by the seashore."

Musicality:  Alliteration is like music in writing. It repeats sounds and makes the words sound musical, making reading more fun.

Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Emphasis and Attention:  It helps draw attention to specific words or ideas. By repeating sounds, it naturally emphasizes important parts.

Example: “Boldly and bravely, he faced the challenges."

Mnemonic Device:  Alliteration can help remember things better. Repeating sounds make phrases stick in your mind.

Example: “She sells seashells down by the seashore."

Enhanced Expressiveness:  It makes writing more expressive and beautiful. It adds a poetic or lyrical touch.

Example: “Whispering willows welcomed us with their wisdom."

Sound Patterns:  Alliteration creates patterns in sounds, making the writing feel harmonious. Repeating consonant sounds ties words together.

Example: “Misty mountains murmured in the morning breeze."

Mood and Tone:  Depending on the sounds used, alliteration can set the mood. Soft sounds create calmness, while strong sounds bring excitement.

Example: “Silent shadows slinked through the moonlit night."

Aural Pleasure:  Alliteration makes reading sound nice. It adds a pleasant experience, making the words enjoyable to listen to.

Example: “Gleaming golden sunsets painted the sky."

So, alliteration makes writing sound good by creating rhythm, making it musical, emphasizing important parts, helping memory, adding expressiveness, creating sound patterns, setting the mood, and providing a nice listening experience for readers.

Can you provide examples of assonance and consonance in song lyrics

Assonance and consonance are both literary devices that involve the repetition of sounds nearby, but they differ in the types of sounds repeated.

Assonance:  This involves the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

Song: “Someone Like You” by Adele

• Example: “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you.”

Song: “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

• Example: “I heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord.”

Song: “Creep” by Radiohead

• Example: “But I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo.”

Consonance:  This involves the repetition of consonant sounds within nearby words.

Song: “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

• Example: “And I will always love you.”

Song: “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel

• Example: “Hello darkness, my old friend.”

Song: “Let It Be” by The Beatles

• Example: “Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”

In these examples, you can see how assonance and consonance contribute to the musical and poetic qualities of the lyrics. The repeated vowel or consonant sounds create a sense of harmony, rhythm, and cohesion within the language, enhancing the overall auditory experience for the listener.

What is the significance of onomatopoeia in literature and its impact on the reader

Onomatopoeia is a literary device that refers to words that imitate or resemble the sound they describe. These words create a sensory experience for the reader by mimicking the actual sounds associated with the objects or actions they represent. The use of onomatopoeia in literature can have several significant impacts on the reader;

• Sensory Engagement:  Onomatopoeic words engage the reader’s senses by vividly representing sounds. This sensory stimulation helps readers to better visualize and experience the scenes described in the text.
• Immersive Experience:  Onomatopoeia contributes to the immersive quality of literature by bringing the narrative to life. Readers can feel more connected to the story when they can imagine the sounds associated with the events and characters.
• Enhanced Descriptions:  Onomatopoeic words provide a unique and specific way to describe sounds. Instead of relying on adjectives alone, writers can use words that directly replicate the noise, resulting in a more precise and evocative description.
• Emotional Impact:  The use of onomatopoeia can evoke emotions by connecting the reader to the sensory experiences of the characters. For example, the sound of thunder or a creaking door can create a sense of tension or fear.
• Memorability:  Onomatopoeic words are often memorable and can leave a lasting impression on the reader. The unique and distinctive nature of these words makes them stand out in the text, contributing to the overall impact of the narrative.
• Rhythmic Elements:  Onomatopoeia can add a rhythmic quality to the text, especially in poetry. The repetition of sounds can create a musicality that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the writing.
• Symbolism:  In some cases, onomatopoeia may be used symbolically. Certain sounds may carry cultural or emotional connotations that enrich the meaning of the text.
• Comic and Playful Tone:  Onomatopoeic words are often associated with comic books and playful language. Their use can contribute to a lighthearted or humorous tone in literature.

In summary, onomatopoeia serves as a powerful tool for writers to create a more immersive and engaging experience for readers. By incorporating sounds directly into the text, authors can enhance descriptions, convey emotions, and make their narratives more vivid and memorable.

Explain the different types of irony and provide examples for each

Irony is a literary device characterized by a discrepancy between expectation and reality. There are several types of irony, each involving a different kind of incongruity. Here are the main types of irony, along with examples for each;

Verbal Irony

• Meaning: When someone says something but really implies something else, it’s called verbal irony. It is a contrast between the literal and intended meanings of the words.
• Example: On a rainy, gloomy day, someone looks out the window and says, “What a beautiful day!”

Situational Irony

• Definition: Situational irony involves a situation in which there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.
• Example: A fire station burns down.

Dramatic Irony

• Definition: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the characters in the story do not. It creates tension and suspense.
• Example: In a play, a character is planning a surprise party for another character, but the second character thinks the first character is plotting against them.

Cosmic Irony (Irony of Fate)

• Definition: Cosmic irony involves a situation in which fate, destiny, or a higher power seems to be intentionally working against individuals.
• Example: A character survives a plane crash only to be hit by a falling meteorite shortly afterward.

Socratic Irony

• Definition: Socratic irony is a form of verbal irony in which a person feigns ignorance or pretends to be naive to provoke others into revealing their ignorance.
• Example: A student asks a teacher a seemingly simple question, pretending not to know the answer, to prompt a detailed explanation.

Structural Irony

• Definition: Structural irony arises when the structure of a work undermines or contradicts the apparent meaning.
• Example: In a novel, a character spends the entire story trying to achieve a goal, but the reader realizes that the character’s efforts are ultimately futile.

Historical Irony

• Definition: Historical irony occurs when the outcome of events differs from what was expected, often with a sense of poetic justice or an unexpected twist of fate.
• Example: A political leader who advocated for peace is remembered for starting a long and devastating war.

Situational Irony of Misfortune

• Definition: This type of situational irony involves a reversal of fortune or an unexpected turn of events that is unfavorable to a character or characters.
• Example: A person wins the lottery and celebrates by buying a luxurious car, only to get into a major accident on the way home from claiming the prize.

Understanding these different types of irony can enrich the reading experience by highlighting the complexity and subtleties within a literary work.

How do oxymorons add depth and complexity to language and expression

Oxymorons are words or phrases that put together opposite ideas to make a strong effect. Even though they seem contradictory, oxymorons are used to express complicated thoughts, make language more interesting, and bring out different feelings. Let’s see how oxymorons make language deeper and more interesting;

• Mixing Opposites:  Oxymorons let us talk about situations or feelings that are complicated. When we use words that go against each other, like “jumbo shrimp,” we show the complexity of real-life experiences.
• Creating Strong Pictures:  Oxymorons often make strong and memorable pictures in our minds. Combining ideas that don’t usually go together, like “bitter sweetness,” makes the language more interesting and helps us clearly understand abstract ideas.
• Feeling Strong Emotions:  When oxymorons use words that contradict each other, like “loving hate,” they can make us feel strong emotions. Phrases like these capture the complexity of human feelings, giving us a deeper understanding.
• Thinking Deep Thoughts:  People often use oxymorons in serious thinking or creative writing to explore big ideas. They go against regular thinking and make us think more deeply, adding a layer of smartness to the language.
• Being Funny or Critical:  Oxymorons are also used in funny or critical situations to show how silly or mixed up things can be. They add humor or criticism, helping us cleverly talk about society.
• Getting Attention:  Oxymorons can be used to get attention when talking about certain ideas. They are powerful tools that highlight the complexity and contradictions in different concepts.
• Making Stories Special:  Writers use oxymorons to give a special mood or tone to their work. By using words that go against each other, they create a unique style that makes their writing memorable.
• Making Our Minds Work:  Oxymorons make our brains work hard by making us think about ideas that seem opposite. This makes us curious and encourages us to explore the language and its meanings more deeply.
• Being Artistic:  In poems and creative writing, oxymorons help express complicated emotions or ideas shortly and artistically. They make language more beautiful and powerful.

In short, oxymorons make language interesting and expressive by using words that don’t usually go together. They show the complexity of human experiences and feelings, making communication more thoughtful and meaningful.

Share some examples of puns and their role in humor or wordplay

Puns are a form of wordplay that create humor through the use of a word or series of words that sound the same but have two or more possible meanings. They often make use of homophones - words that sound the same but have different meanings. Puns are generally considered to be a fairly basic form of humor, though they can also be very sophisticated and funny. Here are some examples of puns;

• Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing
• I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!
• I informed my wife that she was raising her brows too much. She looked surprised
• I’m on a whiskey diet. I’ve lost three days already
• I’m reading a book about teleportation. It’s bound to take me places

Puns can be used in everyday conversation, emails, social media, television, and any number of other situations in which the speaker wishes to present themselves as comical or witty. They can be used to elicit a “jokey” tone, enhance a reader’s interpretation, show off a clever use of language, or generate irony. Puns are a great way to add humor to your writing or speech, and they can be a lot of fun to come up with!

How can an understanding of figures of speech enhance one’s ability to interpret and appreciate literature

An understanding of figures of speech can significantly enhance one’s ability to interpret and appreciate literature in several ways;

• Depth of Interpretation:  Figures of speech add layers of meaning to literary works. Recognizing metaphors, similes, and other devices allows readers to explore deeper meanings in the text. It enables a more nuanced understanding of the author’s intended messages and themes.
• Visual and Emotional Impact:  Figures of speech, such as vivid imagery and evocative language, create strong mental images and emotional responses. An awareness of these devices enhances the reader’s ability to connect with the text on a sensory and emotional level, making the literary experience more immersive.
• Enhanced Communication:  Writers use figures of speech to convey complex ideas concisely and expressively. Understanding these devices helps readers decode the author’s intended messages more efficiently, leading to clearer communication of themes, emotions, and concepts.
• Appreciation of Style and Craftsmanship:  Figures of speech showcase a writer’s skill and artistry in language. Recognizing and appreciating these devices allows readers to acknowledge the craftsmanship involved in constructing well-crafted sentences, paragraphs, and entire works of literature.
• Identification of Themes and Motifs:  Certain figures of speech may be used to represent recurring themes or motifs in a literary work. Identifying and analyzing these devices helps readers trace and understand the development of key ideas throughout the text, contributing to a more comprehensive interpretation.
• Recognition of Tone and Mood:  Figures of speech play a crucial role in establishing the tone and mood of a literary piece. Recognizing the use of, for example, irony, sarcasm, or hyperbole helps readers accurately discern the author’s attitude and emotional intent, enriching their interpretation of the work.
• Cultural and Historical Context:  Figures of speech are often shaped by cultural and historical contexts. An understanding of these devices can provide insights into the time and place in which a work was written, aiding readers in appreciating the cultural nuances embedded in the literature.
• Engagement with Poetry and Prose:  Figures of speech are prevalent in both poetry and prose. In poetry, they contribute to rhythm, rhyme, and overall aesthetic appeal, while in prose, they enhance narrative style and descriptive elements. Recognizing these devices helps readers engage more deeply with various forms of literary expression.
• Critical Thinking and Analysis:  Analyzing figures of speech encourages readers to think critically about language choices and their impact on the overall meaning of a text. This analytical skill contributes to a more thoughtful and informed appreciation of literature.

In summary, an understanding of figures of speech serves as a valuable toolkit for readers, enabling them to unpack the richness of literary works. It enhances interpretation, fosters appreciation for the artistry of language, and deepens the overall reading experience.

In what ways do writers use figures of speech to create vivid imagery in their work

Writers use figures of speech to create vivid imagery in their work by employing language in ways that go beyond the literal meaning of words. Figures of speech add depth, color, and sensory detail to the writing, allowing readers to form mental pictures and engage more fully with the text. Here are several ways in which writers use figures of speech to enhance imagery;

• Definition:  A metaphor directly compares two unrelated things, suggesting that they are alike.
• Example:  “The world is a stage.”
• Imagery:  This metaphor conjures an image of life as a performance, with people playing different roles on the world’s stage.
• Definition:  A simile compares two things using “like” or “as.”
• Example:  “As brave as a lion.”
• Imagery:  This simile creates a vivid picture of someone’s courage by comparing it to the bravery often associated with a lion.

Personification

• Definition:  Personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities.
• Example:  “The wind whispered through the trees.”
• Imagery:  By giving the wind the human quality of whispering, the writer creates an image of the wind as a gentle, secretive presence.
• Definition:  Hyperbole involves exaggerating for emphasis.
• Example:  “I’ve told you a million times.”
• Imagery:  Though not meant to be taken literally, this hyperbole emphasizes the frequency of the speaker’s repetition, creating a strong mental image.

Onomatopoeia

• Definition:  Onomatopoeia uses words that imitate the sound they describe.
• Example:  “The bees buzzed around the flowers.”
• Imagery:  The use of “buzzed” creates a vivid auditory image of the sound made by the bees.

Alliteration

• Definition:  Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
• Example:  “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
• Imagery:  The repeated “p” sounds create a rhythmic and memorable image of the character Peter Piper picking peppers.
• Definition:  The repeating of vowel sounds within adjacent words is known as assonance.
• Example:  “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.”
• Imagery:  The repetition of the long “a” sound contributes to the musical quality of the phrase and creates a mental image of rain falling on a plain in Spain.

Imagery-rich Descriptions:  Writers use descriptive language and sensory details to paint vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. This may include appealing to the senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to create a multisensory experience.

Symbolism:  Writers may use symbolic language to represent abstract ideas, making their writing more evocative and open to interpretation. Symbols often contribute to the creation of vivid mental images that carry deeper meaning.

By skillfully incorporating these figures of speech into their writing, authors can transport readers into imaginative and sensory-rich worlds, making their narratives more engaging, memorable, and emotionally resonant.

How can teachers effectively teach students about figures of speech in language arts classes

Teaching students about figures of speech in language arts classes can be engaging and effective with the right strategies. Here are some tips for teachers;

• Start with Basics:  Begin by introducing the basic types of figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and others. Provide clear definitions and examples to build a foundation.
• Use Examples from Literature:  Select examples from literature that students are familiar with or find interesting. Analyze these examples together to demonstrate how authors use figures of speech to enhance their writing.
• Incorporate Multimedia:  Use multimedia resources like videos, audio clips, or online interactive activities to illustrate figures of speech. Visual and auditory aids can make the concept more accessible and enjoyable.
• Hands-on Activities:  Engage students in hands-on activities that involve creating their own examples of figures of speech. This could include writing poems, creating visual representations, or acting out scenarios that incorporate these language elements.
• Explore Real-world Examples:  Help students recognize figures of speech in everyday language, advertisements, song lyrics, and other real-world contexts. This connection to their daily lives can make the concept more relevant and interesting.
• Interactive Games:  Incorporate games and interactive exercises that make learning about figures of speech enjoyable. Games like Bingo, Jeopardy, or crossword puzzles can reinforce understanding while adding an element of fun.
• Provide Mnemonics:  Mnemonics or memory aids can help students remember different types of figures of speech. Create acronyms, rhymes, or catchy phrases that summarize key features of each figure of speech.
• Group Discussions:  Foster group discussions where students can share their understanding of figures of speech, analyze examples together, and brainstorm creative applications. This collaborative approach encourages critical thinking.
• Relate to Writing Skills:  Emphasize the practical application of figures of speech in writing. Encourage students to incorporate these elements into their own compositions to enhance their descriptive and expressive skills.
• Use Graphic Organizers:  Utilize graphic organizers to visually represent the relationships between different figures of speech. Visual aids can help students organize information and see connections more clearly.
• Provide Constructive Feedback:  When students create their own examples, offer constructive feedback that highlights both successful usage and areas for improvement. This feedback helps reinforce learning and encourages experimentation.
• Create a Figurative Language Wall:  Establish a figurative language wall in the classroom where students can add examples they come across in their readings. This visual display serves as a constant reference and reinforcement.
• Encourage Exploration:  Encourage students to explore figures of speech in literature of their choice. This autonomy fosters a sense of ownership and allows students to discover how authors use these devices in various genres.
• Assessment through Creative Projects:  Assess understanding through creative projects where students demonstrate their mastery of figures of speech. This could include creating a figurative language anthology, performing skits, or designing visual displays.

By employing a combination of these strategies, teachers can make the learning process engaging, relevant, and memorable for students as they delve into the world of figures of speech in language arts classes.

Explore the cultural or historical significance of certain figures of speech

Some sayings have special meaning because of history or culture. Let’s look at a few;

“Bread and Circuses” - Historical Importance

• Start:  This saying is from ancient Rome, created by a Roman poet named Juvenal. In Latin, it’s called “panem et circenses.”
• Meaning:  It talks about a trick Roman rulers used to keep people happy. They gave them free food (bread) and entertainment (circuses) to distract them.
• Cultural Significance:  People now use this saying to criticize leaders who use simple things to keep people happy without fixing bigger problems.

“The Iron Curtain” - Historical Importance

• Start:  This phrase was made up by Winston Churchill, the leader of Britain, in a speech in 1946.
• Meaning:  Churchill used it to talk about the separation between Eastern Europe, controlled by the Soviet Union, and the democratic Western nations after World War II.
• Cultural Significance:  “The Iron Curtain” became a symbol of the Cold War, showing the split between communist and capitalist countries.

“The American Dream” - Cultural Importance

• Start:  It’s not a specific phrase but a big idea tied to U.S. history and stories.
• Meaning:  The American Dream is the belief that anyone, no matter where they come from, can be successful through hard work.
• Cultural Significance:  This idea is a big theme in American stories, reflecting what people believe and hope for. It’s also talked about in discussions about fairness and equal opportunities.

“Catch-22” - Literary Importance

• Start:  Created by author Joseph Heller in his book “Catch-22” from 1961.
• Meaning:  In the book, it’s a messed-up rule that stops people from avoiding dangerous situations, making them stuck.
• Cultural Significance:  “Catch-22” is now used to talk about any situation with confusing rules. It points out how some rules in systems are silly and frustrating.

“Big Brother” - Literary and Cultural Importance

• Start:  Popularized by George Orwell in his book “1984” from 1949.
• Meaning:  In the book, Big Brother is a symbol of a government that watches and controls its people.
• Cultural Significance:  “Big Brother” now means a government watching too much. It comes up in discussions about how technology affects our privacy.

“Glass Ceiling” - Cultural Importance

• Start:  Coined in the late 1900s to talk about invisible barriers stopping women and minorities from getting top jobs.
• Meaning:  It’s about unfair practices that keep certain groups from reaching high positions.
• Cultural Significance:  “Glass ceiling” is widely used to talk about gender and racial unfairness at work, showing the challenges faced by these groups.

These sayings have become important in our talks about culture and history. They show up in conversations and influence how we see things in different parts of our lives.

Discuss the role of figures of speech in advertising and persuasive communication

Figures of speech play a crucial role in advertising and persuasive communication by adding impact, emotional appeal, and memorability to messages. Here’s how figures of speech contribute to the effectiveness of advertising;

Enhanced Imagery

• Role:  Figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes, create vivid mental images that help consumers visualize the benefits or qualities of a product or service.
• Example:  “Our mattresses are as soft as a cloud.” This simile creates a clear image of comfort and softness.

Emotional Appeal

• Role:  Figures of speech evoke emotions and connect with consumers on a personal level, making the message more compelling and memorable.
• Example:  “Open happiness” (Coca-Cola). This metaphor goes beyond the literal act of opening a bottle and associates the drink with a positive emotional experience.

Slogan Creation

• Role:  Figures of speech are often used to craft catchy slogans that stick in the minds of consumers, fostering brand recall.
• Example:  “Have a break, have a Kit Kat.” The catchphrase is memorable because of its pattern of repetition and rhyme.

Brand Personality

• Role:  Figures of speech help establish and reinforce a brand’s personality by imbuing messages with distinct tones and characteristics.
• Example:  “Just do it” (Nike). The simplicity and directness of this imperative sentence create a sense of empowerment and action.

Hyperbole for Emphasis

• Role:  Exaggeration through hyperbole grabs attention and emphasizes key features, making the product or service stand out.
• Example:  “The best a man can get” (Gillette). This hyperbolic statement implies superiority and excellence.

Rhetorical Questions

• Role:  Rhetorical questions engage the audience by prompting thought and involvement, encouraging them to consider the benefits or solutions offered.
• Example:  “What’s in your wallet?” (Capital One). This question invites consumers to think about their financial situation and consider the benefits of the advertised product.

Alliteration and Rhyme

• Role:  Alliteration and rhyme create a pleasing rhythm, making slogans and brand names more memorable.
• Example:  “Melts in your mouth, not in your hands” (M&M’s). The alliteration and rhyme contribute to the slogan’s musical quality.
• Role:  Assigning human qualities to products or services through personification makes them more relatable and fosters a connection with the audience.
• Example:  “Choosy moms choose Jif.” This personification suggests that discerning mothers prefer this particular peanut butter brand.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

• Role:  Metonymy and synecdoche involve substituting one term with another related concept, creating shorthand expressions that convey complex ideas in a concise manner.
• Example:  “The crown jewel of luxury” (Lexus). The use of “crown jewel” metaphorically represents the car as a symbol of ultimate luxury.

Storytelling Techniques

• Role:  Figures of speech are integral to storytelling in advertising, helping to craft narratives that capture attention, build interest, and communicate brand values.
• Example:  The “Share a Coke” campaign by Coca-Cola personalized the product by replacing the logo with popular names, creating a sense of connection and inclusivity.

In summary, figures of speech in advertising serve as powerful tools to convey messages with impact, create lasting impressions, and influence consumer behavior. They allow advertisers to go beyond mere information and appeal to the emotions, desires, and aspirations of their target audience.

How do figures of speech contribute to the tone and mood of a piece of writing

Figures of speech play a crucial role in shaping the tone and mood of a piece of writing. Here’s how they contribute to these literary elements;

Setting the Tone

• Role:  Figures of speech help establish the overall tone, which refers to the author’s attitude or the emotional atmosphere conveyed in the writing.
• Example:  The use of metaphors like “a sea of troubles” sets a tone of melancholy or despair in a piece.

Expressing Emotion

• Role:  Figures of speech, especially those that evoke emotions, contribute to the overall emotional tone of the writing.
• Example:  A simile comparing a smile to “sunshine on a cloudy day” creates a warm and positive emotional tone.

Conveying Attitude

• Role:  Figures of speech, such as irony or sarcasm, can convey the author’s attitude toward the subject matter.
• Example:  The use of verbal irony, saying one thing but meaning another, can create a tone of humor or criticism depending on the context.

Establishing Mood

• Role:  Figures of speech influence the mood, which is the feeling or atmosphere experienced by the reader.
• Example:  The repetition of soft-sounding consonants in alliteration can create a calm and soothing mood.

Enhancing Descriptive Language

• Role:  Figures of speech add layers of meaning to descriptive language, influencing how readers perceive the details and setting.
• Example:  The use of vivid metaphors and similes can transform a mundane description into a more engaging and colorful portrayal.

Creating Atmosphere

• Role:  Figures of speech contribute to the overall atmosphere or ambiance of a piece, influencing the reader’s experience.
• Example:  A metaphor describing a forest as “whispering giants” can create a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere.

Conveying Intensity

• Role:  Figures of speech, such as hyperbole or powerful imagery, contribute to the intensity of the writing.
• Example:  The use of hyperbole like “a million tears” can intensify the emotional impact of a piece.

Establishing Rhythm

• Role:  Figures of speech like alliteration or assonance can contribute to the rhythmic quality of a piece, influencing its tone.
• Example:  The repetition of harsh consonant sounds in alliteration can create a tense or dramatic tone.

Connotative Meanings

• Role:  Figures of speech often carry connotative meanings that go beyond their literal interpretations, influencing the emotional undertones of the writing.
• Example:  The use of a metaphor comparing time to a thief can carry connotations of loss and inevitability, affecting the overall mood.

Adding Depth and Nuance

• Role:  Figures of speech add depth and nuance to the language, allowing for a more nuanced tone that can convey multiple layers of meaning.
• Example:  The use of oxymorons, juxtaposing contradictory terms, can create a tone of complexity or ambiguity.

In essence, figures of speech serve as powerful tools for writers to craft a specific tone and mood, influencing how readers interpret and respond to the text emotionally. By employing various figures of speech strategically, writers can create a more immersive and evocative reading experience.

Can you identify and analyze figures of speech in famous speeches or poetry

Let’s look at examples of figures of speech in famous speeches and poetry;

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech

• Example:  “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.”
• Analysis:  This metaphor suggests that justice is a valuable resource that can be depleted, emphasizing the need for fairness and equality.
• Example:  “I have a dream…”
• Analysis:  The repetition of this phrase at the beginning of successive clauses emphasizes King’s vision and creates a powerful rhythmic effect.
• Example:  “Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.”
• Analysis:  This allusion to the idea of freedom ringing refers to the patriotic song “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” connecting King’s message to American ideals.

William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?")

• Example:  “Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”
• Analysis:  The simile compares the beauty of the subject to a summer’s day but suggests that the subject is even more lovely and enduring.
• Example:  “But thy eternal summer shall not fade.”
• Analysis:  The metaphor of “eternal summer” suggests that the beauty of the subject will never diminish or age.
• Example:  “Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st.”
• Analysis:  The personification of “possession” implies that the subject possesses beauty, and it is something to be preserved.

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

• Example:  “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
• Analysis:  This antithesis creates a powerful contrast, emphasizing civic responsibility over personal gain.

Parallelism

• Example:  “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.”
• Analysis:  Parallelism enhances the symmetry of the sentence and emphasizes the call for unity.

Langston Hughes’ “A Dream Deferred”

• Example:  “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”
• Analysis:  The metaphor of a deferred dream being compared to a raisin in the sun suggests withering and loss of vitality.
• Example:  “Or does it explode like a supersized fruit?”
• Analysis:  The simile emphasizes the potential for intense and destructive consequences if a dream is not realized.
• Example:  “Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.”
• Analysis:  Personifying a deferred dream as something that sags adds a tangible and emotional weight to the idea.

These examples demonstrate how figures of speech enrich the language, evoke emotions, and contribute to the overall impact of speeches and poetry. They serve as powerful tools for writers and speakers to convey complex ideas, create vivid imagery, and engage their audience.

Share examples of figures of speech used in different forms of media, such as film or television

Figures of speech are not limited to written works and are often employed in various forms of media, including film and television. Here are examples from both;

• Example (The Matrix):  “You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
• Analysis:  The red pill and blue pill metaphor in “The Matrix” represents choices with profound consequences, creating a powerful visual image.
• Example (Beauty and the Beast):  “Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test.”
• Analysis:  The personification of the objects in the castle as hosts adds a whimsical and entertaining quality to the song.
• Example (Spider-Man):  “With great power comes great responsibility.”
• Analysis:  This hyperbolic statement encapsulates the moral duty Spider-Man feels, emphasizing the enormity of the responsibility that comes with his powers.
• Example (Friends):  “Joey doesn’t share food!”
• Analysis:  The repetition of the “sh” sound in “Joey doesn’t share food” adds humor and emphasis to Joey’s possessive attitude toward his food.
• Example (The Simpsons):  The character named Sideshow Bob, who is anything but a “sidekick” and is often a central antagonist.
• Analysis:  This is an example of situational irony, where the opposite of what is expected occurs.
• Example (Breaking Bad):  The pink teddy bear symbolizes the tragic plane crash in the series.
• Analysis:  The pink teddy bear serves as a symbol of the catastrophic consequences of Walter White’s actions.
• Example (The Office):  “Dwight, you ignorant slut.”
• Analysis:  This humorous line from “The Office” uses a euphemism to mockingly insult a character, adding a comedic element.
• Example (Game of Thrones):  “The Iron Throne commands respect.”
• Analysis:  The Iron Throne is a metonym for the ruling power in the Seven Kingdoms, emphasizing the authority associated with the throne.
• Example (The Twilight Zone):  “To Serve Man” (Title of an episode).
• Analysis:  The paradox in the title becomes evident in the episode, where initially positive intentions take a dark turn, adding suspense and intrigue.

Figures of speech in film and television contribute to storytelling, character development, and overall audience engagement. They enhance dialogue, create memorable moments, and often add layers of meaning to the narrative.

How do figures of speech evolve, and are there cultural differences in their usage

Figures of speech, like language itself, evolve over time through cultural, societal, and linguistic influences. The changes in how people communicate, advancements in technology, shifts in social dynamics, and exposure to different cultures all contribute to the evolution of figures of speech. Here are some ways in which figures of speech evolve;

• Semantic Shifts:  The meanings of words and phrases can change over time, leading to shifts in the interpretation of figures of speech. Some words or expressions may take on new connotations or lose their original meaning.
• Pop Culture Influence:  Figures of speech often reflect current events, popular trends, or cultural phenomena. New expressions and metaphors may emerge based on the language used in music, movies, television, or social media.
• Globalization:  Increased interconnectedness and exposure to diverse cultures through globalization contribute to the adoption and adaptation of figures of speech from different linguistic traditions. Phrases or expressions from one culture may find resonance in another.
• Technological Advances:  Changes in technology can introduce new metaphors and analogies into everyday language. For example, the rise of the internet has given rise to figures of speech related to digital concepts.
• Social and Political Movements:  Figures of speech often reflect the values and concerns of a society. Social and political movements can influence language use, introducing new expressions or recontextualizing existing ones to convey evolving perspectives.

As for cultural differences in the usage of figures of speech;

• Language Structure:  Different languages have distinct grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions. Figures of speech that work well in one language may not have direct equivalents in another.
• Cultural Symbolism:  Certain figures of speech rely on cultural symbols and references that may not be universally understood. These symbols can carry different meanings or significance in various cultures.
• Historical and Contextual Nuances:  The historical context and cultural nuances associated with certain figures of speech may differ across cultures. What is considered a powerful metaphor in one culture may not resonate similarly in another.
• Humor and Wit:  Humor often involves wordplay and figures of speech, and what is considered witty or humorous can vary culturally. Puns, for example, may rely on language-specific nuances that may not translate well.
• Social Norms and Values:  Figures of speech often reflect societal norms and values. Expressions that align with the cultural context and beliefs of a particular community may gain popularity, while those conflicting with cultural norms may not.

In summary, figures of speech evolve in response to changes in language use, societal shifts, and cultural influences. While some figures of speech may transcend cultural boundaries, others are deeply rooted in specific linguistic and cultural contexts. Understanding these variations is essential for effective communication across diverse cultural landscapes.

Figure of Speech

Figures of Speech

Meaning | Definition

A figure of speech is a phrase or word used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or rich effect. It is an expression that is different from its literal meaning.

A figure of speech is a way of describing something or someone interestingly and vividly. The words or phrases may not mean exactly what they suggest, but they paint a clear picture in the mind of the reader or listener. A figure of speech can be in the form of a phrase or a single word. The figures of speech are also knowns as rhetorical figures.

Figure of speech is easier to understand than an idiom as you do not have to be familiar with the language to decipher it. Every language has its figures of speech and idioms that are own to that language. They are used to make writing more interesting.

There are many types of figures of speech in the English language, but we are going to learn the most common types.

All Types of Figure of Speech List

Alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, rhetorical questions, three part list (rule of three), circumlocution (or periphrasis), irony – (sarcasm), parentheses, exclamation, interrogation, transferred epithets.

Alliteration is a figure of speech in which two usually consecutive words begin with the same consonant sound but not always the same latter.

The word doesn’t always have to be right next to each other, but when you say or read them, the sound is repeated.

For example, four fabulous fish and go and gather the flowers on the grass .

Alliteration helps us to make what we say or write more interesting to listen to or read. Writers and poets use alliteration to make their writing memorable and fun to read. Read the list of alliterative phrases below.

Alliteration Examples

• cold coffee
• happy Harry
• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
• She sells sea shells on the sea shore
• Becky’s beagle barked and bayed, which bothered Billy
• Donald Duck
• Jackrabbits jump and jiggle jauntily

There are many, many more you will see – and many new ones you can make up – as you do the practice.

We use metaphors all the time. Suppose when your Mummy says, “This house is a zoo!” she doesn’t mean that it is the place where animal lives. She just means that everyone in the house is as noisy as a bunch of animals would be.

She’s using the zoo as a metaphor for the house, she’s describing the house as if were a zoo, to make the comparison clear.

It’s great fun to use metaphors because they make what we say more colourful and people can understand what we are trying to tell them better.

Metaphors Examples

Look at this list of metaphors and what they mean. It will get you started.

• dirty pig – very filthy
• having two left feet – very bad dancer
• to get cold feet – to become nervous
• to be an early bird – to reach first or earliest
• pearls of wisdom – wise words

Personification is giving human qualities to something that may not be human, or even alive.

For example, when you say: “The flowers nodded their head cheerfully.”

What you mean here is that the flowers moved about in the wind looking as if they were cheerful and happy. You’re imagining that  the flowers have human emotions.

Personification Examples

• laughing flowers
• howling wind
• smiling sun
• opportunity knocking at the door

This is a big word that just means words that imitate sounds. Pitter-patter is an example of onomatopoeia. It mimics the sound of rain or maybe little feet.

The word tinkle is also onomatopoeia. It mimics the sound of a bell or falling water.

We use onomatopoeia all the time in our everyday speech. Poets and writers use this figure of speech to make their writing more expressive too.

Onomatopoeia Examples

A simile is a figure of speech in which two things are directly compared. We use the word like or as to make the comparison.

• as dark as the night
• as cool as a cucumber
• fought like cats and dogs
• eat like a horse

The four phrases above are all similes. The beauty of a simile is that it helps us imagine clearly what the writer is trying to say. Poets and writers use similes to make their writing come alive.

Similes Examples

• as blind as a bat
• as bold as brass
• as bright as a button
• as black as coal
• as clear as crystal
• as cold as ice

An oxymoron brings two conflicting ideas together. We use them to draw attention from the reader/listener. Two words with apparently contradictory meanings are combined to form a new word that is more in conjunction.

Oxymoron Examples

• alone together
• deafening silence
• bittersweet
• living dead

Hyperbole means using exaggerated statements for effect . The media and politicians often use hyperbole to make their articles or speeches more attention grabbing or seem more important bigger, better and more interesting.

Hyperbole Examples

• I have told you a million times not to get your shoes dirty.
• Jake’s mum always cooks enough food to feed an army.
• What have you got in this suitcase; it weighs a ton?
• I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

This is when a phrase is overused and loses impact and lacks original thought. Using a cliche can be seen as old fashioned or even a sign of poor writing as they are expressions that have been used too often and are no longer relevant or interesting.

Cliché Examples

• A women’s place is in the kitchen.
• And they all lived happily ever after.
• All that glitters is not gold .
• All is fair in love and war .

Repetition is when a word or phrase is repeated for effect or emphasis . Teachers often teach things like times tables by repetition and musicians repeat choruses in songs. A good example is Martin Luther King’s – ‘I have a dream’ speech.

Repetition Examples

• I’m telling you I won’t do it; I simply won’t do it.
• Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
• He told me about it, years and years and years ago.
• Home sweet home.

This type of question doesn’t require an answer as it has been phrased in a way that assumes the reader or listener knows the answer. Public speakers and politicians use rhetorical questions for dramatic effect or to get a point across and not because they expect an answer. The answer is usually obvious, or they think it is.

Rhetorical Question Examples

• Can pigs fly ?
• Is the Pope a Catholic?
• Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?
• We don’t need any more failure, do we?

These are commonly used in advertising and speeches to grab attention and give emphasis . Three parts seems more comprehensive and knowledgeable than two it seems.

Three Part List Examples

• Snap, crackle and pop.
• I came, I saw, I conquered. (Veni, vidi, vici – Julius Caesar)
• I put my blood, sweat and tears into that project.
• Hear all, see all, say nowt (nothing).

This is when words have a similar ending sound . It is usually seen most often in poetry and song lyrics but is also in advertising and public speeches. The rhyming words stand out.

Rhyme Examples

• Try before you buy.
• Birds of a feather, stick together.
• Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo.

A euphemism is an indirect or innocuous word or phrase used instead of something considered unpleasant, harsh or sensitive, or embarrassing. It is often intended to amuse or downplay something that the speaker deems offensive or upsetting somehow. They may be used to cover profanity or sensitive subjects such as gender, disability, and death in a polite manner.

Euphemism Examples

• Friendly fire (attack from allied forces)
• He is telling us a tall story (a lie)
• Senior citizen (old person)
• Staff restructure (making people redundant)

Litotes is an understatement , usually involving a hint of irony. Instead of saying something simple or obvious, a phrase contrary to the truth is used.

Litotes Examples

• It’s hardly rocket science is it? (often said when a task is very simple)
• The weather isn’t so good today. (Said during a thunder-storm)
• She’s no spring chicken. (meaning someone is not young)
• He’s not exactly a beggar. (He’s financially solvent)

Circumlocution (also called circumduction, circumvolution, periphrasis, kenning or ambage) is the unnecessary use of many words , when fewer would be more appropriate. An idea or subject is circled, talked around, or avoided altogether instead of directly referencing it.

Circumlocution Examples

• I work 9am to 2pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. (I work part time)
• He resides in a refurbished Victorian establishment on the edge of town. (He lives in a terraced house)
• Our Lord in heaven, the holy father. (God)
• The vehicle that I own is a fabulous shade of metallic dark turquoise. (My car is blue)

It is saying the same thing twice using different words. It is a way of adding emphasis or clarity but can come across as being unnecessarily wordy.

Tautology Examples

• Sally told everyone with pride that she had made the handmade sweater herself .
• The kids always take turns to answer the questions one after the other .
• She’s in the middle of reading Michelle Obama’s autobiography about her life story .
• They climbed up to the top of Kilimanjaro all the way to the summit.

Pun is a play on words as it is usually a jokey way of exploiting the fact that some words sound alike or have more than one meaning or spelling. They rely heavily on homophones and homonyms to work.

Pun Examples

• The chicken farmers favourite car is a coupe.
• He’s been to see his dentist so many times now that he knows the drill.
• I’ve forgotten where my wife said we were going, don’t worry, Alaska.
• The cyclist was two tired to win the race.

An epigram is a clever, witty, or satirical phrase or line of poetry. It is usually expressing an ingenious, paradoxical, memorable, or amusing idea.

Epigram Examples

• I can resist everything but temptation – Oscar Wilde
• There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
• Winners never quit, and quitters never win.
• For most of history, Anonymous was a woman – Virginia Woolf

This is from the Greek word klimax, meaning staircase or ladder. In narrative the words or clauses are arranged to build tension or drama to a peak (main part of the story) and get the undivided attention of the audience. The reader is mentally preparing for the climax of the story as the conflict or tension rises and finally reaches resolution.

Most films, books, plays or anecdotes have conflict/drama which reaches a climax and then is resolved by the end of the narrative.

Climax Examples

• Titanic – Think of the rising tension as the ship hits the ice-burg and starts to sink. The water everywhere and people screaming, running trying to save themselves or find family members. The intrigue builds until finally the ship slips below the surface and there is shock and disbelief at the sad a sorry, survivors left floating above.
• Martin Luther King – His ‘I have a dream speech’ builds in tension and reaches this climax:- A promise that all men, yes black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
• Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has many plot twists and rising tension in the form of family conflicts, love, murder, and finally death.

A subtle form of humour involving words opposing to what is actually meant. Irony can fall into three categories.

Verbal irony – Saying one thing and meaning something else, usually the opposite of what is said. Example :  Saying that you couldn’t possibly eat another thing, then reaching for some more cake.

Dramatic irony – This is when the audience is more aware of the plotline than the characters. Example : In Shakespeare’s Macbeth – While Duncan thinks Macbeth is faithful to him, Macbeth is actually plotting to murder him. The audience knows this, but Duncan doesn’t.

Situational irony – This is when something happens that is completely contrary to what is expected. Often with an element of shock or surprise. Example : winning the lottery and dying the day after. (Listen to Ironic by Alanis Morrisette for many more examples)

This is the exact opposite of something or when two things contrast greatly.

Antithesis Examples

• One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind – Neil Armstrong 1969
• Many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14
• It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. – Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

Assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sounds in a phrase or sentence.

Assonance Examples

• W e rec ei ved thr ee e mails ea ch w ee k.
• The r ai n in Sp ai n, st a ys m ai nly on the pl ai n. (From the musical ‘My Fair Lady’)
• Hear the m e llow w e dding b e lls. (The Bells – Edgar Allen Poe)

Consonance is the repetition of the same consonant sound in a phrase or sentence.

Consonance Examples

• The rain pitter pattered in the puddle.
• The cook cooked the cutest cupcakes.
• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Anastrophe is a deliberate change of normal word order for emphasis.

Anastrophe Examples

• The greatest teacher, failure is. – Yoda (Star Wars)
• Into the lake the jeep drove.
• One swallow a summer does not make.

A logosglyph is a word that looks like what it represents .

Logosglyph Examples

• She had eyes like pools . (The word eye looks like a pair of eyes with a ‘y’ for a nose and the double ‘oo’ in pools actually looks round like eyes and pools)
• The word bed actually looks like a bed.

A way of comparing things based on ways they are similar. This is to show the similarity without explaining.

Analogy Examples

• Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. (From Forrest Gump)
• He is strong as an ox.
• She’s as quiet as a mouse.

Paradox is a statement containing two opposing facts that seems impossible, contradictory or absurd but might turn out to be true.

Paradox Examples

• I must be cruel, only to be kind—Hamlet by Shakespeare.
• Nobody goes to the seaside at the weekend, because it’s too crowded.
• Youth is wasted on the young.

Something that is added to a statement to provide extra information or an explanation. This is often separated from the main clause by brackets, commas, or dashes.

Parentheses Examples

• His older brother, the one with six kids, will be visiting next week.
• Sean Mullins (last year’s winner) is the current favourite to win.
• The singer – and her backing band – arrived two hours late.

A statement punctuated with an exclamation mark is conveying strong emotion or excitement.

Exclamation Examples

• Ouch! That really hurt!
• You just made me jump out of my skin!
• It’s a girl!

This is a sentence that asks a direct question and is punctuated with a question mark.

Interrogation Examples

• What is the capital of Canada?
• Shall we invite the neighbours around for a barbeque tomorrow?
• Where are my car keys?

This is when a part of something is used instead of the whole.

Synecdoche Examples

• He took us for a spin in his new wheels. (Wheels = car)
• There are hundreds of boots on the ground searching for the fugitives. (Boots = soldiers or police)
• There was no comment from The White House . (The White House = The President)

Metonymy replaces a word or phrase with something related or associated to it.

Metonymy Examples

• Have you seen the latest Hollywood blockbuster? (Hollywood = the whole of the film industry)
• The crown is not able to take political a side. (crown = the queen or royal family)
• The press is going to have a field day. (press = all news organizations)

Dialect is the way people talk in a particular region. In literature, this involves representing speech in the way it actually sounds with phonetic spelling, missing words, and unusual grammar.

Dialect Examples

• I told ‘er she wer wrong, innit?  (I told her she was wrong, didn’t I?)
• Howdy Y’all!  (Hello everybody!)
• Am gonna nae do that. (I’m not going to do that)

It is when we combine an incongruous adverb or adjective with an incongruous noun .

Transferred Epithets Examples

• They got divorced after years in an unhappy marriage .
• I balanced a thoughtful lump of sugar on the teaspoon. – P. G. Woodhouse.
• The farmer plodded along the weary lane .

Origin of Figure of Speech

Every figure of speech has a different origin. It is not clear where the phrase “figure of speech” comes from. The earliest use of figures of speech is found in the Bible, so it is clear that they have been around for hundreds of years. The most commonly used ones in the Bible are similes. This means that one thing is used in place of another. For example, ‘God is light.’

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NEW words and meanings added: March 2024

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With the Summer Olympics coming up, the main focus for our latest release is on the world of sport.

Worrying about your team’s back four in the relegation six-pointer ? Did one of your team’s blueliners just score an empty-netter ? Or maybe you prefer T20™ , with the drama of one-dayers and super overs , or just like to pay your green fee and get started on the front nine ?

We’ve added over 170 new words and meanings from sport and other topics.

Our word lists are designed to help learners at any level focus on the most important words to learn.

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A recent addition to our online dictionary is the term culture war , which is used to describe the conflict between groups of people with different ideals and beliefs.

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Our Topic Dictionaries are lists of topic-related words, like Animals and Health , that can help you expand your vocabulary. Each topic is divided into smaller subtopics and every word has a CEFR level.

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Chiefs Kicker Spreads Antisemitic Lies in Benedictine College Graduation Speech

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicked the hornet’s nest last weekend when he encouraged the women of Benedictine College’s 2024 graduate class to embrace their roles as wives and homemakers rather than putting their degrees to use. While the speech drew widespread criticism for his characterization of women and LGBTQ+ people, Butker also promoted an insidious piece of antisemitic misinformation pertaining to legislation in Congress. 

“I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you,” Butker said in his commencement speech. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

Of course, Butker earns millions of dollars per year as an NFL player — so a second income isn’t exactly necessary. Ironically enough, during his commencement speech, Butker quoted Taylor Swift, a woman who has built a wildly successful career and billion-dollar fortune without a husband, who is now dating Butker’s teammate, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. 

Butker, a devout Catholic, also claimed that “Congress just passed a bill where stating something as basic as the Biblical teaching of who killed Jesus could land you in jail.”

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Some conservative lawmakers opposed the bill on this basis, arguing it would effectively outlaw the classic antisemitic belief that Jews killed Jesus. To be clear, though, the bill threatens university funding, not jail time for bigots. It has not been voted on in the Senate. 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she opposed the legislation because it “could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) argued “the Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of the bill.”

These statements are a misinterpretation of Catholic doctrine. While the Biblical gospels do say that Jesus was presented before Jewish leadership of Judea for judgment, he was ultimately condemned to death by the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. Historically, claims that Jews were ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus have been wielded as an antisemitic trope against Jewish populations. 

Jewish Leaders Condemn Josh Hawley for Backing Harrison Butker

Travis kelce 'can't agree with majority' of harrison butker's sexist grad speech, travis kelce, lil wayne, 2 chainz perform 'duffle bag,' throw massive outdoor party at kelce jam.

The speech wasn’t the NFL player’s first foray into the abortion debate. In 2022, Butker starred in a misleading TV ad campaign promoting a failed Kansas ballot measure that would have ended constitutional protections for abortion in the state, so that lawmakers could ban the procedure.

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The ad campaign was funded by the dark-money group CatholicVote Civic Action, which in turn was bankrolled by the dark-money network led by Leonard Leo — who is best known as the architect of the conservative Supreme Court supermajority that overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to ban abortion.

In an odd coincidence, Leo gave Benedictine College’s commencement speech last year, giving a similarly right-wing speech warning of “modern-day barbarians, secularists, and bigots” who are “determined to threaten and delegitimize individuals and institutions who refuse to pledge fealty to the woke idols of our age.” 

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• Patient Care & Health Information
• Diseases & Conditions
• Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term for a group of brain diseases that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are associated with personality, behavior and language.

In frontotemporal dementia, parts of these lobes shrink, known as atrophy. Symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected. Some people with frontotemporal dementia have changes in their personalities. They become socially inappropriate and may be impulsive or emotionally indifferent. Others lose the ability to properly use language.

Frontotemporal dementia can be misdiagnosed as a mental health condition or as Alzheimer's disease. But FTD tends to occur at a younger age than does Alzheimer's disease. It often begins between the ages of 40 and 65, although it can occur later in life as well. FTD is the cause of dementia about 10% to 20% of the time.

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Symptoms of frontotemporal dementia differ from one person to the next. Symptoms get worse over time, usually over years.

People with frontotemporal dementia tend to have clusters of symptom types that occur together. They also may have more than one cluster of symptom types.

Behavioral changes

The most common symptoms of frontotemporal dementia involve extreme changes in behavior and personality. These include:

• Increasingly inappropriate social behavior.
• Loss of empathy and other interpersonal skills. For example, not being sensitive to another person's feelings.
• Lack of judgment.
• Loss of inhibition.
• Lack of interest, also known as apathy. Apathy can be mistaken for depression.
• Compulsive behaviors such as tapping, clapping, or smacking lips over and over.
• A decline in personal hygiene.
• Changes in eating habits. People with FTD typically overeat or prefer to eat sweets and carbohydrates.
• Eating objects.
• Compulsively wanting to put things in the mouth.

Speech and language symptoms

Some subtypes of frontotemporal dementia lead to changes in language ability or loss of speech. Subtypes include primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia and progressive agrammatic aphasia, also known as progressive nonfluent aphasia.

These conditions can cause:

• Increasing trouble using and understanding written and spoken language. People with FTD may not be able to find the right word to use in speech.
• Trouble naming things. People with FTD may replace a specific word with a more general word, such as using "it" for pen.
• No longer knowing word meanings.
• Having hesitant speech that may sound telegraphic by using simple, two-word sentences.
• Making mistakes in sentence building.

Movement conditions

Rare subtypes of frontotemporal dementia cause movements similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Movement symptoms may include:

• Muscle spasms or twitches.
• Poor coordination.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Muscle weakness.
• Inappropriate laughing or crying.
• Falls or trouble walking.

In frontotemporal dementia, the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain shrink and certain substances build up in the brain. What causes these changes is usually not known.

Some genetic changes have been linked to frontotemporal dementia. But more than half of the people with FTD have no family history of dementia.

Researchers have confirmed that some frontotemporal dementia gene changes also are seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). More research is being done to understand the connection between the conditions.

Risk factors

Your risk of getting frontotemporal dementia is higher if you have a family history of dementia. There are no other known risk factors.

Frontotemporal dementia care at Mayo Clinic

• Frontotemporal disorders. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/all-disorders/frontotemporal-dementia-information-page. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• Loscalzo J, et al., eds. Frontotemporal dementia. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 21st ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• Ulugut H, et al. Frontotemporal dementia: Past, present and future. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2023; doi:10.1002/alz.13363.
• Grossman M, et al. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nature Reviews: Disease Primers. 2023; doi:10.1038/s41572-023-00447-0.
• Antonioni A, et al. Frontotemporal dementia, where do we stand? A narrative review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; doi:10.3390/ijms241411732.
• Diagnosing FTD. The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. https://www.theaftd.org/for-health-professionals/diagnosing-ftd/. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• What are frontotemporal disorders? Causes, symptoms and treatment. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-causes-frontotemporal-disorders. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• Lee SE, et al. Frontotemporal dementia: Treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• Ferri FF. Frontotemporal dementia. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2024. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• The ALLFTD team. ARTFL LEFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. https://www.allftd.org/allftd-executive-team. Accessed Sept. 6, 2023.
• Providing care for a person with a frontotemporal disorder. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/providing-care-person-frontotemporal-disorder. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• Ami TR. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Sept. 4, 2023.
• Alzheimer's disease research centers. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-research-centers. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
• Participating institutions. Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium. http://azalz.org/about-us/participating-institutions/. Accessed Aug. 30, 2023.
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News from Mayo Clinic

• Global consortium to study Pick's disease, rare form of early-onset dementia April 24, 2024, 03:15 p.m. CDT
• Untangling the threads of early onset dementia March 29, 2024, 03:01 p.m. CDT
• What is frontotemporal dementia? Feb. 23, 2024, 04:15 p.m. CDT
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Watch CBS News

Trump denounces verdict as a "disgrace" and vows "this is long from over" after felony conviction

By Melissa Quinn

Updated on: May 30, 2024 / 6:54 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Former President Donald Trump on Thursday denounced his conviction on 34 state felony counts in the "hush money" trial in New York, calling it a "disgrace" and vowing to "fight to the end."

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump told reporters after leaving the Manhattan courtroom where the jury delivered its verdict. 

The former president has repeatedly lambasted the case brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, claiming the prosecution was politically motivated and designed to harm his candidacy for the White House.

Trump proclaimed to reporters that he is "a very innocent man."

"This is long from over," he said, an indication that he will pursue an appeal. He will hold a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m. ET at Trump Tower. 

The jury of 12 New Yorkers reached its verdict after two days of deliberations, following a trial that spanned six weeks, finding that he broke the law by falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. The decision is historic, making Trump the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

He is set to be sentenced July 11, days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to formally receive the party's nomination for president.

Trump is poised to face off against President Biden in the November presidential election that will be a rematch of the 2020 contest. 

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here," the former president told reporters.

Trump's reelection campaign swiftly used the conviction in a fundraising appeal, claiming the former president is a "political prisoner" and urging his supporters to help him win back the White House.

"I was just convicted in a rigged political witch hunt trial: I did nothing wrong," Trump wrote in a message to backers.

• Donald Trump

Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts.

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