Metaphor - a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Broken heart - Your heart is not literally broken into pieces; you just feel hurt and sad.
The light of my life - The person described by this metaphor isn't really providing physical light. He or she is just someone who brings happiness or joy.
It's raining men - Men do not literally pour from the sky; there are simply an abundance of male suitors around at the time.
Time is a thief - Time isn't really stealing anything, this metaphor just indicates that time passes quickly and our lives pass us by.
He is the apple of my eye - There is, of course, no real apple in a person's eye. The "apple" is someone beloved and held dear.
Bubbly personality - A bubbly personality doesn't mean a person is bubbling over with anything, just that the person is cheerful.
Feel blue - No one actually ever feels like the color blue, although many people say they are "feeling blue" to mean they are feeling sad.
Fade off to sleep - You don't actually fade, you simply go to sleep.
Inflamed your temper - The news inflamed your temper is not a situation where there is any actual fire or flames, it is just a situation where someone gets mad.
Reeks of infidelty - When said about a cheating partner, this doesn't actually mean that there is a literal smell. Instead, it is just apparent that the person is cheating.
Rollercoaster of emotions - A rollercoaster of emotions doesn't exist anywhere, so when people are on a rollercoaster of emotions, they are simply experiencing lots of ups and downs.
Stench of failure - The stench of failure is strong, according to the common metaphor, but of course failing doesn't really smell.

Simile - a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g. as brave as a lion ). To help you identify a simile, know that the words “like” or “as” are always used.

“cute as a kitten,” comparing the way someone looks to the way a kitten looks
“as busy as a bee” comparing someone’s level of energy to a fast-flying bee
"as snug as a bug in a rug" comparing someone who is very cozy to how comfortable a bug can be in a rug
"as happy as a clam" comparing someone's happiness to the contentment of a clam
"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." comparing the uncertainty of life to the uncertainty of choosing a chocolate from a box
"as agile as a monkey" implying someone can move as well as a monkey does
"as black as coal" comparing the color of something dark to the very-dark coal color
"as blind as a bat" indicating that the person cannot see any better than a bat can

Hyperbole - exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

It is going to take a bazillion years to get through Medical School.
I ate the whole cow.
He's 900 years old.
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
There are millions of other things to do.
Running faster than the speed of light.
You could be Miss Universe.
It took light years for this to work.
I waited in line for centuries.
I've told you a million times don't exaggerate.
I had to walk fifteen miles uphill both ways, in snow five feet deep.
I had worse than that in my eye.
If I don't get these jeans, I will DIE!
I have a million things to do today.
I could eat a horse.
She cried for days.
The whole world was staring at me.
The package took forever to arrive in the mail.
I had a ton of homework.
it took him two seconds to drive here.
Her smile was a mile wide.
His teeth were blinding white.
My car is a million years old.
I don't have two cents to rub together.
I told you a thousand times!
Maybe I'll do it in a million years.
I was so embarrassed, I thought I might die.
I am so tired I could sleep for a year.

Onomatopoeia - the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo,sizzle ).

bam
bang
clang
clank
clap
clatter
click
clink
ding
jingle
screech
slap
thud
thump

Allegory - a story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

	Created by Milly8 about 11 years ago

7 English Note on Figures of Speech, created by Milly8 on 26/10/2013.