Figure of speech

A FIGURE OF SPEECH
Figure of Speech is a special way to describe or explain something

not with its original meaning but in an imaginative way to make a
special effect.
SIMILE
Direct comparison makes between two non-similar objects on at least

one common point by using words such as, like, as, same.
• My love is like a red rose.

• My brother and I fight like cats and dogs all the time.
• My cousin chatters like a monkey.
METAPHOR
Indirect comparison makes between two non-similar objects on at

least one common point by not using words such as like, as, same.
• My mom has a heart of gold.

• He is a lion when he comes to the field.
• She is such a firecracker.
PERSONIFICATION
When human qualities are given to non-living things it’s called

personification
• The cow jumped over the moon;
• The little dog laughed
• And the dish ran away with the spoon.”
HYPERBOLE
The statement or idea is exaggerated or overstated which seems

impossible to happen.
• 'The teacher gave us a ton of homework.'
• 'When your mum sees what you've done, she will kill you.'
• 'She never stops talking.'
TRANSFERRED EPITHET
When the adjective is transferred from its original place to another

closely noun. Transferred adjective is speaker’s experienced or feeling.
• We had such a wonderful time at the movies yesterday.

• I have a satisfying job.
• We had a friendly conversation.
ALLITERATION
The sound of the alphabet is repeated especially in the beginning of

words.
• The wind swayed softly and smoothly.

• You drive your destiny.
• He held her hands
REPETITION
Repetition of words and phrases for the musical effect.
• “I felt happy because I saw the others were happy and because I knew I
should feel happy, but I wasn’t really happy.”
• “So I said yes to Thomas Clinton and later thought that I had said yes to
God and later still realized I had said yes only to Thomas Clinton.”
• “Hatred was spreading everywhere, blood was being spilled everywhere,

wars were breaking out everywhere.”
INTERNAL RHYME
Use of two or more rhyming words within a single line of verse.
• I went to town to buy a gown. / I took the car, and it wasn't far.
• I had a cat who wore a hat. / He looked cool but felt the fool.
• I lost my dog in the midst of fog. / He found his way home, he doesn't like
to roam.
ANTITHESIS
Two opposite word or ideas are used within the sentence for portico
effect.
• Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

• Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open.
• “Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.” – John Milton
OXYMORON
Special form of antithesis where two contradictory terms ideas are

united to give the expression.
• There is always such sweet sorrow

• They asked us to submit the original copy.
• Dharini, moving to France, is an open secret.
IRONY
The real meaning is exactly the opposite of its literary meaning in

order to be funny.
• "This is going to be fun" (said before doing something

unpleasant)
• "I'm fine" (said when someone is not fine)
• A person who is afraid of heights becomes a pilot.
• A police station gets robbed.
• A woman named Happiness gets sad.
PARADOX
A self-contradictory statement which has some hidden truth in it.
Save money by spending it.

If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.
This is the beginning of the end.
METONYMY
Figure of speech where an object name is replaced with another name

that it is closely connected with it.
• We Will swear loyalty to the crown

• “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;”
• The team needs some new blood if it's going to win next season.
CLIMAX
When in a sentence ideas, thoughts value, importance, qualities etc are

arranged in ascending order then there is use of climax.
"If you think that's bad, it gets worse."

"To infinity, and beyond!“
Let a man acknowledge his obligations to himself, his family, his country, and his God.
ANTI CLIMAX
When in a sentence ideas thoughts, value, importance, qualities etc are

arranged in descending order then there is use of anti climax.
•My brother gifted me a diamond necklace, an iPhone 14 Pro, AirPods, and two boxes
of Nutties.
•The movie has a good story, characters, setting and, of course, songs.
•I know you have to meet a lot of people – the Head of the School, the Academic
Coordinator, the Supervisor, the Head of the Department and me.
SYNECDOCHE
Synecdoche us a figure of speech that uses a part to represent the

whole or vice versa
• “I don’t need no shoulder, I’m gonna be a soldier

• “We need some more hands.”
• “He has a nice set of wheels!”
• “This room is full of suits.”
PUN
A word is capable of having more than one meaning to create a

humorous effect.
•Every calendar's days are numbered.
•I’m great friends with 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know Y.

ASSONANCE
It is the repetition of the vowel sound across words within the lines of
poem creating internal rhymes.
• He claps his hands and stamps his feet

• The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain
• Mike's bike has bright white stripes
LITOTES
An affirmative (Positive sentence) is covered through negative words

like No, Not, Never, Nether, Nor, Nothing, Nobody, No one, None.
• I can't disagree with what you said.

• I'm not unfamiliar with that book.
• That film is not my favourite
Tautology
Two different words or ideas of almost same meaning are repeated

unnecessarily
• Mark is an unmarried bachelor. In my opinion,

• I think it’s a good book.
• The party was an unexpected surprise.
EPIGRAM
A short Poem or Phrase expresses an idea in a clever or Funny Way
• “I can resist everything but temptation.”

• A little learning is dangerous a thing
• I haven't failed l, I just found 10,000 ways that won't work

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A FIGURE OF SPEECH

Figure of Speech is a special way to describe or explain something

Direct comparison makes between two non-similar objects on at least

• My love is like a red rose.

Indirect comparison makes between two non-similar objects on at

• My mom has a heart of gold.

When human qualities are given to non-living things it’s called

The statement or idea is exaggerated or overstated which seems

When the adjective is transferred from its original place to another

• We had such a wonderful time at the movies yesterday.

The sound of the alphabet is repeated especially in the beginning of

• The wind swayed softly and smoothly.

Repetition of words and phrases for the musical effect.

• “Hatred was spreading everywhere, blood was being spilled everywhere,

Use of two or more rhyming words within a single line of verse.

• Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

Special form of antithesis where two contradictory terms ideas are

• There is always such sweet sorrow

The real meaning is exactly the opposite of its literary meaning in

• "This is going to be fun" (said before doing something

A self-contradictory statement which has some hidden truth in it.

Save money by spending it.

Figure of speech where an object name is replaced with another name

• We Will swear loyalty to the crown

When in a sentence ideas, thoughts value, importance, qualities etc are

"If you think that's bad, it gets worse."

When in a sentence ideas thoughts, value, importance, qualities etc are

Synecdoche us a figure of speech that uses a part to represent the

• “I don’t need no shoulder, I’m gonna be a soldier

A word is capable of having more than one meaning to create a

•Every calendar's days are numbered.

•I’m great friends with 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know Y.

• He claps his hands and stamps his feet

An affirmative (Positive sentence) is covered through negative words

• I can't disagree with what you said.

Two different words or ideas of almost same meaning are repeated

• Mark is an unmarried bachelor. In my opinion,

A short Poem or Phrase expresses an idea in a clever or Funny Way

• “I can resist everything but temptation.”

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