Figure of speech
A word or phrase which is used to create an effect in the sentence. It has a meaning something different than its literal meaning.
e.g., 1. Mr. Sharma works like a well oiled machine. (i.e. Mr. Sharma works smoothly.)
2. I have told you a million times not to tell a lie!(i.e. I have strongly prohibited you from speaking lie.)
There are many figure of speech which are commonly used but we are going to discuss some of them.
[1.] Simile:
A figure of speech that compares something to something else. It is introduced with the words---- 'like' or 'as'
e.g.,
(a) Alexander fought like a lion.
(b) My hands are as cool as ice.
Formation:
1.Subject+helping verb / actual verb + like + Object.
2. Subject + helping verb / actual verb + as+ adjective + as + object.
List of some common similes with their meanings.
as alike as two peas in a pod_____ totally alike
as big as a bus _______very big
as big as an elephant_____ very big
as black as coal______ completely black
as blind as a mole ______ completely blind
as bold as brass ______ very bold
as brave as a lion ______ very brave
as bright as the sun _____ very bright and shiny
as busy as a bee ___ very busy
as calm as a millpond ____ very calm and still
as clear as bell ___ very clear
as clear as crystal_____ very clear
as clean as a whistle _____ very clean
as cold as a cucumber ____ very cool
as cunning as a fox ____ very cunning
as dead as the dodo _____ dead
as different as chalk from cheese ____ very different
as deaf as post ____ completely deaf
as delicate as a flower ____ very delicate
as dense as brick ___ very dense
as easy as A.B.C. ____ very easy
as easy as an apple-pie ___ very easy
as fast as race car ____ very fast
as free as a bird ____ free to go everywher as one wishes
as fresh as daisy ___ very fresh
as funny as a rabbit ____ very funny
as gentle as lamb ___ very gentle
as good as gold ___ very good and usefull
as happy as a lark ____ very happy
as hard as nails _____ very hard
as high as kite ____ very high
as hot as a firecracker ____ very hot
as hard as rock _____ very hard
as hungry as wolf ____ very hungry
as hoarse as a crow ____ very ugly
as innocent as a lamb ____ not wordly wise
as keen as mustard ____ very keen
as large as life ____ very easily noticeable
as light as feather ____ very light
as mad as a hatter ___ very mad
as merry as a criket ___ very happy
as naked as a baby ___ completely naked
as nutty as a fruitcake ___ very crazy
as obstinate as a mule ___ very stubborn
as old as dirt ___ very old
as pale as death ___ very pale
as plain as day ___ very clear
as poor as church mouse ___ very poor
as proud as peacock___ very proud
as pure as snow ____ pure and innocent
as quick as lightning ____ very quickly
as quick as silver ___ very quick
as quiet as mouse ___ very quite
as safe as house ____ very safe and secure
as sharp as a needle ___ very sharp
as sick as dog ___ very sick
as silent as grave ___ very silent
as silly as goose __ very silly
as slow as tortoise ____ very slow
as sly as fox ___ very cunning
as smooth as silk ___ very smooth
as snug as a bug in a rug ____ in a very comfortable and safe position
as solid as ground we stand on ___ very reliable
as sound as a bell ____ sensible and reasonble
as sober as judge ____ cool and calm
as solid as rock ___ firm and steadfast
as sour as vinegar ___ very sour
as steady as rock ___ stable and unchangeable
as still as death ___ completely dead and rigid
as strong as an ox ___ very strong
as stubborn as a mule ___ very hard
as sure as death __ absolutely certain to happen
as thick as brick ___ very thick
as white as sheet ___ very pale , frightened
as white as snow ___ pure white , spotless
as wise as solomon____ very wise and clever
[does] like something
to drink like a fish ___ to drink a lot
to eat like a bird ___ to eat very little
to eat like a pig ___ to eat in an ill-mannered way
to eat like a horse ____ to eat a lot
to fight like cats and dogs ___ to fight fiercely
to sing like an angel ___ to sing beautifully
to sleep like a log ___ to sleep well soundly
to smoke like a chimney ___ to smoke heavily
to soar like an eagle ___ to fly high and free , to be successful
[is] like something
like an animal ____ inhuman
like a dream ___ wonderful or incredible
like dewdrops ___ sweet and pure
like gold dust ___ very precious
like a pig sty ___ very dirty and untidy
like a garbage ____ disgusting
like a rose ___ beautiful
like a star ____ bright and beautiful
like a volcano ___ explosive
[2.] Metaphor
The figure of speech which directly compares two or more things not using the words 'like'or 'as' . They show how two things are not alike in most ways are similar in one important way. They are a way to describe something.
[ Metaphors state that something is something else.]
The word metaphor comes from greek word metapherian( meaning transfer.)
The simplest structure of metaphor is : The first thing is second thing.
e.g.,
1. Mother Teresa was an angel. ( means a very sweet, loving and kind person.)
2. The inside of the room was a refrigerator.(means that the inside of the room was very cold as a refrigerator is very cold.)
Here are some sentences in which metaphors are used . In each sentence, the metaphors appears in underlined form )
1.The police got to the bottom of the crime.(This implies that the police got to the original cause 9of the problem _)
2. His answer was diffucult to swallow .(This implies that his answer was hard to accept.)
3. Her voice is music to her ears. (This implies that her voice makes her feel happy. )
[3.] Hyperbole
The figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong feeling or response in a sentence is called Hyperbole. The meaning is not intended to be taken literally.
e.g.,
I am so hungry that I could eat a horse.
The bag weighed a ton.
She is older than the hills.
I have told you a million times not to tell a lie.
[4.] Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines two words that are opposite to each other in meaning.
e.g.,
The comedian was seriously funny.
There is a real love hate relationship between these two friends.
My trip to Chennai was very much a working holiday.
[5.] Personification
A figure of speech in which we treat a non living thing as a living thing is called personification.
e.g.,
Clouds shed his tears.
Trees weeps .
[6.] Pleonasm
Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning. A writer might use pleonasm for humor or emphasis, or they might not realize they’re using extra words at all.
Example: The burning fire warmed the whole house.
[7.] Alliteration
Alliteration is the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect.
Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.
[9.] Assonance
It is the repetition of identical or similar vowel sound in a series of words ,phrases and syllables.
E.g., Clap your hands and stamp your feet.
[10.] Apostrophe
Apostrophe as a figure of speech is when a character addresses someone or something that isn’t present or cannot respond. The character might speak to someone deceased, an inanimate object, or a concept.
Example: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” —William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
[11.] Circumlocution
Circumlocution is the use of a purposely wordy description. You can think of it as talking in circles.
Example: In the Harry Potter series, most characters don’t say Lord Voldemort’s name; instead, they use this circumlocution: “He Who Must Not Be Named.”
[12.] Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it means.
Example: When a character is exasperated, they might exclaim, “Sheesh!” That’s both a word to show exasperation and a sound that happens when you sigh loudly.
[13.] Litotes
Litotes use a double negative to create a positive.
Example: You’re not wrong.
[14.] Irony
Irony is a situation that subverts a reader’s expectations.
Example: One of the characters in your story is a hypochondriac, always convinced that they have an exotic and uncurable disease. An ironic ending for that character would be if they died of a common cold.
[15.] Euphemism
A euphemism is a way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult topics—like money, death, or sex.
Example: Death can be an uncomfortable subject, so we’ve developed many euphemisms to avoid confronting it head-on. Rather than telling a friend that a relative died, you might say they “kicked the bucket,” “passed away,” or are “no longer with us.”
[16.] Metonymy
Metonymy is a literary device in which a word or object stands in for a closely related word or object. Metonymy gives a writer more variability with descriptions.
Example: I thought his movies were better when they weren’t so Hollywood.
[17.] Epigram
An epigram is a clever and memorable statement. You will find epigrams in speeches, poetry, and at the front of a book.
Example: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
[18.] Understatement
Understatement is the intentional downplaying of a situation. This can create a humorous or deadpan effect in writing.
Example: “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” —J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
[19.] Synecdoche
Synecdoche is when a smaller unit is used to signify a larger unit or vice versa.
Example: New England won the game by a touchdown. (Here, New England means New England’s football team
[20.] Pun
A pun is a form of wordplay that purposely substitutes words that sound similar but have different meanings.
Example: “‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’” —Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
