what is the importance of figure of speech in writing

Figure of Speech

Definition of figure of speech.

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

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:

Common Examples of Figures of Speech Used in Conversation

Understatement.

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 .

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.

Common Examples of Figure of Speech in Writing

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.

Personification

Writing figure of speech.

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

Figure of Speech as Artistic Use of Language

Figure of speech as entertainment for reader, figure of speech as memorable experience for reader, examples of figure of speech in literature, 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.

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?

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• Literary Terms
• Figures of Speech
• Definition & Examples
• 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

Importance Of Figures Of Speech in Text Writing, Communication & Poetry

What are figures of speech.

Figures of speech add color and imagination to language through unusual comparisons, descriptions and expressions that depart from straightforward and literal language. They serve to convey meaning or heighten effect in fresh and vivid ways. Some common examples include:

• Metaphor – An implicit comparison between two unlike things, e.g. “All the world’s a stage.”
• Simile – An explicit comparison using “like” or “as”, e.g. “My love is like a red, red rose.”
• Personification – Attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects, e.g. “The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.”
• Hyperbole – Over-exaggeration for emphasis or effect, e.g. “I’ve told you a million times!”

By creatively applying figurative techniques that substitute indirect, descriptive language in place of literal interpretations, writers add artistry, emotional impact and unique perspectives to their work.

Importance of Figures of Speech in Text writing

Figures of speech are important in writing for several reasons. First, they add color and vividness to language. Using descriptive comparisons, images and unique expressions instead of plain literal statements makes writing more interesting, beautiful and impactful. This helps engage readers’ imagination and emotions.

Additionally, figures of speech allow writers to convey meanings that simple, direct statements do not. Metaphors, symbolism, hyperbole and other rhetorical techniques communicate deeper truths, emphasize key ideas, and highlight less obvious parallels and insights. They reveal and share perspectives in inventive ways.

Figures of speech also make writing more concise. Rather than explaining concepts step-by-step in matter-of-fact terms, figurative language can use analogy, irony and imagination to communicate the essence of something efficiently. A well-crafted metaphor gets rapidly to the heart of an intricate idea.

Importance of Figures of Speech in Creative Writing

Figures of speech are vital ingredients in creative writing. They enable writers to compose language in fresh and vivid ways that spark imagination rather than simply state literal truths. Some key reasons figurative techniques are important for compelling storytelling and self-expression include:

Vivacity – Techniques like metaphor, simile, hyperbole and personification add color, life and tangible detail that immerses readers deeply in the world and events described. This transforms bland statements into a cinematic feast for the mind’s eye.

Resonance – By linking an idea or event to something familiar or universal like cultural archetypes or primal symbols, figures of speech forge deeper emotional connections with the reader. Great writing resonates on this profound level.

Persuasion – Comparisons, symbols and other figurative devices can underscore and reinforce key themes or ideas skillfully. This rhetorical power of figurative language makes it essential to persuasive writing from speeches to fiction that moves hearts and changes minds.

Importance of Figures of speech in communication

Figures of speech bring immense value to communication by infusing it with clarity, persuasion and imaginative power beyond literal words alone. They allow us to transmit meanings and scenarios that inspire, teach and touch hearts. Comparisons using metaphor and simile aid understanding by linking fresh concepts to things familiar or tangible. Analogies make complex, abstract ideas concrete so they become easier to comprehend and internalize.

Vivid descriptions through imagery, hyperbole or personification encode ideas with emotion and sensation we can intensely relate to on a visceral level. This helps messages resonate deeper with audiences. Figures also add beauty, creativity and artistry to messages that would otherwise be dry, blunt and uninspiring. They reveal truths gently through symbols, irony and allegory in ways that encourage insight without causing defensiveness.

Importance of Figures of Speech in Poetry

Figures of speech are the hallmarks of skillful and evocative poetry. They enable poets to frame language in imaginative ways that trace vivid sights, sounds, emotions – entire experiences beyond literal meanings. Following are the reasons that figurative techniques are vital to superb poetry include:

Imagery – Devices like metaphor, simile, and personification allow poets to paint deeply resonating sensory scenes using words. This transforms abstract ideas into palpable moments pulsing with shade, texture and feeling readers can imagine intensely.

Musicality – Techniques like alliteration, onomatopoeia and assonance lend auditory and rhythmic beauty to words. This serves the essential poetry aim of lyrical and melodic expression that moves the soul.

Resonance – Symbols, allusions and other figurative links to collective concepts, archetypes or cultural touchstones forge profound connections on a spiritual and philosophical or emotional plane. This gives poetry its timeless power to inspire.

Importance of learning Figures of Speech

Learning figures of speech is important for empowering more engaging, eloquent and impactful communication. As with any language technique, the first step is understanding how they work. Figures like metaphor, simile, and hyperbole add tincture and imagination to literal words and statements. Mastering figurative comparisons unlocks describing things in more vivid and relatable terms that flash insight and emotion.

Practice then allows skillfully incorporating techniques like personification or alliteration to endow messages with rhythmic flow, emphasis and artistry. This transforms basic information into compelling narratives that inspire and persuade.

Just as learning grammar enables correctly structuring sentences as building blocks, figures of speech provide creative tools for assembling those elements artfully. They offer boundless means to convey nuance, reinforce themes, and appeal to what unites our shared human experience.

Ultimately, figurative language offers instruments for connecting with others profoundly. It is the difference between presenting an idea and making an audience feel; between simply communicating and truly reaching someone with words. This makes enriching one’s expressive powers through mastering figures of speech incredibly valuable.

Importance of Teaching Figures of Speech

Teaching figures of speech is important to equip students with creative tools for more detailed and eloquent self-expression. Mastering figurative techniques allows to convey ideas, emotions and imagery in fresh, relatable terms that trigger imagination and connect deeply with audiences.

Learning devices like metaphor, simile, personification builds understanding of how comparisons and descriptive language can effectively translate complex concepts into tangible examples and sensory moments people can instantly relate to. This bridges communication gaps between literal and abstract ideas.

Practicing hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia gives students artistic means to emphasize themes, make messages resonate and add rhetorical flair that transforms basic information into engaging stories. Through actively applying various figurative approaches, they appreciate how strategic word choices make static words come alive.

Just as learning composition rules enables structuring writing effectively, figuring out one’s unique voice requires a figurative palette to paint human experiences vividly. Teaching the purpose and skilled application of diverse figures of speech thus unlocks each student’s latent expressive powers to inspire, teach, motivate or touch hearts.

Important Figures of Speech with examples

Here are some important figures of speech with examples:

• Metaphor – An implicit comparison between two unlike things, e.g. “You are my sunshine.”
• Simile – An explicit comparison using like or as, e.g. “She swims like a fish.”
• Personification – Attributing human qualities to the non-human, e.g. “The wind whispered through the trees.”
• Hyperbole – Exaggerated statements for emphasis, e.g. “I’ve told you a million times!”
• Alliteration – Repetition of initial consonant sounds, e.g. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
• Onomatopoeia – Words that imitate sounds, e.g. “The bees buzzed busily.”
• Irony – Incongruity between actual meaning and implied or expected meaning, e.g. “Brushing your teeth three times a day? Yeah, right!”

Read also: Types of Figurative Language

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• Introduction

Common figures of speech and their use

• The five major categories
• Figures of speech in non-Western languages

figure of speech

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Academia - Figures of Speech
• Literary Devices - Figure of Speech
• figure of speech - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

figure of speech , any intentional deviation from literal statement or common usage that emphasizes, clarifies, or embellishes both written and spoken language . Forming an integral part of language, figures of speech are found in oral literatures as well as in polished poetry and prose and in everyday speech. Greeting-card rhymes, advertising slogans, newspaper headlines, the captions of cartoons, and the mottoes of families and institutions often use figures of speech, generally for humorous, mnemonic , or eye-catching purposes. The argots of sports , jazz , journalism, business, politics, or any specialized groups abound in figurative language.

Most figures in everyday speech are formed by extending the vocabulary of what is already familiar and better known to what is less well known. Thus metaphors (implied resemblances) derived from human physiology are commonly extended to nature or inanimate objects as in the expressions “the mouth of a river,” “the snout of a glacier,” “the bowels of the earth,” or “the eye of a needle.” Conversely, resemblances to natural phenomena are frequently applied to other areas, as in the expressions “a wave of enthusiasm,” “a ripple of excitement,” or “a storm of abuse.” Use of simile (a comparison, usually indicated by “like” or “as”) is exemplified in “We were packed in the room like sardines” or “He is as slow as molasses.” Personification (speaking of an abstract quality or inanimate object as if it were a person) is exemplified in “Money talks”; metonymy (using the name of one thing for another closely related to it), in “The power of the crown was mortally weakened,” where “crown” means “king” or “queen”); synecdoche (use of a part to imply the whole), in expressions such as “brass” for high-ranking military officers or “hard hats” for construction workers.

Other common forms of figurative speech are hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration for the sake of effect), as in “I’m so mad I could chew nails”; the rhetorical question (asked for effect, with no answer expected), as in “How can I express my thanks to you?”; litotes (conscious understatement in which emphasis is achieved by negation), as in “It’s no fun to be sick”; and onomatopoeia (imitation of natural sounds by words), in such words as “crunch,” “gurgle,” “plunk,” and “splash.”

Almost all the figures of speech that appear in everyday speech may also be found in literature . In serious poetry and prose, however, their use is more fully conscious, more artistic, and much more subtle; it thus has a stronger intellectual and emotional impact, is more memorable, and sometimes contributes a range and depth of association and suggestion far beyond the scope of the casual colloquial use of imagery. The Old and New Testaments of the Bible—an example of a work rich in simile , metaphor , personification, and parallelism (which is often used in Hebrew poetry)—is an important literary influence.

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.

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1944 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 40,985 quotes across 1944 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play
• Alliteration
• Climax (Figure of Speech)
• Figurative Language
• Parallelism
• Verbal Irony
• Rhyme Scheme
• Climax (Plot)
• Slant Rhyme
• Dynamic Character
• Round Character
• Foreshadowing
• Stream of Consciousness
• Dramatic Irony
• Internal Rhyme

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.

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Top 20 Figures of Speech with Definitions and Examples

As an English learner, you probably would have heard of metaphor, personification, or simile. These are the most common types of figures of speech in English. Figures of speech play a significant role in English speaking and writing . You don’t necessarily use all types of figures of speech on a daily basis, but they act as a powerful tool in writing. In this article, we’ll go over the top 20 figures of speech that you need to know to improve your overall English language skills.

What is a Figure of Speech?

A figure of speech is a way of using language that goes beyond its literal meaning to convey a more vivid or imaginative expression. It involves the use of words or phrases in a non-literal sense to create a specific effect or emphasize a point. Figures of speech add color, creativity, and depth to language, making communication more interesting and engaging.

Importance of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech make language more interesting and expressive. They help convey emotions, create mental images, and emphasize ideas. By using metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech, speakers and writers can make their communication more vivid and memorable. These tools also add creativity to literature, contribute to cultural expressions, and play a role in humor. Overall, figures of speech enhance communication by making it more engaging, impactful, and versatile.

List of 20 Figures of Speech with Definitions and Examples

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words “like” or “as” to highlight a shared characteristic. It helps create vivid and imaginative descriptions.

Example: As brave as a lion.

Explanation: Emphasizes the person’s courage by likening it to the well-known bravery of a lion.

2. Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unrelated things, suggesting that they share common characteristics without using “like” or “as.” It is a way of describing one thing as if it were another to create a deeper understanding or evoke a specific image.

Example: Time is a thief.

Explanation: Time is compared to a thief to convey the idea that it steals moments or experiences.

3. Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which human attributes or qualities are given to non-human entities or objects. It involves treating something non-human as if it has human-like characteristics.

Example: The wind whispered through the trees.

Explanation: Personifies the wind by attributing the human quality of whispering to it.

4. Hyperbole

A hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. It is used to emphasize a point, create emphasis, or add dramatic effect.

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

Explanation: The exaggeration of a million times emphasizes the speaker’s frustration or annoyance. The person didn’t actually say it a million times.

5. Alliteration

Alliteration is a series of words in a sentence or phrase that share the same initial consonant sound. It is often used to create rhythm, emphasize a particular sound, or make language more memorable.

Example: Sally sells seashells by the seashore

Explanation: The repetition of the “s” sound adds a musical quality to the sentence.

6. Assonance

Assonance is where the repetition of vowel sounds occurs within nearby words in a sentence or phrase. It is used for musicality, emphasis, or to create a specific mood.

Example: Hear the mellow wedding bells

Explanation: The repetition of the long “e” sound enhances the melodic quality of the expression.

Irony is a discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, or between appearances and reality. It often involves a twist or contradiction that may be humorous, thought-provoking, or even tragic. An example of irony is situational irony, where a fire station burns down; this situation is ironic because a place dedicated to preventing fires becomes the victim of one.

8. Oxymoron

An oxymoron combines contradictory or opposing words to create a paradoxical effect. It is used to convey complexity, irony, or a unique perspective.

Example: jumbo shrimp

Explanation: The juxtaposition of “jumbo” and “shrimp” creates a contrasting and somewhat humorous image.

9. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech where words imitate the natural sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. These words are often used to evoke a sensory experience and bring a vivid quality to language.

Example: buzz

Explanation: The word itself imitates the sound of a buzzing bee.

10. Euphemism

A euphemism is a mild or indirect expression used to replace a harsh or blunt phrase that might be considered impolite, offensive, or too direct. It is often employed to soften the impact of sensitive or uncomfortable topics.

Example: Using “passed away” instead of “died” to refer to someone’s death

Explanation: “Passed away” is considered more gentle and considerate than “died.”

As a figure of speech, a cliché refers to an expression, idea, or phrase that has been so overused that it has lost its originality and impact. It involves using a predictable or stereotyped phrase that may lack creativity.

Example: Saying “quiet as a mouse” to describe silence is a cliché

Explanation: The phrase is often used and has become a common expression.

12. Allusion

An allusion involves referencing a well-known person, place, event, or work of art within a conversation, text, or speech. It allows the speaker or writer to convey complex ideas or emotions by drawing on the associations and meanings attached to the referenced element.

Example: Saying someone has “the Midas touch.”

Explanation: It is an allusion to the mythical King Midas, known for turning everything he touched into gold, suggesting a person’s ability to turn things successful or prosperous.

13. Anaphora

Anaphora is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It is used for emphasis, rhythm, and to create a powerful impact.

Example: Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech

Explanation: He repeatedly begins sentences with “I have a dream” to highlight and reinforce his vision for a better future.

14. Chiasmus

Chiasmus is a figure of speech where the order of words or phrases in one clause is reversed in the following clause. This creates a balanced and often symmetrical structure, adding emphasis and style to the expression.

Example: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

Explanation: The order of the terms is reversed in the second part, creating a memorable and impactful rhetorical structure.

15. Litotes

Litotes is a figure of speech that uses double negatives or understatement to emphasize an idea by negating its opposite.

Example: Not bad

Explanation: Conveys that something is good but in a subtle or understated manner.

16. Paradox

A paradox is a statement or situation that appears self-contradictory or absurd, but in reality, it illustrates a deeper truth or logic, often highlighting the complexities and nuances of a concept.

Example: Less is more

Explanation: The apparent contradiction suggests that simplicity or having less can sometimes be more effective or valuable.

17. Epistrophe

Epistrophe is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses or sentences. It is used to create emphasis, rhythmic effect, and a memorable expression.

Example: Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”

Explanation: “…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people…” The repetition of “people” occurs at the end of each phrase for emphasis.

18. Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It involves substituting a specific attribute or component for the entire entity.

Example: All hands on deck

Explanation: This means that everyone (the hands) is needed to help, representing the entire person.

19. Antithesis

Antithesis is a figure of speech that involves the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas or words within parallel grammatical structures. It is used to emphasize the stark contrast between two opposing elements.

Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities

Explanation: The contrasting ideas of “best” and “worst” highlight the dual nature of the time period described.

20. Apostrophe

Apostrophe, as a figure of speech, is when a speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person, a non-living object, or an abstract concept as if it were present and capable of responding. It often involves a strong emotional expression.

Example: Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” when Mark Antony says, “O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,”

Explanation: Addresses the lifeless body of Caesar as if it could hear and respond.

FAQs About Figures of Speech

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about figures of speech in English.

What are the 12 main figures of speech?

The 12 main figures of speech include simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, euphemism, oxymoron, allusion, chiasmus, and litotes.

What are the 10 types of figure of speech and their meaning?

The 10 types of figures of speech and their meanings are:

• Simile: Comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
• Metaphor: Implies a resemblance between unrelated things without using “like” or “as.”
• Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human entities.
• Hyperbole: Exaggerating statements for emphasis or effect.
• Onomatopoeia: Words imitating natural sounds.
• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.
• Euphemism: Substituting a milder or indirect expression for a harsh or blunt one.
• Oxymoron: Combining contradictory terms to create a paradoxical effect.
• Allusion: Referencing a well-known person, place, event, or work of art.

What are 5 examples of personification?

Here are 5 examples of personification:

• The sun smiled down on the beach.
• The wind whispered through the trees.
• Time flies when you’re having fun.
• The flowers danced in the breeze.
• The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up.

How many figures of speech are there in total?

According to Professor Rober Diyanni, “rhetoricians have catalogues more than 250 different figures of speech.” However, there are mainly 10-20 figures of speech there are commonly used.

Is my shoes are killing me a hyperbole?

“My shoes are killing me” is hyperbole because it is an exaggerated statement meant to convey extreme discomfort, not to be taken literally.

What are some examples of hyperbole?

Here are 5 examples of hyperbole:

• I have a million things to do.
• It’s raining cats and dogs.
• This suitcase weighs a ton.
• I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
• The queue at the amusement park is a mile long.

Is idiom a figure of speech?

Yes, an idiom is a type of figure of speech. Idioms are expressions whose meanings cannot be inferred from the literal interpretation of their individual words.

More English Resources

If you want to learn more about the English language, check out the following topics.

• Choose your Own Adventure ESL Writing Activity
• Sequence Words: Meaning and Examples in English
• American English Idioms and Phrases to Learn
• 100 Common English Questions and How to Answer Them
• Parts of Speech Activities ESL | Adverbs, Articles, Nouns, Verbs

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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
• Simile Definition and Examples
• Hyperbole: Definition and Examples
• How Figurative Language Is Used Every Day
• Valentine's Day Language: Learning Idioms, Metaphors, and Similes
• 20 Figures of Speech That We Never Heard About in School
• Figure of Thought in Rhetoric
• Figurative vs. Literal Language
• Metaphor Definition and Examples
• Definition and Examples of Litotes in English Grammar
• What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis?
• What Is a Rhetorical Device? Definition, List, Examples
• Use Song Lyrics (with Caution) to Teach Figures of Speech

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• Writing Tips

Figurative Language – Definition and Examples

3-minute read

• 13th April 2023

In this article, you’ll learn about figurative language: what it is, how to use it, and lots of examples to inspire your everyday speech and descriptive writing .

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. It is often used to create imagery, evoke emotion, or emphasize a point in a way that literal language cannot. Think of it as painting a picture with words in the minds of your audience – for example, “She was as light as a feather while dancing.”

5 Types of Figurative Language

Below, we’ll look at five types of figurative language – metaphor, idiom, simile, hyperbole, and personification – that you can use in an essay, poem , speech, or conversation.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things by stating that one thing is another, without using “like” or “as.” Metaphors are used to create imagery, evoke emotions, and help readers or listeners to understand an idea or concept in a new and interesting way.

Here are some examples of metaphors:

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. Idioms are often used in informal or conversational language to add color or humor.

Here are some examples of idioms:

If you want to include idioms in your everyday speech or writing, make sure you fully understand the figurative meaning before using them. If used incorrectly, they can cause confusion for your audience.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as.” They are a great writing technique to create vivid imagery and a memorable comparison.

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Here are some examples of similes:

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is mostly used to emphasize a point in a funny or memorable way. Hyperbole is great to use in everyday language or writing, but it’s important to use it in moderation – otherwise, it can come across as insincere or unbelievable.

Here are some examples of hyperbole:

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or animal is given human-like qualities or characteristics. This technique is mostly used in poetry or descriptive writing to create vivid imagery.

Here are some examples of personification:

Figurative language is a great addition to your everyday speech and is frequently used in literature and poetry. It can add depth and richness to language, making it more interesting and expressive. However, it can also be confusing if the reader or listener does not understand the intended meaning of the figurative language. Therefore, it is important to have a basic understanding of figurative language in order to fully appreciate and understand written and spoken communication.

Interested in learning more about how use descriptive language and vivid imagery? Check out our Writing Tips blog to learn more.

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• Figure of Speech

A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their effectiveness. It is also known as a rhetorical figure too because it produces a rhetorical effect. It deviates a statement from its real meaning or common usage to create a new required effect. It usually emphasises, embellishes, or clarifies language in both written and oral form. We can see its usage in literature too. We can even see it in advertisements, posters, slogans, newspapers, magazines, cartoons, etc. 

Figure of speech can easily catch eyes and highlight the purpose of use. It is designed to make a comparison and create a dramatic factor while writing or speaking. Basically, it is a figurative language that may consist of a single word or phrase. It may be a simile, a metaphor or personification to convey the meaning other than the literal meaning. It is usually classified as different schemes. The ordinary sequence or pattern of words is known as a scheme. We usually perform basic four operations as below to create the required effect:

The addition is also known as repetition, expansion, or superabundance.

An omission is also known as subtraction, abridgement or lack.

Transposition is also known as transferring.

Permutation is also known as switching, interchange, substitution, or transmutation.

We can see many varieties in figures of speech because its prime aim is to use language to create the desired effect. For example, the usage of expressions like the mouth of a river, round and round, the eye of a needle, nasty place, a stream of abuse, money talks, butterflies in the stomach, painful pride, etc. We can see it in literature, poems, movies, speeches, etc. Therefore, in this article, the importance of figure of speech along with its various types with examples will be discussed.

Importance of Figure of Speech

It enhances the beauty of the writing. It makes the sentence deeper and leaves the reader with a sense of wonder. It brings life to the words used by the writer. The figure of Speech not only shows the writer's intent but also his purpose in using such language. 

It adds flavour to the writing and makes it so much more enjoyable for the reader.

There are five major categories of figures of speech as below:

Figures of resemblance : It is also known as the figure of relationship. It is made up of simile, metaphor, or kenning.

Figures of emphasis : It is also known as a figure of an understatement. It is made up of hyperbole. 

Figures of sound : It uses alliteration.

Verbal games : It is also known as gymnastics. It includes puns.

Errors : It is created of malapropism and usually generated because of blunder.

Types of Figure Of Speech

Simile - In a simile, two things which are completely unlocked are compared with each other. A simile is introduced by words such as like, so, as etc.

Examples - 

The flower is as pretty as a picture.

He is as sober as a judge.

The floor was as slippery as an eel.

They looked like peas in a pod.

He eats like a pig.

Metaphor - When you compare two unlike or different things or ideas, it is known as a metaphor. It is an informal or implied simile in which the words ‘like’ ‘as’ are avoided. For example, He is like a Giant - Simile and He is a Giant - Metaphor. 

You are the apple of my eye.

Ocean’s sound is music to my ear.

Heart of gold.

He is a night owl.

Time is money.

Personification - In Personification, non-living things,  abstract ideas or qualities are mentioned as humans or living things.

Angry clouds surrounded the island.

Earth was thirsty for water.

The flowers talked to them in the garden.

The wind howled that night.

The snowflakes danced at night.

Apostrophe - In this figure of speech, the writer mentions the absent or inanimate objects as alive and writes about them.

“O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are”

“Walter, remember when the world was young and all the girls knew Walter's name? Walter, isn't it a shame the way our little world has changed.”

Oxymoron - An Oxymoron is when two words are used together in a sentence but they seem to be in contrast with each other. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that willingly uses two differing ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that creates a new concept or meaning for the whole.

Life is bittersweet.

They knew they could feel the joyful sadness on his arrival.

Sweet sorrow.

Peace force.

Free market.

Hyperbole - Hyperbole is when you use words to exaggerate what you mean or emphasize a point. It is used to make something seem bigger or more important than it actually is.

Example - 

It has been ages since I have had a proper meal.

Usain Bolt runs faster than the wind.

I could do this forever.

She’s older than this world.

Everybody knows me.

Pun - A pun is generally used in plays where one word has two different meanings. It is used to create humour. Humorous use of words of different meanings or the words of the same sound but different meanings is known as Pun.

A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.

Where do you find giant snails? On the ends of the giants' fingers.

Alliteration - It is a series of words, which commence with the same letter. Alliteration consists of the repetition of a sound or of a letter at the beginning of two or more words.

For Example -

Dirty dolphins dove across the ocean.

Purple pandas painted portraits. 

She sells seashells.

Nick needed new notebooks.

Fred fried frogs’ legs on Friday.

Onomatopoeia - It is the figure of speech where the word is used to describe a sound. When we explain any action by putting the sounds into language, it is known as onomatopoeia. It is generally used in fiction or in nursery rhymes, for eg- Old Macdonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. Words like whoosh, splat, buzz, oink, click, etc., are used to create this effect. 

I could hear the leaves rustling and the wind howling. 

Bam! He hit the truck at the speed of 80 kmph.

 Anaphora - When many phrases or verses start with the same word, it is known as anaphora.

I came, I saw, I conquered.

We shall not stop. We shall go on and on. We shall move forward.

Assonance - When we use repetition of vowel sounds, it is known as assonance. 

Euphemism - It is known as a euphemism when we replace blunt, offensive, or harsh terms with soft, mild, vague, or indirect terms.

Using letting you go instead of firing

Using a little thin on top instead of getting bald

Using  passed away instead of killed or died

Using stick to the truth instead of calling someone a liar

Irony - If you use terms that contrast with what you say and what you do, it is known as irony. It’s like a difference between what is said and what is meant.

A traffic cop got a ticket for parking in a no-parking zone.

The Titanic was said to be unsinkable but got sunk on its first trip.

When the viewer knows who the killer is in the movie, but the actor doesn’t know that.

Synecdoche - If a part is represented by a whole or a whole is represented by a part, it is known as synecdoche.

Colgate – any toothpaste

Wheels – a car

Employed people – workers

The traffic – many vehicles 

Understatement - When you try to say or show something of no importance or less importance.

Referring a big wound to just a scratch

Saying it little dry instead of desert

Referring big destruction to just an accident

FAQs on Figure of Speech

1. Does the figure of speech make writing interesting?

Yes. Figure of speech adds expression, emphasises the writing and adds clarity to it. Well-researched and detailed content on the figures of speech can be found on the website of Vedantu. It can be downloaded for free in PDF format from both the website and the mobile application of Vedantu.

2. Name five most used figures of speech.

Some of the most common figure of speech are:

Personification

You can access good articles on this topic from the website of Vedantu and its mobile application.

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Table of Content

Figure of Speech: Definition

Significance of figures of speech in english, types of figures of speech, illustrations of figurative language, key takeaways:, understanding 13 figures of speech: comprehensive guide and examples.

English language is rich in figures of speech, which enhance our communication by adding depth and nuanced meanings to our words. To grasp this linguistic phenomenon fully, it is essential to familiarize ourselves with different types of figures of speech and examine them through examples.

Even if you are familiar with the phrase, it's important to understand the meaning of a "figure of speech":

A figure of speech is a rhetorical device in which the intended meaning of a word or phrase cannot be interpreted literally from its literal words. In other words, figures of speech employ words or phrases to convey meanings beyond their literal interpretation.

Rhetorical devices are techniques used by writers or speakers to convey meaning, elicit emotional responses, and often persuade or convince the audience.

Figures of speech can be employed both in spoken language and writing. They help us create vivid mental imagery for our listeners and readers, depending on the mode of communication.

Figures of speech find use in both fiction and non-fiction writing, serving various purposes and achieving diverse effects, which we will explore in this article.

Why do we bother using figures of speech and what is their significance in English?

Figures of speech serve various purposes and can be employed to:

Make descriptions of people, places, and things more engaging and interesting (e.g., The ocean stretched out like an endless blue-green carpet .)

Highlight and emphasize emotions (e.g., Her sadness was a supervolcano, ready to erupt at any moment .)

Create a sense of urgency or excitement (e.g., Bang! Pop! The barn crumpled to the ground as the flames engulfed the last wooden posts supporting it .)

Draw comparisons between different subjects (e.g., The puppy dashed into the waves, while the old dog observed, stiller than a petrified tree in the forest .)

The effect generated by a figure of speech largely depends on the specific type employed. Let's now explore various types of figures of speech in more depth:

There is an extensive array of figures of speech. Here is a list covering some of the most prominent ones:

Metaphor: A figure of speech that describes something by likening it to another thing.

Simile: A figure of speech that compares something to another using "like" or "as".

Irony: The use of words to express the opposite of their literal meaning.

Idiom: Phrases or expressions whose meaning is figurative and differs from the literal interpretation of their words.

Euphemism: The use of mild or indirect words or expressions in place of harsh or blunt ones.

Hyperbole: A figure of speech that involves deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect.

Pun: A play on words that exploits different meanings or similar sounds of words, often for humorous or rhetorical effect.

Epigram: A concise and witty statement that conveys an idea, often with a satirical undertone.

Circumlocution: The use of many words to express an idea instead of being concise, often resulting in vagueness or ambiguity.

Onomatopoeia: Words that phonetically imitate or evoke the sound they represent.

Personification: A figure of speech attributing human characteristics or qualities to non-human entities.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of figures of speech. However, it offers a good starting point to understand the different effects and impacts they can create in language usage.

Fig 2. - Figures of speech can bring writing to life!

Now, let's delve into a few common figures of speech and explore them in more detail:

Metaphor in Figure of Speech

A metaphor directly likens one thing to another by stating that the former is the latter. Metaphors have been widely employed across various literary genres. For example, in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1597):

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!"

-Romeo and Juliet, W. Shakespeare, 1597 1

In this instance, Juliet is metaphorically compared to the sun in the line "and Juliet is the sun." This metaphor conveys Romeo's intense love for Juliet by emphasizing her importance and radiant nature, much like the sun.

Oxymoron in Figure of Speech

An oxymoron involves combining contradictory terms to emphasize the meaning of the second word . Here's an example from Alfred Tennyson's Lancelot and Elaine (1870) that contains two oxymorons:

His honour rooted in dishonour stood, and faith unfaithful kept him falsely true."

-A. Tennyson, Lancelot and Elaine, 1870 2

In this example, two oxymorons are present: "faith unfaithful" and "falsely true." Both of these oxymorons serve to depict Lancelot as a paradoxical character, embodying both honor and dishonor, truth and falsehood. The positioning of "unfaithful" and "true" as the concluding words of each oxymoron presents Lancelot as indeed being both of these attributes , forming yet another oxymoron.

Fun fact! The term "oxymoron" itself is an oxymoron. It consists of two words with opposite meanings of Greek origin: oxus (meaning "sharp") and moros (meaning "dull"). Translated directly, "oxymoron" means "sharpdull."

Idiom in Figure of Speech

Idioms are phrases where the literal meaning of the words is entirely different from their figurative or intended meaning. They have been extensively used in literature as well.

The world is an oyster, but you don't crack it open on a mattress!"

-A. Miller, Death of a Salesman, 1949 3

You might be familiar with the phrase "the world is your oyster," which has nothing to do with actual oysters but symbolizes possibilities and opportunities. In Death of a Salesman , Willy Loman employs this idiom and adds a twist by saying, "you don't crack it open on a mattress." Willy addresses his son, Happy, explaining that although life offers numerous opportunities, success requires hard work and effort.

Simile in Figure of Speech

Similes resemble metaphors, but instead of asserting one thing is another, similes establish that one thing is like another. Similes utilize words such as "like" or "as." Consider this example from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868):

...she tried to get rid of the kitten which had scrambled up her back and stuck like a burr just out of reach."

-L.M. Alcott, Little Women, 1868 4

In this excerpt, a character attempts to remove a kitten that has climbed onto her back. The simile "stuck like a burr" describes the difficulty of removing the kitten and the character's discomfort. Burrs are often prickly, hence conveying the idea of the kitten's claws.

Fig 3. - An example of a spiky burr. A burr is a seed or dried fruit covered in hairs, thorns, or hooked spines.

Hyperbole in Figure of Speech

Hyperbole involves deliberate exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally, to emphasize or intensify certain characteristics or emotions. Writers employ hyperbole to underscore the extremity of situations or feelings, be it extreme hunger, size, speed, intelligence, etc. Illustratively, consider this extract from William Goldman's The Princess Bride (1973):

I died that day!"

-W. Goldman, The Princess Bride, 1973 5

Princess Buttercup conveys the immense devastation she experienced following Westley's death at the hands of Dread Pirate Roberts. While she did not physically die, her emotional anguish was so profound that it felt as though a part of her had perished with him. The absence of Westley has left her feeling hollow and devoid of life.

Here are some examples of different figures of speech in literature:

• Metaphor: "Love is a cruel mistress."
• Simile: "She is as lovely as a rose."
• Idiom: "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
• Hyperbole: "I'm so hungry I could eat a chest of drawers!"
• Oxymoron: "pretty ugly", "seriously funny", "clearly confused"
• Irony: (on a rainy day) "What a beautiful day!"
• Euphemism: "He kicked the bucket."
• Metonymy: "Long live the crown!" (referring to a king or queen)
• Pun: "English students have a lot of comma sense."
• Epigram: "With great power comes great responsibility."
• Circumlocution: "There is a possibility that I might potentially have been slightly dishonest." (instead of saying, "I lied")
• Onomatopoeia: "Bang!" "sizzle," "Cuckoo!"
• Personification: "The clouds were angry."
• A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that adds emphasis and meaning to spoken and written language.
• There are various types of figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, puns, hyperbole, idioms, and more.
• Each type of figure of speech creates a distinct effect and impact.
• Figures of speech find utility in both verbal communication and written forms across literary genres.
• Figures of speech have been extensively employed in literature, including works by Shakespeare, plays like Death of a Salesman , and modern novels.

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Home » Career Guidance » Figure of Speech – Importance, Types with Example

Figure of Speech - Importance, Types with Example

Table of Contents

Are you looking to expand your vocabulary and become a more eloquent communicator? Delving into the world of figures of speech is the perfect way to achieve that goal.

This comprehensive guide will explore the question: “What is the importance of figure of speech and how they can elevate your language skills?”. From understanding the different types of figure of speech and their meaning to analyzing, this comprehensive guide will explore the question: “What is the importance of figure of speech and how can they their examples, we will equip you with the knowledge to effectively employ these linguistic devices in your everyday conversations, speeches, and writing.

Whether you’re fascinated by the captivating anaphora figure of speech or enjoy the clever wordplay of lets say, pun figure of speech, this guide will provide you with valuable insights into the significance and application of figures of speech.

What Do You Mean by Figure of Speech?

A term with an implicit meaning that shouldn’t be taken at face value is known as a figure of speech. This indicates that a phrase’s literal meaning is not its true meaning.

Since the majority of types of figure of speech are frequently employed in everyday discourse, native English speakers are highly familiar with them. However, if one doesn’t speak English as their first language, and is unfamiliar with the importance of figures of speech and their meaning, then this is the perfect place!

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘Figures of Speech’ as “a word or phrase used differently from its usual meaning to create a particular mental picture or effect.” Traditionally, these devices have been known to people as poetic devices to analyse the poem.

The figures of speech examples in English would thus be a way of describing more in English but without literally saying it out loud. Thus, using figures of speech with examples, one can speak highly significant phrases and add liveliness, and beauty to speech. One may call them the “ornaments of speech.” 

Some of the examples would be simile figure of speech, or metaphors, images, symbols, and personification which will be discussed in the article.  

Importance of Figure of Speech

One might have come across these readings. But has one wondered which figures of speech have been used by Shakespeare? Let’s dig deeper to understand the importance of several types of speeches with examples:

• Figures of speech within a written text can be used in English speaking to explain something in a more artistic sense.
• It can be in a more beautiful way or even rhetoric or witty!
• They are usually used to compare something, be it a living or non-living object, feeling, etc., which gives advice or creates a less literal description of the examples above.  
• They are used to describe a feeling in a nonliteral way with full attention to the phrase or a particular word which is the figure of speech.
• They provide freshness of expression and clarity of meaning. They also increase our vocabulary skills.  
• The figures of speech with examples enhance the beauty of the writing by giving it a broader meaning while also increasing the reader’s creativity, thereby resonating with the witty or subtle meanings that the writer indicates. It shows the writer’s thoughts and the translator’s mastery of the language.

Recommended Read:

• 7 Innovative Tips to Start a Speech: Captivate Your Audience 
• Master the Art Of Speech Writing

Types of Figure of Speech with Examples 

Here are the different types of speeches with examples:

1. Personification

This figure of speech represents a noun or abstraction as a human form. It creates a language that helps readers feel more connected to the story or makes passages more memorable.

For example – “The moon methinks looks with a watery eye; And when she weeps, weeps every little flower, Lamenting some enforced chastity.” “The ocean roared.”

2. Metaphor

This figure of speech compares two things without using “like” or “as,” conveying a deeper meaning.  

For example, “He is a lion.” “The eyes are the window to the soul.”

Simile figure of speech compares two things using “like” or “as,” explicitly stating the comparison.  

For example, “She shone as bright as the sun.” “She is like a fairy.”

4. Alliteration

Alliteration uses repeated letter sounds to create emphasis and rhythm.

For example, “The high horse hopped along the highway.” “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

5. Hyperbole

This figure of speech involves deliberate exaggeration to convey a deeper meaning or emphasize a point.

For example, “I have a thousand things to do this morning.” “These books weigh a ton.”

6. Onomatopoeia

This figure of speech uses words that imitate the sound they describe, adding sensory effects to the text. 

For example, “The car alarm went beep.” “I can hear the buzzing of the bees.”

7. Euphemism

Euphemism uses agreeable and favorable terms to express something unpleasant or sensitive. 

For example, “He is telling us things as though they were a fairy tale!” (a lie) “And now, the Queen has embraced eternal sleep.” (death)

Irony is a figure of speech that conveys the opposite of what is meant, often used to share a feeling or emotion.

For example, “I love it when I drop my phone, how wonderful.” 

9. Anaphora

Anaphora figure of speech is the repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of sentences or paragraphs, emphasizing a point.  

For example, “Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the wrong day.” “You are not getting well, now, are you?” 

10. Apostrophe

Apostrophe is a figure of speech that directly addresses an inanimate thing or an absent person as if they were present.  

For example, “The woman loved her cat like her own child.” “My poor car has broken down!” 

Pun figure of speech is a witty play on words, often involving multiple meanings or homophones.  

For example, here are pun figure of speech examples sentences: “A boiled egg for breakfast is hard to beat.” “I’ve been to the dentist many times, so I know the drill.”  

12. Paradox

Paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper meaning upon reflection. It engages the reader to discover underlying meanings in conflicting statements.  

For example, “Pen is mightier than the sword.” “Change is the only constant.” 

13. Oxymoron

Oxymoron uses contradictory words to create a positive or intensified meaning.  

For example, “The is pretty ugly.” “You look awfully pretty in that dress.” 

14. Metonymy

Metonymy substitutes a word or phrase for another closely associated with it, often used to refer to a concept or object indirectly.  

For example, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Here, “pen” refers to writing and “sword” refers to military power. 

15. Assonance

Assonance refers to the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, creating an auditory effect.  

For example, “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” “Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.” 

16. Understatement

Understatement is a figure of speech that deliberately makes a situation seem less important than it is, often for ironic or humorous effect.  

For example, “It’s not that big of a deal; I only have to undergo a small open-heart surgery.” “It’s okay not to feel very overwhelmed now that your dog has died.” 

Understanding the importance of figures of speech can help you greatly in terms of your vocabulary. 

Lesser-known Figures of Speech

The Figures Of Speech Class 10 syllabus also has the following lesser-known figures of speech:

1. Synecdoche  

This figure of speech uses a part to represent the whole or the whole to represent a part.  

For example, “I have the Viceroy, love the man.” and “All hands at work.” “Today, I am posting on Facebook about how useless Facebook is.” 

Epigram is a short saying that often uses words with contradictory meanings. It is known for its clarity, brevity, and wit, conveying interesting ideas about life situations, people, emotions, or ideas.  

Examples include “The child is the father of the man” (Wordsworth) and “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” 

Litotes is a figure of speech that uses understatement or negation to express the opposite idea. It is commonly used in novels, plays, and poems.  

For example, “Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks. Within his bending sickle’s compass come” (Shakespeare). 

4. Circumlocution

Circumlocution involves expressing facts or desires indirectly and repetitively instead of stating them directly. It can include sarcastic and uncertain descriptions, often used when the writer is not clear enough or wants to avoid offensive language.  

Examples include “The viewless couriers of the air” and “That statement of his was purely an effort of imagination.” 

5. Pleonasm

Pleonasm or tautology refers to repeating the same fact or idea using different words. It can be used to emphasize a point or as a rhetorical device. Pleonasm is commonly used in poems and prose.  

Examples include “It is the privilege and birthright of every man to own fundamental rights as a citizen” and “I ate a tuna fish sandwich.”

How to Write a Figure of Speech

If you want to add more impact and intrigue to your writing, mastering the art of important figure of speech is essential. Figures of speech are powerful rhetorical devices that allow you to express your thoughts and feelings in unique and captivating ways. In simpler terms, they are tools that give your words an extra dose of colour and allure, attracting and engaging readers or listeners.

The term “figure” can be likened to a drawing or picture. When using figurative language, you paint vivid mental images for your audience, conveying information more swiftly and intensely than plain words alone. This adds depth and meaning to your text, leaving readers wondering and amplifying the vitality of your message. Figures of speech not only reveal your intention as a writer but also explain the deliberate word choices you make, infusing your text with flavor and greatly enhancing the reader’s enjoyment. 

Figurative language, including figures of speech, is widely employed in everyday conversations, popular music, television ads, and timeless literary works such as those by Shakespeare and the Bible. By embracing figurative language, readers and listeners are compelled to unleash their imagination and grasp a deeper understanding beyond the literal interpretation. 

It is crucial to distinguish between literal and metaphorical language. While literal expressions convey exactly what they say, figurative language goes beyond the surface and often holds a deeper meaning. For instance, saying “He moved quickly while running” is a literal expression, but saying “He took off running” is a figure of speech, specifically a simile, comparing his speed to that of the wind.

Also, read: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking Skills

Learning Figure of Speech in English Vocabulary

Understanding figure of speech and their meaning is essential to unlock the richness of the English language. Figures of speech are words or phrases that go beyond their literal definitions, often employing techniques like similes, metaphors, alliteration, and hyperbole to create powerful comparisons and leave a lasting impression. These literary devices are abundant in English and play a vital role in poetry, literature, speeches, and even movie dialogues. In fact, figures of speech permeate almost every aspect of our lives. 

Maintaining a high level of interest and concentration while studying English grammar is crucial. This not only helps you identify and differentiate between different types of figure of speech with ease but also boosts your confidence in using them effectively. 

Explore more about Chegg’s Life Skills for success.  

Frequently Asked Questions

A figure of speech is a literary device that is used to create an atmosphere or to emphasize a point in a story. For instance, “as the saying goes” is a common figure of speech that means something like “in other words.” It can also be used to introduce an explanation for what you said.

There are four basic figures of speech: 1. Metaphor 2. Simile 3. Hyperbole 4. Alliteration

Figure of speech examples are a great way to learn how to use figurative language. They can help one understand how words can be used in different ways, and they allow one to practice them. While reading something, it’s easy to look at the words one by one as one reads. But if one doesn’t have a good idea of what they mean or how they’re used, it’s harder to understand.

Yes, it is. The figure of speech is used to make the language exciting and fun to read. The figures of speech are very useful in writing, as they help one to improve vocabulary understanding, which is one of the most important skills in English. The figure of speech can be used in writing any kind of text, speaking, or reading, either for business or for pleasure. It is one of the most common elements that exist in the English language.

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• English Grammar
• Figures Of Speech

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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Figure of Speech: Examples | What is Figure of Speech?

Marla Alupoaicei is a published author, educator and speaker with over 20 years' experience teaching English, literature, writing and music in Christian and public schools. She has written for Study.com since 2021 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications from Purdue University and a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. Marla is a violinist and has also studied ballet and other forms of dance for many years.

Katie has a Master's degree in English and has taught college level classes for ten years.

Table of Contents

Figures of speech examples, figures of speech types, writing with figures of speech in sentences, lesson summary, what are the definition and examples of a figure of speech.

A figure of speech is a literary device that creates a special effect by using words in a distinctive way. For example, the phrase "falling in love" is a common figure of speech (a metaphor) that compares the experience or feeling of falling with the emotions of being in love.

What is a figure of speech in simple words?

A figure of speech is a non-literal expression that is used to say something in a more colorful, interesting or colloquial way, such as using the term "hitting the hay" to mean "going to sleep."

What are the ten figures of speech?

Look back at the lesson under the heading "Figures of Speech Types" for a more detailed list and explanation of over twenty-five common figures of speech. Some of these include: alliteration, allusion, assonance, consonance, euphemism, hyperbole, irony, personification, metaphor, oxymoron, and simile.

What is a Figure of Speech?

Emma told her best friend, "I'm falling in love with Jake!" But was Emma literally falling? No! She was using a figure of speech .

A figure of speech is a word or phrase used in a non-literal (figurative) sense in order to create a certain rhetorical effect. In other words, a figure of speech is a literary device that creates a special effect by using words in a more colorful, interesting, or distinctive way.

For example, in the English language, "falling in love" is a common figure of speech (a metaphor ) that compares the experience or feeling of falling with the wonderful emotions and the "high" of being in love. So what's a metaphor? Specifically, a metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things without using the words "like" or "as."

A rhetorical device is a linguistic tool that uses a particular type of sentence structure, sound, or pattern of meaning in order to evoke a particular reaction from an audience. Rhetorical devices are used in writing or speaking to construct an argument or to make an existing argument more compelling. Rhetorical devices are loosely grouped into four primary categories:

• Logos-appeals to logic and reason, using statistics, facts, and statements to convince and persuade
• Pathos-appeals to emotions such as sympathy, pity, or anger in order to inspire action or persuade
• Ethos-appeals to ethics and credibility, experience and good judgment
• Kairos-appeals to the concept of time, that "time is of the essence," or that the time has come for a particular idea or action to be taken

Writers and speakers use their knowledge of figures of speech and rhetorical devices to create compelling and persuasive essays, arguments, and speeches.

Figures of speech and idioms help English writers and speakers to describe things in a vivid and interesting way. Idioms are expressions that have a figurative meaning separate from the literal meaning of the words used to make them. Here are some sentences containing figures of speech and idioms:

• I have a billion things to do today. (hyperbole: exaggeration)
• This bread is hard as a rock. (simile: compares two unlike things using the word "like" or "as")
• It's raining cats and dogs outside! (idiom: figurative language used to say that rain is falling heavily)
• Nature's green is gold. (alliteration: repetition of an initial consonant sound; also metaphor: compares two unlike things without using "like" or "as")
• When it comes to decorating, Kristen says, "Less is more." (paradox: a true statement that leads to a contradiction or a situation that defies logic or intuition)

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• 0:01 What Is Figure of Speech?
• 1:29 Types of Figure of Speech
• 5:07 Lesson Summary

The English language includes hundreds of types of figures of speech. Here is a helpful list of some of the best-known types:

• Alliteration: The repetition of an initial consonant sound.
• Allusion: A reference to one work of literature in another work of literature.
• Anaphora: The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses.
• Antithesis: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.
• Apostrophe: Directly addressing a nonexistent person or an inanimate object as though it were a living being.
• Assonance: The identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words.
• Chiasmus: A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.
• Climax: Any use of language that is characterized by a feeling of mounting intensity across three or more successive words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
• Consonance: The repetition of the same consonant sound within a group of words.
• Dysphemism: The use of a somewhat negative or derogatory term for another word, such as the term "snail mail" to refer to the U.S. Postal Service.
• Euphemism: The use of an inoffensive or more socially acceptable term for a term that may be considered offensive, explicit, or impolite, such as "passed away" instead of "died."
• Hyperbole: The use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.
• Irony: The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning, or a statement/situation in which the true meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
• Litotes: An understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.
• Merism: A pair of contrasting words or phrases used to express totality or completeness, such as "body and soul" to mean a whole person.
• Metaphor: An implied comparison between two unlike things that have something in common, such as: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."
• Metonymy: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is substituted for another word that is closely related to it or a word that represents it.
• Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to, such as "buzz," "clap," "bang," 'hum," "pop," "tweet," etc.
• Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear side by side, such as "Civil War" or "jumbo shrimp."
• Paradox: A statement of two things that appear to be contradictory, but are actually both simultaneously true.
• Parallelism: A literary device in which parts of the sentence are grammatically similar or exactly the same in construction.
• Personification: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or quality is given human qualities or abilities.
• Pun: A play on words.
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" between two unlike things that have certain qualities in common, such as: "Amber looks as pretty as a picture in that dress."
• Synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole.
• Understatement: A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is, such as: "Michael Jordan and LeBron James are pretty decent basketball players."

Common Figures of Speech in Conversation

English speakers often use figures of speech and idioms in conversation. Here are a few examples:

• Lena was sad that her friend's father passed away suddenly. (euphemism: "passed away" is used to mean "died")
• I'm bored out of my mind. (hyperbole: exaggeration because I am not literally going crazy or "out of my mind" from boredom)
• Jack sent her a love letter by snail mail. (dysphemism: "snail mail" is used as a negative term to describe the slow speed of the U.S. Postal Service)

Common Figures of Speech in Writing

Figures of speech and idioms are commonly used in everyday writing as well as in great literary works. Here are some examples:

• It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. (metaphor: Romeo is comparing Juliet and her beauty to the sun rising in the east)
• I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse! (hyperbole: exaggeration because I am not literally going to "eat a horse")
• The early bird catches the worm. (idiom: used to mean that a person who wakes up early or takes action early will receive a benefit or "win")

Figures of speech add interest and artistic expression to the written and spoken word. They can also be used for entertainment purposes, to create humor, and to create memorable experiences. Authors, literary figures, and famous speakers often use figures of speech and idioms to say things in unusual, original, and memorable ways that will captivate their audience. As mentioned earlier, figures of speech also are used as rhetorical devices to inspire and persuade people to take a certain course of action.

Figures of speech are non-literal expressions used to bring life, color, and interest to written and spoken English. A figure of speech is all of the following:

• a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense in order to create a certain effect.
• a type of rhetorical device that creates a special effect by using words in a distinctive way.
• a literary expression or idiom that helps writers and speakers add interest and vivid imagery to their writing and speaking.

Common figures of speech include hyperbole, irony, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personification, and simile. "Falling in love" is one example of a common figure of speech (a metaphor) that compares the experience or feeling of falling with the emotional "high" of being in love.

Video Transcript

What is figure of speech.

We spend our days communicating. When you wake up in the morning, you probably check your email or social media. From there, you may have a conversation with your spouse, coworker, or friend. Midday, you may take a phone call or send a text message. In the evening, you may relax by watching television, perhaps even listening to a speech or debate. All of these are types of communication, and they all rely on language.

But what makes language unique and memorable? Often what we remember is the words and descriptions people use. Part of what makes a language memorable is the use of different figures of speech.

What is a figure of speech? A figure of speech is an expression in which the words are not used in their literal sense. For example, if there is a storm outside and you say, 'It is raining cats and dogs,' you do not mean this literally. There are no cats and dogs falling from the sky, but you want to create an image of heavy rain.

When you use a figure of speech in your writing, you are not only giving a more detailed description but making your writing more memorable and vivid. You have probably used figures of speech in your writing or conversations without even realizing it. While there are many different kinds of figures of speech, we will look more closely at the more common ones.

Types of Figure of Speech

A metaphor is a figure of speech where a comparison is made between two unlike things. While the two unlike things look like they have nothing in common, they actually do. You may use a metaphor to connect the comparison to the audience and make it more memorable. For example, if I was to say, 'That person has a heart of darkness,' you would be able to visualize a heart that is black and dark. The description of the person becomes more memorable for you. Some other examples of popular metaphors are: 'a heart of gold,' 'bad apple,' or 'you reap what you sow.'

A simile is a figure of speech where two unlike things are compared using 'like' or 'as.' You may use a simile to explain a relationship or to make your writing more vivid and descriptive. For example, if an author wanted to describe food as bland, he or she could create a more vivid description by writing, 'The chicken is dry like sawdust.' As a reader, you would have a clearer idea of the taste of the chicken. Some popular similes that you may already be familiar are: 'busy as a bee,' 'as blind as a bat,' or 'clean as a whistle.'

Personification is a figure of speech where human characteristics are given to something nonhuman. You would use personification to create imagery or even to set the mood of your paper by creating emotions. For example, you could write, 'The dog danced with joy when he was adopted from the shelter.' Dancing is a human characteristic that is usually seen as joyous or fun. By describing the dog as dancing, we can picture a happy scene and a very happy animal. Some popular personification phrases that you may already have heard are: 'opportunity knocks,' 'time marches to its own beat,' or 'flew off the shelves.'

Hyperbole is a figure of speech where an exaggeration is made. You would use hyperbole when you want to create a larger image or drama in your writing. It is also a good way to emphasize a detail in your writing. For example, you may have heard the phrase 'old as dirt' when describing someone's age. Of course, the person is not as old as dirt, but you are emphasizing the person's age by having the audience picture dirt instead of the individual. Some other hyperboles that you may have heard before include: 'skinny as a toothpick,' 'I told you a million times,' or 'I am so hungry I could eat a horse.'

Euphemism is a figure of speech where inoffensive words are used to replace offensive or harsh ones. You could use euphemism in your writing to create a softer tone when talking about a delicate subject. You may also decide to use them to be sure that you are not offending anyone reading your paper. For example, you may have heard the phrase 'adult beverage' instead of beer or liquor. Some other common euphemisms you may have heard include: 'passed away' instead of died, 'be excused' for going to the bathroom, and 'between jobs' instead of unemployed.

Oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are used together. You could use an oxymoron to emphasize certain qualities, be ironic, or create a more vivid description. Some examples that you may already be familiar with include: 'jumbo shrimp,' 'small crowd,' and 'big baby.'

Communication is a part of our daily lives. A part of our communication is writing. A large part of what makes writing memorable is word choice and details. One way to create more vivid writing is to include figures of speech, which is when you use words that do not mean their literal definition.

While there are many different types of figures of speech, there are some common ones that you may have used in your writing. These include:

• metaphor - a comparison between two unlike things
• simile - a comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'
• personification - giving nonhumans human characteristics
• hyperbole - an exaggeration
• euphemism - where inoffensive words replace offensive ones
• oxymoron - when two contradictory terms are used together

As an author, you may use any of these to make your writing more descriptive, vivid, and memorable.

Learning Outcomes

After watching this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define figure of speech and why it is important in writing
• Identify and describe the different types of figures of speech

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This Father's Day, share a touching message with these 30 dad quotes

No matter the date, it's important to express appreciation and gratitude toward loved ones. But sometimes, the calendar reminds us of an extra special day to honor certain people in our lives.

The third Sunday of June is when we celebrate dads and father figures. Father's Day dates back to 1910 and was created by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, according to the History Channel. Today, the holiday continues Dodd's mission to honor the " loving service " of fathers.

So if you're looking for kind and thoughtful words to share, or write on a card, here are some for this Father's Day.

Father's Day, fatherhood quotes

• "When my father didn't have my hand, he had my back." – Linda Poindexter
• "My mother gave me my drive, but my father gave me my dreams. Thanks to him, I could see a future." – Liza Minnelli
• "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad, and that’s why I call you dad, because you are so special to me." – Wade Boggs
• "When you’re young, you think your dad is Superman. Then you grow up, and you realize he’s just a regular guy who wears a cape." – Dave Attell
• "I feel that the greatest gift that I can give my children is the freedom to be who they are." – Will Smith
• "To her, the name of father was another name for love." – Fanny Fern
• "My father was an amazing man. The older I got, the smarter he got." – Mark Twain
• "I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom." – Umberto Eco , "Foucault’s Pendulum"
• "Dad taught me everything I know. Unfortunately, he didn’t teach me everything he knows." – Al Unser
• "My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." – Clarence B. Kelland
• "I realized being a father is the greatest job I have ever had and the greatest job I will ever have." – Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
• "Great fathers don't find fault. Great fathers find solutions." – Reed Markham
• "What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child - it's the courage to raise one." – President Barack Obama
• "The imprint of a father remains forever on the life of the child." – Roy Lessin
• "The power of dad in a child's life is unmatched." – Justin Ricklefs
• "Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man." – Frank Pittman
• "The nature of fatherhood is that you’re doing something that you’re unqualified to do, and then you become qualified when you do it." – John Green
• "Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventures, story-tellers, and singers of songs." – Pam Brown
• "There's nothing more contagious than the dignity of a father." – Amit Ray , "World Peace: The Voice of a Mountain Bird"
• "What makes a good father? A good father sets an example that his children want to follow. A good father provides for the needs of his children – both material and non-material. A good father demonstrates his love in both words and actions. A good father provides guidance in a positive fashion." –  Rob Kozak , "Finding Fatherhood"
• "The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature." – Antoine François Prévost d'Exiles
• "Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow." –  Reed B. Markham
• "My father had taught me – mostly by example – that if a man wanted to be in charge of his life, he had to be in charge of his problems." – Stephen King , "Joyland"
• "Life doesn't come with an instruction book; that's why we have fathers." – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
• "A father is the one friend upon whom we can always rely." –   Émile Gaboriau
• "The best fathers have the softest, sweetest hearts. In other words, great dads are real marshmallows." – Richelle E. Goodrich , "Slaying Dragons"
• "There's something beautiful about a mothers embrace. And there's something magical about a fathers affirmations." – Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr.
• "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." – Jim Valvano
• "Lately all my friends are worried they're turning into their fathers. I'm worried I'm not." – Dan Zevin
• "Of all the titles that I've been privileged to have, the title of 'dad' has always been the best." – Ken Norton

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