FIGURES OF SPEECH
different consonant sound.
Figures of speech are words
or phrases that depart from
straightforward literal
language. Figures of speech
are often used and crafted
for
emphasis, freshness,
expression, or clarity.
A SIMILE is the comparison of
two unlike things using or like
or as.
He eats like a pig.
You are as pretty as a
picture.
A METAPHOR is the
comparison of two unlike
things or expressions,
sometimes using the verb
“to be,” (am, is, are, was,
were)
and NOT using like or as (as
in a simile).
ALLETIRATION is the repetition
of initial consonant sounds of
neighboring words.
Sally sells seashells by the
seashore.
CONSONANCE - the
recurrence of similar sounds,
especially consonants, in
close proximity
Mike likes his new bike.
It will creep and beep while
you sleep.
Toss the glass, boss.
I dropped the locket in the
thick mud.
An ONOMATOPOEIA is a
word that imitates the sound
it represents.
The chiming of the bells…
The boom of the explosion…
ASSONANCE (ˈasənəns/)
takes place when two or
more words close to one
another repeat the same
vowel sound but start with
A HYPERBOLE is an
exaggeration or an
overstatement.
His feet are as big as boats!
I nearly died laughing!
IRONY
You mean the opposite of
what you said.
Examples:
“Oh great! Now you have
broken my new cellphone.”
The butter is as soft as a
marble piece.
EUPHEMISM
Use of better sounding words
in place of harsh words.
Examples:
You are becoming a little
thin on top. (bald)
He is always tired and
emotional. (drunk)
LITOTES (līdəˌtēz)
States an affirmative by
negating its opposite or
a negative statement is used
to affirm a positive sentiment
Examples:
It wasn’t a terrible trip.
Its not exactly a walk in the
park.
SYNECDOCHE (səˈnekdəkē/)
a part of something
represents the whole or it
may use a whole to
represent a part
Examples:
Lend me your ears.
There are 50,000 mouths to
feed.
Oxymoron
Two contradictory words
appear side by side
Examples:
That’s an open secret!
Oh that’s a tragic comedy.
You are awfully pretty.
METONYMY
replaces the name of a thing
with the name of something
else with which it is closely
associated
Examples:
The pen is mightier than the
sword.
Let me give you a hand.
CHIASMUS (kīˈazməs/)
The second part of an
expression is balanced
against the first with parts
reversed.
Examples:
Never let a fool kiss you or a
kiss fool you.
“You forget what you want
to remember, and you
remember what you want to
forget.”
PERSONIFICATION
human qualities are given to
animals, objects or ideas. In
the
arts, personification means
representing a non-human
thing as if it were human.
Look at my car. She is
a beauty.
The fire swallowed the entire
forest.
APOSTROPHE
Addresses personified
objects as real person, the
absent as they were present
and the dead as if were
alive.
Example:
Ambition you are a cruel
master, I will serve you no
more!