Figurative Language

figurative language is when you describe something by comparing it with

something else. There are few different ways to use figurative language.

Figurative Language examples and its definitions:

1. Simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is likened to another. This
is usually
achieved by the use of the word like or as.
Example:
a. A room without books is like a body without a soul.
b. Perhaps too much of everything is as bad as too little.
2. Metaphor - is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made
between two
unlike things that actually have something
important in common. The word
metaphor itself is a
metaphor, coming from a Greek word meaning to
"transfer" or "carry across." Metaphors "carry" meaning from one
word,
image, or idea to another.
Example:

a. The assignment was a breeze. (This implies that the

assignment was not difficult.)

b. Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies that her voice
makes him feel happy.)

3. Metonymy - is a word or phrase that is used to stand in for another word.

Sometimes a
metonymy is chosen because it is a well-known
characteristic of the word.
Example:

a. The cup is quite tasty. (for a mug)

b. Can you please give me a hand carrying this box up the
stairs? (for help)

4. Synecdoche - is a figure of speech. When used in literature, a

synecdoche will add to the visual imagery of the passage and enhance
the readers experience. It may use an entire
whole thing to
represent a part of it, can use a word or phrase as a class that will
express less or more than the word or phrase actually means, may use
a group of things
that refer to a larger group or use a large
group to refer to a smaller group.
Example:
a. A hospital tried to revive him. (hospital stands in for one of
its parts, the attending physician and health care workers)
b. Give us this day our daily bread. (bread stands in for the
whole, food and perhaps other necessities of life)

5. Paradox - is a statement or a concept that seems to be self-contradictory.

In Logic, a
paradox is a statement that contradicts itself
absolutely. In everyday language, a
paradoxical statement
might only seem contradictory; it could well be sound.
Example:
a. We need to go backwards to go forwards. (Everyday)
b. Everything I say is a lie. (Logic)
6. Innuendo is a subtle or indirect observation about a person or thing,
usually of a
salacious, critical, or disparaging nature; an insinuation.
Example:
a. "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the
terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will
persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have
heard this foolish delusion before."
(President George W. Bush, speech to the members of the
Knesset in Jerusalem, May 15, 2008)
b. "Bush was speaking of appeasement against those who
would negotiate with terrorists. The White House
spokeswoman, with a straight face, claimed the reference
was not to Sen. Barack Obama."
(John Mashek, "Bush, Obama, and the Hitler Card." U.S.
News, May 16, 2008)
7. Personification - is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an
animal is given human
attributes. The non-human objects are
portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like
human beings.
Example:
a. The fire ran wild.
b. The thunder clapped angrily in the distance.
8. Hyperbole - derived from a Greek word meaning over-casting is a figure
of speech, which
involves an exaggeration of ideas for the
sake of emphasis. It is a device that we employ
in our day-to-day
speech. A hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize
the
real situation.
Example:
a. My grandmother is as old as the hills.
b. She is as heavy as an elephant!

9. Irony - pervades contemporary language. Its a large concept, but can be

broken down into
many categories. See below.

Irony Categories:

Situational Irony - may occur when the outcome of a

certain situation is
completely different than what
was initially expected. It is often
referred to as an
irony of events.
Example: A man who is a traffic cop gets his license
suspended for
unpaid parking tickets.

Cosmic Irony - can be attributed to some sort of

misfortune. Usually
cosmic irony is the end
result of fate or chance.
Example: The Titanic was promoted as being 100%
unsinkable; but, in
1912 the ship sank on its
maiden voyage.
Dramatic Irony - occurs when there is miscommunication
in a book, play
or film and the audience is smarter
than the characters.
Example: In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Romeo finds
Juliet in a drugged state and he
thinks she is dead. He kills
himself. When
Juliet wakes up she finds Romeo dead and kills
herself.
Socratic Irony - is most relative in the great world of
academia and is
related to the socratic teaching
method. The Socratic teaching
method
encourages students to think and present opposing
views while the teacher plays ignorant.
Example: A professor never answers questions and does
not explain key
concepts of the course;
however he expects students to come
to class
after having read their assignment, ready to answer
the professor's questions.
Sarcasm - is yet another popular form of irony where the
user intends to
wittily attack or make a derogatory
statement about something
or someone. Often,
sarcasm is confused with irony instead of
being a
recognized form of irony.
Example: A beautiful actress walked by a table of talent
agents as one
said there goes a good time
that was had by all. The talent
agent said the

phrase referring to the young actress

extracurricular activities with fellow talent agents. It was a
derogatory statement, yet created with wit.
10.
Litotes - derived from a Greek word meaning simple, is a figure of
speech which employs
an understatement by using double
negatives or, in other words, positive statement is
expressed by
negating its opposite expressions.
Example:

a. He is not the cleverest person I have ever met.

b. You are not doing badly at all.

11. Idioms - The term refers to a set expression or a phrase comprising two
or more words. An
interesting fact regarding the device is that the
expression is not interpreted literally.
The phrase is understood
as to mean something quite different from what individual
words
of the phrase would imply. Alternatively, it can be said that the phrase is
interpreted in a figurative sense. Further, idioms vary in
different cultures and countries.
Example:

a. Bite your tongue (to avoid talking)

b. Head over heels (very excited or joyful, especially when in
love)
c. Hit the book (to study, especially for a test or exam)
d. Over my dead body (when you absolutely will not allow
something to happen)
e. Tie the knot (to get married)

Submitted by:

Faiz L. Calandada
BSCE-I