Figures of Speech Lesson: Definitions & Examples

Lesson Overview

• What Are Figures of Speech?
• Simile (Comparing with "Like" or "As")
• Metaphor (Direct Comparisons without "Like" or "As")
• Personification – Making Non-Humans Act Human
• Hyperbole (Extreme Exaggeration!)
• Alliteration (Same Starting Sound)
• Onomatopoeia (Sound Words)
• Oxymoron (Opposites Next to Each Other)
• Euphemism (Polite or Gentle Words)
• Antithesis (Opposite Ideas Side by Side)
• Anaphora (Repeating Phrases for Emphasis)
• Polysyndeton (Lots of Conjunctions (and Ands!)
• Synecdoche (A Part Represents the Whole)

Figures of speech are special ways of using words to create imagery, emphasis, or comparisons. Writers, poets, and everyday speakers use them to make their words more interesting, vivid, and powerful. Let's learn more about them and how to use them.

What Are Figures of Speech?

Figures of Speech are creative expressions that don't mean exactly what the words say. They are used to compare, exaggerate, or make readers imagine things in a cool way. Authors use them to paint pictures with words or to emphasize ideas.

For example, if I say "it's raining cats and dogs," I don't mean animals are falling from the sky – I'm using a figure of speech to show it's raining very hard!

Simile (Comparing with "Like" or "As")

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." It's like saying one thing is similar to another. We often use similes to describe something by comparing it to something else we know.

Examples of Similes:

• "The baby is as cute as a button." (We're comparing a baby's cuteness to a small, cute button. Of course, a baby isn't really a button, but this simile means the baby is very cute!)

• "My backpack felt like a bag of bricks." (It compares the weight of the backpack to heavy bricks, showing it's really heavy.)

• "He ran as fast as lightning." (No one can actually run as fast as light, but this simile means he ran very fast.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "Which figure of speech compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'?"
• Answer: Simile

Metaphor (Direct Comparisons without "Like" or "As")

A metaphor also compares two unlike things, but it does it without using "like" or "as". Instead of saying something is like something else, a metaphor says it is something else to make a creative point. Metaphors are a bit stronger than similes because they directly link the two ideas.

Examples of Metaphors:

• "Time is a thief." (Time isn't actually a person, but calling time a thief suggests that time can steal moments of our lives, just like a thief steals things. This helps us feel how quickly moments can be lost.)

• "The classroom was a zoo during the party." (The classroom isn't literally a zoo, but this metaphor means it was chaotic and noisy, like a bunch of wild animals were there!)

• "My pillow is a fluffy cloud." (This means my pillow is very soft and comfy, as if I'm resting on a cloud.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What figure of speech compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'?"
• Answer: Metaphor

Personification – Making Non-Humans Act Human

Personification is a figure of speech where we give human qualities to animals, objects, or ideas. It's like making a non-human thing act like a person. This makes descriptions more lively and can show emotions or relationships between things in a story.

Examples of Personification:

• *"The *wind whispered through the trees." (Wind can't really whisper, but this suggests the sound of the wind in the leaves was soft and gentle, like a whisper.)

• "My old computer hates me." (Computers don't have feelings, but saying it hates me is a funny way to complain that it's not working properly or is always against me!  It gives the computer a human feeling.)

• "The sun smiled down on us." (The sun isn't a person and can't smile, but this personification means the sun was shining warmly and happily.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What figure of speech gives human characteristics to something non-human?"
• Answer: Personification

Hyperbole (Extreme Exaggeration!)

Hyperbole (pronounced hy-PER-buh-lee) is a big exaggeration. We use hyperbole when we want to emphasize something or be funny by stretching the truth a lot. It's not meant to be taken literally (seriously) – it's an obvious overstatement to make a point.

Examples of Hyperbole:

• "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" (No one can really eat a whole horse. This hyperbole just means I am very hungry.)

• "We have a ton of homework." (You can't actually measure homework in tons like rocks. This means we have a lot of homework.)

• "Mom told me to clean my room a million times!" (If you count, it probably wasn't a million. This just stresses that Mom told me over and over to clean up. It feels like a million times!)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "Which figure of speech uses extreme exaggeration for effect?"
• Answer: Hyperbole

Quick! Only 1% Can Score 100% in This Quiz:

Alliteration (Same Starting Sound)

Alliteration is a playful figure of speech that deals with sound. It's when multiple words in a row start with the same sound or letter. Poets and tongue twisters often use alliteration because it gives a rhythm or a fun sound to the sentence.

Examples of Alliteration:

• "Sally sells seashells by the seashore." (Notice many words start with the "S" sound. It's a classic tongue twister and a great example of alliteration!)

• "The big brown bear baked bread." (Lots of B's! It makes the sentence fun to say and easy to remember.)

• "Dunkin' Donuts" or "Mickey Mouse" (These names are examples of alliteration in real life – both words start with the same sound.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What is the figure of speech where multiple words start with the same sound?"
• Answer: Alliteration

Onomatopoeia (Sound Words)

Onomatopoeia (pronounced on-uh-mah-tuh-PEE-uh) is a fancy word for something very simple: words that imitate sounds. In onomatopoeia, the word sounds like the thing it describes. These are often sound effects written out.

Examples of Onomatopoeia:

• "The bees went buzz around the garden." ("Buzz" sounds like the noise bees make!)

• "The thunder boomed in the night." ("Boom" sounds like a loud crash of thunder.)

• "I could hear the pop of popcorn in the microwave." ("Pop" sounds like the noise the corn makes when it bursts.)

• Comic book sounds: "bang!" "splash!" "zoom!" "meow!" – these are all onomatopoeic words because they sound like what they mean (a bang sound, a splash in water, a racing zoom, a cat's meow).

Mini Quiz

• Question: "Which figure of speech uses words that imitate sounds?"
• Answer: Onomatopoeia

Oxymoron (Opposites Next to Each Other)

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts two opposite or contradictory words together in one phrase. This might sound strange at first – why put opposites together? It's done on purpose to create a special effect or a new, intriguing meaning. Oxymorons often catch our attention because they are surprising or humorous.

Examples of Oxymorons:

• "Jumbo shrimp." (Jumbo means huge, shrimp are small – put together, this phrase humorously refers to very large shrimp. It's a classic oxymoron used in food menus.)

• "Bittersweet." (Bitter and sweet are opposite tastes, but together they describe a feeling or taste that is both happy and sad, or sweet with a hint of sadness – like dark chocolate can taste bittersweet.)

• "Deafening silence." (If something is deafening, it's so loud it could make you deaf; silence means completely quiet. How can silence be loud? This oxymoron means the silence was extremely intense – so noticeable that it felt "loud" in its own way. It emphasizes how unnaturally quiet something was.)

• "Pretty ugly." (Pretty usually means nice or attractive, and ugly means not attractive. Saying someone or something is "pretty ugly" humorously means it's very ugly – as if it's ugly by a considerable amount. This one is often used jokingly.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What figure of speech places two contradictory (opposite) words together?"
• Answer: Oxymoron

Euphemism (Polite or Gentle Words)

A euphemism is a softer or more polite way to say something that might be harsh, uncomfortable, or too direct. We use euphemisms to be more gentle with our words, especially about subjects that might upset or embarrass people. Think of it as a nice rewording.

Examples of Euphemisms:

• "Passed away" instead of "died." (This is a common euphemism. Saying someone passed away sounds gentler and more respectful than saying died.)

• "Let go" or "downsized" instead of "fired from a job." (These phrases soften the blow of losing a job by not using the harsh word "fired.")

• "On the heavier side" instead of "fat." (This is a polite way to describe someone's weight without using a word that could hurt feelings. We choose kinder words.)

• "Using the restroom" instead of "using the toilet" or "going to pee." (We often use a polite phrase like restroom in public or formal settings because it sounds nicer.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What is the term for using a mild or indirect word instead of a direct or harsh one?"
• Answer: Euphemism

Your Results Might Surprise You! Take the Quiz:

Antithesis (Opposite Ideas Side by Side)

Antithesis is a figure of speech that puts two opposite ideas in the same sentence (or in close together sentences) to create a contrasting effect. It's like showing two very different sides of one concept. This is often used in famous sayings and speeches to make people think about how something can have two contrasting aspects.

Examples of Antithesis:

• "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." (This famous line by Charles Dickens contrasts best and worst times. It shows that during that era, some things were very good and some were very bad, existing together. The opposite words best and worst in one sentence really make you notice the contrast.)

• "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." (Astronaut Neil Armstrong said this when he walked on the moon. Small vs giant are opposites. This antithesis emphasizes that while his step on the moon was physically small, it was a huge achievement for all humanity. The contrast makes the message inspiring and clear.)

• "Many are called, but few are chosen." (This proverb contrasts many vs few. It means a lot of people might start or be invited, but only a few get the final honor. The opposite ideas stress the meaning.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "Which figure of speech contrasts two opposite ideas in the same sentence?"
• Answer: Antithesis

Anaphora (Repeating Phrases for Emphasis)

Anaphora (pronounced uh-NAF-er-uh) is a nifty figure of speech where the same word or group of words is repeated at the start of two or more lines or sentences in a row. This repetition is used for emphasis and rhythm, almost like a catchy drumbeat in a song. It makes the message more powerful and memorable.

Examples of Anaphora:

• "I have a dream... I have a dream... I have a dream..." (In Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech, he started several sentences with "I have a dream". By repeating this phrase, he strongly emphasized his vision and hope for the future. The audience remembers those words because of the repetition. This is a classic example of anaphora in action.)

• "Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better." (Here, "every" is a repeated word at the start of phrases. It stresses how often or continuously something is happening. It gives a rhythmic, poetic feel.)

• "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail." (This quote from a political speech repeats "we will not" at the beginning of each clause. The repetition drives home the determination and makes the message memorable.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What figure of speech repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses?"
• Answer: Anaphora

Polysyndeton (Lots of Conjunctions (and Ands!)

Polysyndeton (pronounced paul-ee-SIN-dih-tahn) is a fancy term for a simple idea: using lots of conjunctions (like "and", "or", "but") in a row, more than you usually need. "Poly" means many, and "syndeton" relates to binding or joining. So it literally means many connectors. Instead of a normal list with commas, polysyndeton uses and or other conjunctions repeatedly.

Examples of Polysyndeton:

• "I have math homework and science homework and reading homework and a project to do all in one night!" (Normally, we'd say "math, science, and reading homework, plus a project." But here we keep saying and to stress how much homework there is. You can almost feel the list growing with each and – it sounds overwhelming!)

• "At the party, we ate cake and pizza and ice cream and candy and popcorn until we were stuffed." (So many ands! This polysyndeton makes it sound like the feast was never-ending. It also gives a playful, excited tone, like the person is breathlessly recounting all the goodies.)

• "He ran and jumped and laughed and played in the sun." (Repeating and here highlights every single action, making it feel like the energy just kept going. It emphasizes how active he was.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "Which figure of speech deliberately uses too many conjunctions in a row?"
• Answer: Polysyndeton

Synecdoche (A Part Represents the Whole)

Synecdoche (pronounced sih-NEK-duh-kee) is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole thing (or sometimes the whole stands for a part). It might sound complex, but we actually use this in everyday language sometimes without realizing!

Examples of Synecdoche:

• "All hands on deck!" (This is a classic example. Hands is just a part of people (their bodies). When a ship captain says this, they don't just want the crew's hands – they want all the people on deck to help. "Hands" represents the whole crew. This phrase means everyone should get to work.)

• "Nice wheels!" (Here, "wheels" refers to a car. Wheels are just part of a car, but if someone says "I like your wheels," they mean "I like your car." They're using the part (wheels) to stand for the whole car. This is a casual, slangy synecdoche you might hear.)

• "We need to do a head count," or "We have 100 heads in the audience." (Counting "heads" means counting people. We use "head" – part of a person – to mean an entire person. This is another example of part-for-whole.)

• (Whole for part example) "The school won the championship," (Here, "school" refers to the school's team or the students, not the building. We used the whole entity – school – to represent a part of it – the team. This is the less common reverse type of synecdoche.)

Mini Quiz

• Question: "What figure of speech uses a part to represent the whole?"
• Answer: Synecdoche