Figure of Speech Examples

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that has a meaning something

different than its literal meaning. It can be ametaphor or simile that is
designed to further explain a concept. Or, it can be a different way of
pronouncing a word or phrase such as with alliteration to give further
meaning or a different sound.

Examples of Figures of Speech

Using Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of beginning sounds. Examples are:

Sally sells seashells.

Walter wondered where Winnie was.
Blue baby bonnets
Nick needed notebooks.
Fred fried frogs.

Using Anaphora
Anaphora is a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the
same word or words. Examples are:

I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar

Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! King John - William
Shakespeare
We laughed, we loved, we sang
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right,
- Abraham Lincoln
We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. - Winston Churchill

Using Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together.
Examples are:

A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore
(Poe)
E - Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee (Coleridge)
I - From what Ive tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire
(Frost)
O - Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn (Wordsworth)
U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)

Using a Euphemism

Euphemism is a word or phrase that replaces a word or phrase to make it

more polite or pleasant. Examples are:

A little thin on top instead of bald

Homeless instead of bum
Letting him go instead of fired him
Passed away instead of died
Put to sleep instead of euthanize

Using Hyperbole
Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Examples are:

Ive told you a hundred times

It cost a billion dollars
I could do this forever
She is older than dirt
Everybody knows that

Using Irony
Irony is using words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual
meaning. Examples are:

After begging for a cat and finally getting one, she found out she was
allergic.
A traffic cop gets suspended for not paying his parking tickets.
The Titanic was said to be unsinkable.
Dramatic irony is knowing the killer is hiding in a closet in a scary
movie.
Naming a Chihuahua Brutus

Using Metaphor
Metaphor compares two unlike things or ideas. Examples are:

Heart of stone
Time is money
The world is a stage
She is a night owl
He is an ogre

Using Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it is describing. Examples are:

Whoosh
Splat
Buzz
Click

Oink

Using Oxymoron
Oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together. Examples are:

Peace force
Kosher ham
Jumbo shrimp
Small crowd
Free market

Using Personification
Personification is giving human qualities to non-living things or ideas.
Examples are:

The flowers nodded

Snowflakes danced
Thunder grumbled
Fog crept in
The wind howled

Using Simile
Simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or
"as." Examples are:

As slippery as an eel
Like peas in a pod
As blind as a bat
Eats like a pig
As wise as an owl

Using Synecdoche
Synecdoche is when a part represents the whole or the whole is represented
by a part. Examples are:

Wheels - a car
The police - one policeman
Plastic - credit cards
Coke - any cola drink
Army - a soldier

Using Understatement
Understatement is when something is said to make something appear less
important or less serious. Examples are:

It's just a scratch - referring to a large dent

It is sometimes dry and sandy - referring to the driest desert in the

world

The weather is a little cooler today - referring to sub-zero temperatures

I wont say it was delicious - referring to terrible food

The tsunami caused some damage - referring to a huge tsunami

These examples of figures of speech were selected to show a wide variety of
types of words.

10 Basic Figures of Speech - An Easy Guide

By Rakesh Ramubhai Patel

Submitted On November 07, 2008

The use of figure of speech in creative writing gives ideas or sentiments

a unique perspective. It involves a deviation from the more commonly
used form of word order or sentence construction. Writers usually
employ such figures of speech embellish their composition.
This article is attempted to throw light on various figures of speech that
will help you realize how you can craft your writing to meet your
expectations.
1. Simile
It is a specific comparison made by means words such as "like" or "as"
between two kinds of objects. "Reason is to faith as the eye to the
telescope", an example of simile.
2. Metaphor
It uses a word or phrase denoting one kind of idea in place of other word
or phrase in order to suggest a likeness between the two.
3. Anticlimax
It involves a series of ideas that suddenly diminish in importance at the
end of a sentence or passage. It is used to bring satirical effect.
4. Antithesis
It is a juxtaposition of two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences

contrasted in meaning to offer emphasis to contrasting ideas. "To err is

human, to forgive divine", is a fine example of antithesis.
5. Climax
It is an arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences in the order of their
significance. The least powerful comes first and the others. "It is an
outrage to bind a Roman citizen; it is a crime to scourge him; it is almost
parricide to kill him; but to crucify him-what shall I say of this?" This
particular example rightly tells what climax means.
6. Conceit
It is an elaborate and often extravagant metaphor. It makes an analogy
between totally dissimilar things. The term originally means concept or
idea. Conceits were widely used in the 17th-century metaphysical poetry.
In "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", John Donne uses it where the
image of the joined arms of a pair of compasses is used to demonstrate
the attachment of a pair of lovers; even when one makes s move, the
two are attached closely being one.
7. Euphemism
It involves substitution of an inoffensive term or phrase for one that has
coarse or sordid unpleasant associations, for instance in the use of
words like "toilet" for "lavatory", and "pass away" for "die".
8. Hyperbole
It is a form of inordinate exaggeration. It means a person or thing is
portrayed as being better or worse than the actual one. For example,
"Dr. Jonathan drank his tea in oceans".
9. Irony
It is humorous or lightly sarcastic mode of speech. Words are used here
to convey a meaning contrary to their literal meaning.
10. Personification
It involves representation of inanimate or abstract ideas as living beings.
The sentence, "Necessity is the mother of invention" can help you make
out this idea better.

The close study of these figures of speech will help you understand the
sense of crafting your ideas and imagination in creating fine piece of
literature, poetry or other mode of writing.
Rakesh Patel is Assistant Professor (GES Class-II) & Head, Dept. of
English at Govt. Arts and Commerce College, Ahwa-Dangs, Gujarat. A
corpus of creative writings and research papers have appeared in some
leading journals and magazines of India and abroad finds his efficiency
in writing on various topics like English literature, and education.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?
expert=Rakesh_Ramubhai_Patel
Figure of Speech

The Figure of Speech is departure from the ordinary form of expression, or the ordinary
course of ideas in order to produce a greater effect.
Figure-of-Speech may be classified as under:
1. Those based on resemblance

Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Apostrophe

2. Those based on Contrast:

Antithesis
Epigram
3. Those based on Association:
Metonymy
Synecdoche
4. Thos depending on Construction:
Climax
Anticlimax
Let us see one by one.

SIMILE:
In Simile, a comparison is made between two object of different kinds which have at least
one point in common.
The Simile is introduced by the word asas.
Examples:

As
As
As
As
As
As
As
As
As
As

active as quicksilver
afraid as a grasshopper
ageless as the sun
agile as a cat
agile as a monkey
alert as a bird
alike as two peas
alone as a leper
alone as Crusoe
ambitious as the devil

This Figure-of-Speech is widely used by us in our writings.

NOTE:

SIMILES

METAPHOR:
A Metaphor is an implied Simile. It does not, like a Simile, state that one thing is like
another or acts as another, but takes that for granted and proceeds as if two things were
one.
Thus when we say, He fought as fiercely as a lion, it is Simile.
But when we say, He was a lion in the fight, it is Metaphor.
Examples:

The camel is the ship of the desert.

Life is a dream.
The news was a dragger to his heart.
Revenge is a kind of wild justice.

NOTE:
Every SIMILE can be compressed into a METAPHOR, and Every METAPHOR can be expanded
into a SIMILE.
Examples:
Richard fought as fiercely as a loin. (Simile)
Richard was a lion in the fight. (Metaphor)
The waves thundered on the shore. (Metaphor)
The waves broke on the shore with noise like a thunder.
This Figure-of-Speech is also widely used by us in our writings.
PERSONIFICATION:
In Personification, inanimate objects and abstract notions are spoken of as having life and
intelligence.
Examples:
Death lays its icy hands on King.
Pride goes forth on horseback, grand and gay.
Laughter is holding her both sides.
APOSTROPHE:
An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or
idea. This figure is a special form of Personification.
Examples:

Milton! You should not be living at this hour.

Friend! I know not which way I must look for comfort.
Roll on! Thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll.
Death! Where is thy sting? O Grave! Where is thy victory?

This Figure-of-Speech is also widely used by us in our writings.

HYPERBOLE:
In Hyperbole, a statement is made emphatic by overstatement.
Examples:
Why, man, if the river is dry, I am able to fill it with tears.
Hmalet! You have not cleft my heart in twain.
EUPHEMISM:

Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name.

Examples:
You are telling me a fairy tale. (You are telling me lies)
He is gone to heaven. (He is dead)
This Figure-of-Speech is also widely used by us in our writings.
ANTITHESIS:
In Antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same
sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.
Examples:

Man proposes, but God disposes.

Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.
Speech is silver, but Silence is Gold.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
To err is human, but to forgive on divine.

OXYMORON:
Oxymoron is special type of Antithesis, whereby two contradictory qualities are predicted at
once of the same thing.
Examples:

She accepted it as the kind cruelty of surgeons knife.

His honor rooted in dishonor stood.
Faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.
So innocent arch, so cunningly simple.

Oxymorons

EPIGRAM:
An Epigram is a brief pointed saying frequently introducing antithetical ideas which excite
surprise and arrest attention.
Examples:

The child is the father of the man.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
In the midst of life, we are in death.
Art lies in concealing art.
He makes no friend who never made a foe.
A man can not be too careful in the choice of his enemies.
The proper study of mankind is man.

IRONY:
Irony is made of speech in which the real meaning is exactly the opposite of that which is
literally conveyed.
Examples:
No doubts but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
This Figure-of-Speech is also widely used by us in our writings.

10 types of figure of speech?

EDIT
Answered by The Community
1. Simile
It is a specific comparison made by means words such as "like" or
"as" between two kinds of objects. "Reason is to faith as the eye to
the telescope", an example of simile.
2. Metaphor
It uses a word or phrase denoting one kind of idea in place of other
word or phrase in order to suggest a likeness between the two.
3. Anticlimax
It involves a series of ideas that suddenly diminish in importance at
the end of a sentence or passage. It is used to bring satirical effect.
4. Antithesis
It is a juxtaposition of two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences
contrasted in meaning to offer emphasis to contrasting ideas. "To err
is human, to forgive divine", is a fine example of antithesis.
5. Climax
It is an arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences in the order of
their significance. The least powerful comes first and the others. "It
is an outrage to bind a Roman citizen; it is a crime to scourge him; it

is almost parricide to kill him; but to crucify him-what shall I say of

this?" This particular example rightly tells what climax means.
6. Conceit
It is an elaborate and often extravagant metaphor. It makes an
analogy between totally dissimilar things. The term originally means
concept or idea. Conceits were widely used in the 17th-century
metaphysical poetry. In "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", John
Donne uses it where the image of the joined arms of a pair of
compasses is used to demonstrate the attachment of a pair of
lovers; even when one makes s move, the two are attached closely
being one.
7. Euphemism
It involves substitution of an inoffensive term or phrase for one that
has coarse or sordid unpleasant associations, for instance in the use
of words like "toilet" for "lavatory", and "pass away" for "die".
8. Hyperbole
It is a form of inordinate exaggeration. It means a person or thing is
portrayed as being better or worse than the actual one. For
example, "Dr. Jonathan drank his tea in oceans".
9. Irony
It is humorous or lightly sarcastic mode of speech. Words are used
here to convey a meaning contrary to their literal meaning.
10. Personification
It involves representation of inanimate or abstract ideas as living
beings. The sentence, "Necessity is the mother of invention" can
help you make out this idea better.

ILOVEYOU KAYA MO YAN -REINY

G!