Phrases with word figurative speech

Figurative Language: The word comes from the French word Figurative, which means metaphorical. So, figurative language means phrasing the words or the sentences in a way beyond the real meaning to establish a meaning beyond. They are used for colouring up your sentences. They tone your writings.

For understanding it better, one can maintain a figurative language list, as understanding it better plays a vital role in reading.

One can also maintain a sheet of figurative language meanings with examples. We come across a lot of metaphors while reading or doing works related to reading or writing. Sometimes students have to study figurative language. They can do this by making or studying figurative language worksheets. It will help them keep things in mind if they practice the worksheets again and again.

Figure Of Speech in English is words or phrases that change the ordinary language into unique ones. There are almost thirty types. Unfortunately, getting examples for every 30 types are not possible. So, we will discuss the most used Figure of Speech in a Sentence.

• Uses of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech
• List of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech
• Description of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech
• Examples of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech
• Uses of Figurative Language in Literature/Figure of Speech

Uses of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech

There are many uses of figurative language. Like,

• In comparing two different ideas for acknowledging the meaning of the one idea.
• Describing the ideas which are difficult in understanding.
• Sometimes helping in making connections.
• It helps a lot in influencing the audience.
• It shows more intense emotions.
• In drawing out the feelings written in words.
• Making everything easier to imagine.

Types of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech

Lots of figurative languages are present therein modern write-ups. Although five of them are the most used, they are Metaphor, Personification, Simile, Symbolism, Hyperbole. We will talk about the most used twenty-five types.

• Simile
• Metaphor
• Alliteration
• Personification
• Symbolism
• Hyperbole
• Idiom
• Metonymy
• Assonance
• Cliché
• Synecdoche
• Onomatopoeia
• Apostrophe
• Transferred Epithets
• Euphemism
• Irony or sarcasm
• Pun
• Epigram
• Antithesis
• Oxymoron
• Litotes
• Interrogation
• Exclamation
• Climax
• Circumlocution
• Tautology

Description of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech

Simile

A simile means a comparison between two things directly, using ‘like’ and ‘as’.

Metaphor

A metaphor means comparing two things, which don’t have to be necessarily similar or alike. But they have to make an imaginary link in the reader’s mind while reading it.

Alliteration

An alliteration means repeating the sound of the first or second word from a series of words or a great sentence. It helps in attracting the reader’s attention.

Personification

A Personification means giving human qualities to a non-human creature or thing to spice the sentences up.

Symbolism

A symbolism means something with an entirely different meaning being used as something that has another meaning. They create magical links in the reader’s mind.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole means exaggeration of something or an entire phrase with humour in a sentence.

Idiom

An idiom means an expression that usually gets used by a particular number of people or a group of people and can only be understood by common uses.

Metonymy

A metonymy means a speech where another word replaces a word with an almost similar meaning or is associated with another.

Assonance

Assonance means repeating vowel sounds in sentences.

Cliché

A cliché means the words or phrases used so many times that they’re meaningless.

Synecdoche

A synecdoche means a type of speech in which a word or two represent an entire meaning. Thus, you can make the readers understand a whole meaning by using one word or two.

Onomatopoeia

An onomatopoeia means words that can imitate the sound that the writer wants the word to make.

Apostrophe

An apostrophe means an address to an inanimate or non-living thing as a living thing or addressing an absent person as if they are present.

Transferred Epithets

A transferred epithet means transferring the objects into something else, and it can be from persons to things or something else.

Euphemism

A euphemism means converting disagreeable or unpleasant events into agreeable and pleasant forms.

Irony or sarcasm

Irony or sarcasm means using a different word to describe something entirely different. The real meaning and the intended meaning are different here.

Epigram

An epigram concludes words that are contradictory to each other.

Antithesis

An antithesis means a contrast of words being made in a single sentence.

Oxymoron

An oxymoron means a combination of two contradictions to create a sharper effect.

Litotes

A litotes means conveying an affirmative by negations of the opposites. It is the exact opposite of Hyperbole.

Interrogation

An interrogation means agreeing or denying something strongly, more than the ordinary language.

Exclamation

An exclamation means sentences which we use to express strong emotions.

Climax

A climax means a series of ideas which we use to increase the importance of specific things.

Circumlocution

A circumlocution means expressing ideas in roundabout ways.

Tautology

A tautology means repeating the same things in different words or ways.

Examples of Figurative Language/Figure of Speech

Simile

1. She was as brave as a tigress.
2. Watching Tomson play is like watching a tornado take down everything it can.

Metaphor

1. The room was a fish market.
2. She called her a night owl.

Alliteration

1. Go and gather the green leaves and the grapes.
2. Rama started running right when she realised she was running round and round.

Personification

1. The wind was howling.
2. The alarm clock started yelling.

Symbolism

1. Saffron, white and green symbolises Indian patriotism.
2. Rupee symbolises Indian money.

Hyperbolic

1. She is as old as the sun.
2. She’s as tall as a light post.

Idiom

1. Burn your bridges (Doing something in a way that it makes impossible to go back to its natural form.)
2. Left out (Being ignored.)

Metonymy

1. Heart (To refer to all the emotions)

Example: You have all my heart.

1. Dish (To refer an entire plate full of food items)

Example: She cooks the best Indian dishes.

Assonance

1. Dumb luck.
2. Good night, sleep tight.

Cliché

1. All that glitters is not diamond.
2. Read between the lines.

Synecdoche

1. We commonly refer to cow milk when we use ‘milk’ where there are other milk sources, like goat milk and coconut milk.
2. We refer to almost every cold drink commonly when we use ‘coke’ with a specific brand name.

Onomatopoeia

1. Dribble (Water sound)
2. (Laughter sound)

Apostrophe

1. I’m planning to own a farmhouse someday.
2. Oh, my lord!

Transferred Epithets

1. Sleepless nights.
2. Suicidal clouds.

Euphemism

1. Passed away.
2. Putting down.

Irony or sarcasm

1. A pilot was frightened of heights.
2. “Do you want help?”

-“No, thanks.”

Epigram

1. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Jesus Christ)
2. “Live simply, so that others may simply live.” (Mother Teresa)

Antithesis

1. “Man proposes, God disposes.”
2. “Slavery is the antithesis of freedom.”

Oxymoron

1. Open secret.
2. Good.

Litotes

1. Not unlike.
2. It’s not the cheapest.

Interrogation

1. A homeschool inspection is not an interrogation.
2. We will find him and take him for interrogation.

Exclamation

1. We can’t wait to go to the museum!
2. That news story made them so sad!

Climax

1. To infinity and beyond!
2. If I think it’s bad, it just gets worse.

Circumlocution

1. Holy mother of Jesus!
2. What the hell!

Tautology

1. It was like déjà vu there.
2. Our nation should come together to unite.

Uses of Figurative Language in Literature/Figure of Speech

Simile

“She entered with an ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop.”

(The Adventure of The Three Gables by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Metaphor

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

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

Alliteration

“And we beseech you, bend you to remain here, in the cheer and comfort of our eye, Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.”

(Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

Personification

“Once there was a tree

And she loved the little boy.

And every day, the boy would come

And he would gather her leaves

And make them into crowns and play king of the forest.”

(The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein)

Symbolism

The golden snitch symbolises the spiritual enlightenment every ‘seeker’ seeks.

(Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)

Hyperbole

“It’s a slow burg- I spent a couple of weeks there one day.”

(The People, Yes by Carl Sandburg)

Idiom

“Love is blind.”

(The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer)

Metonymy

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I come to bury Caesar, not praise him.”

(Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare)

Assonance

“A lanky, six-foot, pale boy with an active Adam’s apple.”

(Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov)

Cliché

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

Synecdoche

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”

(Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare)

Onomatopoeia

“.. As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.”

(The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe)

Apostrophe

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

(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

Transferred Epithets

“Shining morning face”

(All The World’s A Stage by William Shakespeare)

Euphemism

“You are a manipulator.”

(Lover Eternal, J. R. Ward)

Irony or sarcasm

“What were you doing under our window, boy?’

‘Listening to the news,’ said.

(Order of Phoenix by J. K. Rowling)

Epigram

“The child is the father of the man.”

(William Wordsworth)

Antithesis

“It was the best of times, and it was the worst of time.”

(A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)

Oxymoron

“A terrible beauty is born.”

(Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats)

Litotes

“I am no prophet, and here’s no great matter.”

(The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock by Thomas Stearns Eliot)

Interrogation

“What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”

(Harlem by Langston Hughes)

Exclamation

“But O for the touch of a vanished hand,

And the sound of a voice this is still!”

(Break, Break, Break by Alfred Tennyson)

Climax

The write-up “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly tells the story of Dr Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a nameless monster. The monster escapes from his lab and initially tries to befriend humans but becomes angrier when they reject him.

Finally, he makes up his mind and goes back to Frankenstein and asks him to make him a wife so he won’t have to be alone for his entire life; this part is the climax.

Circumlocution

“I was within a hair’s breadth of the last opportunity for pronouncement, and I found with humiliation that probably I would have nothing to say.”

(The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde)

Tautology

“That is a living, working reality! Now I am confident that you gentlemen will review, without passion, the evidence that you have heard, come to a decision and restore this man to his family.”

(To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

To conclude, we can say that figurative language is used to describe or contradict something else. The ways and examples are already a part of this blog to help you with. We hope this blog answered all your questions regarding the given topic and helped you.

Figurative meaning is commonly conveyed by phrases as well as by words

THE NATURE OF FIGURATIVE PHRASES

A meaning is said to be figurative (or metaphorical) when the language representing it has an alternative meaning that is clearly similar but more concrete and probably its source. For example, wilting with the meaning of “decreasing” – sometimes used to describe economic data like sales (see 115. Surveying Numerical Data) – more concretely refers to the way plants lose their strength, shape and colour when deprived of water.

Figurative meaning is an important way in which vocabulary evolves and expands in all languages. It is often established through the efforts of creative writers, but can emerge in many other ways too. It can exist in words, phrases and even statements, such as proverbs. Copying other people’s successful figurative usage is quite normal, and if done often enough will cause it eventually to be included in dictionaries, and hence of interest to language learners. Figurative phrases and sentences of this kind are an important subdivision of that wide-ranging vocabulary phenomenon called collocation (see 16. Ways of Distinguishing Similar Words, #5).

Elsewhere in this blog there are various posts that highlight individual words with an established figurative meaning, most notably 7. Metaphorical Meanings,  229. Metaphorical Prepositions and 278. Colours. The last of these also presents further figurative phrases, as does 137. Words that Reflect English Culture.

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LIST OF PHRASES

The main challenges that I see in trying to master established figurative phrases in English are discovering what they are, understanding what they mean, and knowing how to use them. To assist the first, I present as comprehensive a list as I can; to assist the second, I offer plentiful explanation; and to assist the third I am classifying the list according to the grammatical role that the phrases typically have in sentences.

The following are, along with phrases in the above-mentioned English culture post, a hopefully representative sample of the numerous figurative phrases that have been established in English. The capitalised words are what is explained in brackets after each phrase.

1. Noun-Like

The BARE BONES (the essential part)
The BLACK SHEEP (the sole troublesome member of a group)
a BLANKET need/call (affecting everyone)
The BOTTOM LINE (the final total = the main point)
a BURNING question (vital; all-consuming)
A DAMP SQUIB (wet firework = a disappointing effect)
A DARK HORSE (unnoticed potential winner)
the end of THE LINE (railway route = project; specific behaviour)
the end of THE TUNNEL (difficult period)
a fairy tale
A FLASH IN THE PAN (temporary success)
FOOD for thought (stimulus)
a FOUNT of wisdom (source)
a GAME changer (situation; set of rules)
a GREY area (poorly defined)
a HARD NUT TO CRACK (difficult problem)
the HEART of the matter (central point)
a hidden AGENDA (purpose)
the HIGH WATER MARK (maximum level of success achieved)
a hive of activity
the LAST STRAW (addition to existing troubles that induces action to end them)
the LION’S share (much larger than anyone else’s)
a MIXED BAG (mixture of good and bad)
a mountain to climb (see below)
PLAIN SAILING (trouble-free)
no room for… (manoeuvre/complacency etc.)
NO TWO WAYS about it (no doubt)
a PORT OF CALL (scheduled stopping place)
a ROCKY passage (troublesome)
a SILVER BULLET (solution to all problems)
a STUMBLING block (almost falling whilst walking = progressing less successfully)
a THEATRE of war (area subregion)
THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE (a small concession leading to larger ones later)
a TIPPING POINT (key moment of change in a process)
a WHITE ELEPHANT (an unsuccessful expensive project)
a WORLD of difference (huge area)

Many of these commonly go at the end of a statement, often after BE, e.g.:

(a) The growth of the company is a fairy tale.

(b) The camp was a hive of activity.

(c) Language learners have a mountain to climb.

A fairy tale is a happy story about fairies, imaginary human-like creatures with wings and magical powers. To describe a real event as a fairy tale thus makes it sound happy and fortunate. Hives are where bees live. They suggest a high activity level because bees are numerous and hard-working (cf. the expression a busy bee). Hence likening somewhere to a bee hive makes it too sound very busy. In (c), a mountain to climb is a huge task. The phrase typically follows either there is or HAVE (see the end of 116. Rarer Uses of HAVE).

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2. Verb-Like

all COMES DOWN TO (is reducible to; leads to)
BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH (say too much before the main point)
BITTEN BY THE BUG (wanting to repeat a particular new enjoyable activity)
BREAK THE ICE (initiate social contact)
BUMPING ALONG THE BOTTOM (constantly performing minimally well)
CALL A SPADE A SPADE (use an exact name, avoiding euphemism)
caught between two STOOLS (opposing demands)
cause A STIR (fuss; uproar)
come ROARING back (stronger than ever)
COME UP TRUMPS (find or provide an excellent solution)
CRYING OUT FOR reform/leadership (desperately needing)
DANCING TO [someone’s] TUNE (complying with [someone’s] every wish)
DRAGGING [one’s] FEET (acting slowly and reluctantly)
FACE THE MUSIC (endure unpleasant consequences of bad behaviour)
FALL INTO PLACE (reach the desired situation)
fight TOOTH AND NAIL (with maximum effort)
going against THE GRAIN (direction of fibres in wood = prevailing opinion)
GRASP THE NETTLE (tackle a difficult problem)
HANGING BY A THREAD (tenuous; in danger of destruction)
HAVING (= giving birth to) KITTENS (extremely anxious)
JUMP THROUGH HOOPS (perform a series of test activities)
KEEP [one’s] HEAD (control disastrous emotions)
know THE ROPES (the established procedures)
MAKE A SPLASH (become famous by doing something special)
MAKE HAY (while the sun shines) (make the best use of a favourable moment)
MEAN BUSINESS (be determined to achieve success)
NIP [a problem] IN THE BUD eliminate while it is still new and small.
PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS (perform with maximum intensity & determination)
PUT THE CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS (cause major uproar)
PUT [a task] TO BED (complete)
reinvent THE WHEEL (existing discovery)
RIDING HIGH (enjoying great success)
RIDING [one’s] LUCK (continuing to gamble after winning)
RING A BELL (seem vaguely familiar)
saved by THE BELL (end signal in a boxing round = any end signal)
TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS (deal directly with a problem)
waiting in THE WINGS (hidden side of a stage = threshold of future emergence)
WORK ITS MAGIC (perform its clever function)

Some verbs in this list are given in their base form in order to indicate that in actual use their form is variable because the phrase as a whole has quite a flexible use. Others are in a participle form (with -ing or -ed) indicating that that is a very typical form in actual use. The -ing ending means the verb is common in a continuous tense, while -ed indicates a common passive use:

(d) The monetary system is crying out for reform.

(e) After his first commercial success, Edison was bitten by the bug of scientific research.

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3. Adjective- and Adverb-Like

Some of the phrases in this category are always adjective-like, some can be either adjective-like or adverb-like, and a few are only adverb-like. Adjective-like usage is usually after the noun being described, with BE or similar in between (phrases that can also precede their noun are marked *). Phrases that can be either adjectival or adverbial tend, when adverbial, to accompany a particular verb – shown below in brackets.

Many of the phrases begin with a preposition, which means that they resemble, or are indeed among, the phrases listed in this blog in 164. Fixed Preposition Phrases.

ADJECTIVE-LIKE
all at sea (not knowing how to proceed)
*black and white (not recognising uncertainties)
in the dark (lacking information)
in the doldrums (dejected; slightly depressed)
not a patch on… (much less effective than…)
off colour (feeling/looking unwell)
on a knife edge (finely balanced)
on the brink (very close to a future event: see 269. Exotic Grammar Structures 7, #6).
on the cards (likely; planned)
on the horns of a dilemma (having to choose between two undesirable options)
open to question (not definitely proven)
out of the woods (free of all hinderances)
over the moon (delighted)
plain sailing (problem-free)
*run of the mill (routine)
up in arms (mobilised for war = angry and wanting to argue)
up to scratch (of the required standard)

ADJECTIVE- OR ADVERB-LIKE
at arm’s length (not too close) (KEEP/HOLD)
from the horse’s mouth (from the primary source) (HEAR)
hot on [someone’s] heels (following close behind) (COME)
in a similar vein (on the same topic)
in hand (being dealt with) (TAKE)
off the beaten track (in a remote location) (GO, LIVE)
off the scale (too much to be measured) (GO)
on board (on a ship = involved) (HAVE)
out of the woods (past the worst of a problem) (GET)
out on a limb (standing on a tree branch = isolated or thinking differently) (GO)

ONLY ADVERB-LIKE
by the way (incidentally)
come hell or high water (regardless of circumstances)
in the middle of nowhere (in a place without buildings or people)
up to the hilt (completely) (SUPPORT, BE INVOLVED IN)

Examples of adverb-like usage are:

(f) Patients must keep (or hold) their loved ones at arm’s length.

(g) Since nobody is tending the crop, the villagers must take it in hand.

(h) Everyone supported the initiative up to the hilt.

Other notable points are as follows:

A hilt is the part of a sword handle from which the blade emerges. Thus, up to the hilt conveys the idea of the entire blade being buried in something.

The doldrums is literally a geographical term referring to that part of the tropical zone where wind is often minimal. The negative meaning of the figurative use reflects the fact that absent wind impedes the movement of sailing ships.

On the horns of a dilemma evokes animals with horns on their head. Dilemmas resemble horns in being associated with two sides.

In a similar vein is unusual when used adverbially in only sometimes giving information about a verb, since it is also able to say something about an entire sentence, like adverbs considered in this blog in 121. Sentence-Spanning Adverbs. In this role, it shows a similarity to something said in the previous sentence(s), so that it can also be classified as a “connector” like similarly or therefore (see 259. Multi-Word Connectors). The metaphorical word vein has its mining rather than medical meaning: a line of ore running through rock.

Come hell or high water usually starts or ends its sentence. For a full explanation, see 228. Exotic Grammar Structures 5, #4.

Definition of Figurative

not accurate in meaning, as a form of speech

Examples of Figurative in a sentence

If you use figurative language, you are not speaking literally but rather in a manner meant to produce a reaction.

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Personification is a type of figurative language that gives human traits to nonliving objects.

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When John talks in a figurative way and says he’s hungry enough to eat a horse, he is simply exaggerating his craving.

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The figurative phrase “raining cats and dogs” describes a huge downpour and not an actual cascade of animals.

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Because the little boy did not understand figurative speech, he truly believed he could knock his mother out with a feather.

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Other words in the Neutral category:

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What Is Figurative Language and Where It Is Often Used

It’s common knowledge among language learners that it’s much easier to read a children’s book than one intended for adult readers. But why? There are many different reasons, but one of them has to do with the much higher level of figurative language, which involves the use of various figures of speech for creative and dramatic purposes, in adult books. 

If you’ve never heard the term figurative language and would like to know more about it because you want to improve as a language learner, this is the right article for you. By the end of it, you’ll know not only everything you need to know about figures of speech, but you’ll also understand exactly what you need to do to become better at understanding them.

Figurative language is the opposite of literal language. Whereas literal language always means exactly what it says, figurative language uses various figures of speech to convey meaning in unusual and creative ways.

Here are three dictionary definitions of figurative language to help you understand what we mean: 

• Language used to describe someone or something by comparing to another, or using words for description that do not have a literal meaning. (YourDictionary)
• Language that contains or uses figures of speech, especially metaphors. (Dictionary.com)
• Words and phrases used not with their basic meaning but with a more imaginative meaning, in order to create a special effect. (Cambridge Dictionary)

Because the meaning of figurative language is often not immediately clear, languages learners tend to struggle with it, feeling discouraged and unsure how to progress. In reality, the most effective way to master various figures of speech is to see them in use as often as possible.

To increase your exposure to figurative phrases, we recommend you add the examples below to the Encore!!! app. Encore’s My Entry feature allows you to include your own text and audio content, such as lines of poetry, dialogs from your favorite movies, song lyrics, or workbook content. You can then practice at your own pace at any time using your mobile device. 

What Are Some Examples of Figurative Language?

To help you better understand what figurative language is and how it’s used, let’s take a look at some textbook examples: 

• “Her lips are a blooming rose.” – This is an excellent example of figurative language that illustrates how the meaning of figurative language goes beyond the individual words. Here, the author is not saying that the woman in question literally has a blooming rose for lips (that would be terribly inconvenient). Instead, the author wants to say that her lips are as red (and as pretty) as a blooming rose.
• “They fought like cats and dogs.” – No, the people this sentence is referring to didn’t actually fight on their hands and knees, scratching and biting each other like cats and dogs, but they did fight with the same ferocity. The comparison to cats and dogs additionally suggests that the fight didn’t have a serious outcome, such as somebody ending up in the hospital. 
• “The bag was heavy as a ton of bricks” – Saying that something is very heavy doesn’t really stimulate the imagination too much, does it? That’s why writers like to describe what they’re writing about by referring to something else. Of course, no bag literally weighs as much as a ton of bricks (or a ton of feathers for that matter), but a bag can be so heavy that it almost feels like it does. 
• “He’s as slow as a turtle.” – The leatherback sea turtle can muster up a speed of up to 10 km/h, but that’s not the point of this sentence. Since we associate turtles with far more modest speeds, we can use a comparison to one to describe someone who’s exceptionally slow. This creates comedic imagery that’s far more entertaining than boring adverbs such as very or really.  
• “I can smell the dinner from a mile away.” – Nobody can smell dinner from a mile away, but a mile is a pretty substantial distance, and it can be used in a figurative fashion for emphasis. This is actually one of the most common figurative language techniques because there’s an infinite number of opportunities to come up with descriptions that captivate, amuse, and stand out. 
• “Justice is blind and, at times, deaf.” – Justice is an abstract idea—not a living human being with eyes and ears. However, that doesn’t stop us from talking about it as if it were. In this case, the author is telling us that justice isn’t perfect. If you search for songs with figurative language or, even better, poems with figurative language, you’re guaranteed to find many more examples similar to this one. 
• “Love is a battlefield.” – The dictionary defines love as an intense feeling of deep affection and battlefield as the piece of ground on which a battle is or was fought. Clearly, love isn’t a battlefield in the literal sense, but it can feel like one, which is why it’s possible to figuratively say that love is a battlefield. 
• “The car brakes screamed.” – Car brakes can make strange sounds, especially when worn out, but they can’t really scream, can they? Well, not in the literal sense because they don’t have a mouth, but such limitations don’t apply when using figurative phrases, which is exactly what figurative language examples like this one illustrate.
• “She took my breath away.” – While something might make us gasp in exclamation, clearly no one will be physically taking our breath from our body. If they were, we probably would not be able to express that fact after. We can feel figuratively breathless from a beautiful sight though, and while not literal it is a phrasing that we can understand.
• “He stole my thunder!” – Clearly, thunder is not something that can be stolen as it is a sound that originates from nature. However, the idea that someone can steal your idea and attention, is what is understood here. The sound of thunder gets noticed and someone stealing your thunder is taking that notice from you.  

What Is the Purpose of Figurative Language?

If you’ve read the examples of figurative language above, you should be starting to understand its purpose. Arguably, the main reason why writers and speakers use various figures of speech is that they want to describe things in a less ordinary way. 

Sometimes, it is used to avoid repetition, especially when it comes to words like very, really, a lot, big, small, and so on. It’s the mark of an inexperienced writer to use the same words over and over again instead of coming up with a more creative way to convey the intended meaning. 

Why is figurative language used in music and poems, where repetition is often desired? In many cases, songwriters and poets use various figures of speech to create rhythm, musicality, and vivid imagery. The frequent use of figurative language in music and poems is the reason why they are so often open to interpretation. 

What Are the 6 Types of Figurative Language?

There are many different types of figurative language, but the following six are used much more frequently than others, which is why it’s a good idea to know about them:

1. Metaphors

A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves the application of a word to an object or action to which the word is not literally applicable, which is why metaphors don’t make sense when interpreted literally and why so many learners struggle with them. 

Here are three examples of metaphors: 

• The world is your oyster. = You can achieve anything you want in life. 
• Time is money. = Time is a valuable resource. 
• You are my sunshine. = You make me very happy. 

Instead of attempting to decipher the meaning of metaphors from the individual words they consist of, it’s better to learn them as complete units. 

2. Similes

A simile is a figure of speech that involves the direct comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind using words such as “like”, “as”, or “than”. As long as you know the meaning of the individual words a simile consists of, you should be able to understand it even if you’ve never seen or heard it before. 

Here are three examples of similes: 

• Brave as a lion. = Exceptionally brave. 
• Strong as an ox. = Very strong. 
• Boring like watching paint dry. = Really boring. 

3. Personification

Personification involves the attribution of human-like qualities to animals or inanimate objects. It’s often used for a comedic effect, but it can also be used to help readers understand something they’re not familiar with. 

Here are three examples of personification: 

• Lightning danced across the sky. = The entire sky was lit up. 
• The wind howled in the night. = The wind made a lot of noise. 
• My alarm clock screams at me to get out of bed every morning. = My alarm clock always buzzes loudly. 

4. Hyperbole

Out of all figurative language types, hyperbole, which is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech, rarely gives learners much trouble. That’s perhaps because we all make various hyperboles every single day, and we don’t often even realize that we do. 

Here are three examples of hyperbole: 

• This bag weighs a ton. = The bag is really heavy.
• This is the worst day of my life. = I’m having a really bad day. 
• My dad will kill me when he comes home. = My dad will get very angry. 

Do these examples look familiar? That’s because we all use similar hyperboles all the time. 

5. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia are words that phonetically imitate what they describe. This type of figurative language is commonly used in children’s books, but you can find it also in comic books, poems, songs, and just about everywhere else. 

Here are three examples of onomatopoeia: 

• Boom! = The sound of an explosion. 
• Beep. = The sound emitted by a vehicle horn. 
• Whack. = The sound of a sharp blow. 

6. Idiom

Idioms are phrases whose meaning can’t be derived from the meaning of individual words. Many languages learners have described idioms as the bane of their existence because there’s so many of them, and learning them is anything but easy.

Here are three examples of idioms: 

• You should keep your eye out for him. = You should watch carefully for him.
• It’s a piece of cake. = It’s easy.
• Let the cat out of the bag. = Give away a secret.

Conclusion 

It’s not possible to master a language without understanding figurative expressions, which deviate from the conventional order and meaning. These expressions are important to master, while also being some of the most difficult aspects of a language to attain fluency in. Cultural knowledge is a vital part of being able to master the figurative phrases of a language as they are very much steeped in the underlying culture. The ways we experience these phrases are a part of our overall life experience, and the more you can understand the way these concepts relate, you can piece the words together effectively.

In this article, we’ve explained the main types of figurative language and provided plenty of examples that you can add to Encore!!! best language learning app for focused practice. Encore!!! allows you to gain that deep understanding needed to gain competency in these complex aspects of language.

FAQ about Figurative Language

1. How do you identify figurative language?

Figurative expressions in language are identifiable by their use of not literal ideas and phrases. They use more imaginative meanings of words to compare or describe things in a more expressive way.

2. How is figurative language used in writing?

When a writer is looking for a more creative way to express an idea or avoid repetition, they may use a figurative phrasing instead. It can also add more color or rhythm to a bit of writing, while creating vivid imagery for the reader. Sometimes, it also serves to put foriegn concepts into familiar terms.

3. What is the difference between imagery and figurative language?

Imagely is using descriptive language to appeal to and engage the senses, while figurative language is using words or expressions that differ from the literal interpretation. They can serve the same purpose, but do so in different ways.

4. How do you teach figurative language?

Learning about the culture of a language can help to learn the meanings of figurative imagery. Using learning tools that help with visualization such as pictures can also help to understand figurative phrases too.