Definition of Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that makes
a comparison, showing similarities between two
different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws
resemblance with the help of the words “like” or
“as.” Therefore, it is a direct comparison.
 Our soldiers are as brave as lions.
 Her cheeks are red like a rose.
 He is as funny as a monkey.
 The water well was as dry as a bone.
 He is as cunning as a fox
Definition of Metaphor
Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an
implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between
two things that are unrelated, but which share some
common characteristics. In other words, a
resemblance of two contradictory or different
objects is made based on a single or some common
characteristics
 My brother was boiling mad. (This implies
he was too angry.)
 The assignment was a breeze. (This implies
that the assignment was not difficult.)
 It is going to be clear skies from now on.
(This implies that clear skies are not a threat
and life is going to be without hardships)
 The skies of his future began to darken.
(Darkness is a threat; therefore, this implies
that the coming times are going to be hard
for him.)
 Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies
that her voice makes him feel happy)
 He saw the soul of dust when passing
through the dust storm.
 Chaos is the breeding ground of order.
 War is the mother of all battles.
 Her dance is a great poem.
 A new road to freedom passes through
this valley of death.
 My conscience is my barometer.
 His white face shows his concern.
 His kisses are like roses.
 He married her to have a trophy wife.
 Laughter is the best medicine.
 Words are daggers when spoken in anger.
 His words are pearls of wisdom.
Definition of Personification
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. For example, when we say, “The
sky weeps,” we are giving the sky the ability to cry,
which is a human quality. Thus, we can say that the
sky has been personified in the given sentence.
Common Examples of Personification
1. Look at my car. She is a beauty, isn’t she?
2. The wind whispered through dry grass.
3. The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.
4. Time and tide wait for none.
5. The fire swallowed the entire forest
Onomatopoeia Definition
Onomatopoeia, pronounced on-uh-mat-uh–pee–uh,
is defined as a word which imitates the natural
sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that
mimics the thing described, making the description
more expressive and interesting.
Common Examples of Onomatopoeia
 The buzzing bee flew away.
 The sack fell into the river with a splash.
 The books fell on the table with a
loud thump.
 He looked at the roaring
 The rustling leaves kept me awake.
The different sounds of animals are also considered
as examples of onomatopoeia. You will recognize
the following sounds easily:
 Meow
 Moo
 Neigh
 Tweet
 Oink
 Baa
Groups of Onomatopoeic Words
Onomatopoeic words come in combinations, as they
reflect different sounds of a single object. For
example, a group of words reflecting different
sounds of water are: plop, splash, gush, sprinkle, 9. There was an employee in the office who
drizzle, and drip. was regularly irregular.
10. The hero of the play was so dejected that he
Similarly, words like growl, giggle, grunt, murmur, was the perfect embodiment of being alone
blurt, and chatter denote different kinds of in a crowd.
human voice sounds. 11. The heads of state gathered to determine
an approximate solution to the crisis.
Moreover, we can identify a group of words related 12. The green pasture surrounded by hills was
to different sounds of wind, such as swish, swoosh, teeming with a deafening silence.
whiff, whoosh, whizz, and whisper 13. The political scientist was asked to give
his unbiased opinion on the current issue.
Definition of Oxymoron 14. The CEO of a multinational company said,
“We have been awfully lucky to have
Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two survived the disastrous effects of the recent
opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The economic recession.”
common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an 15. The program was not liked by the people,
adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting for a lot of unpopular celebrities were
meanings, such as “cruel kindness,” or “living invited
death”
Definition of Hyperbole
Common Examples of Oxymoron
Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning
1. Open secret “over-casting,” is a figure of speech that involves
2. Tragic comedy an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis
3. Seriously funny
4. Awfully pretty Common Examples of Hyperbole
5. Foolish wisdom
6. Original copies  My grandmother is as old as the hills.
7. Liquid gas  Your suitcase weighs a ton!
 She is as heavy as an elephant!
The above oxymoron examples produce a comical  I am dying of shame.
effect. Thus, it is a lot of fun to use them in your  I am trying to solve a million issues these
everyday speech. days.

Short Examples of Oxymoron in Speech Short Examples of Hyperbole

1. There was a love-hate relationship between
the two neighboring states.
2. The professor was giving a lecture
on virtual reality.
3. Paid volunteers were working for the
company.
4. The channel was repeating the old
news again and again.
5. The contractor was asked to give the exact
estimate of the project.
6. A lot of soldiers have been killed in friendly
fire.
7. The doctor was absolutely unsure of the
nature of his illness.
8. All the politicians agreed to disagree.
1. A ton of worry was lifted from the beggar’s
back when he received the alms.
2. He saw a man as tall a power poll.
3. He saw his childhood friend after ages.
4. The weather was so hot that literally
everything was on fire.
5. The boy was dying to get a new school bag.
6. The teacher told his students not to repeat
that mistake for the umpteenth time, but to
no avail.
7. He was in such a hurry that he drove his car
at a bazillion miles per hour.
8. The minister told the guests that the couple’s
friendship was deeper than the sea, and
sweeter than honey.
 9. The blacksmith’s hand was harder than the
rock.
10. Their headmaster was omnipresent, as he
seemed to be all around the school all the
time.
11. The businessman was so busy that he was
attending to a million calls simultaneously.
12. The old man was older than the Himalayas.
13. The mule is able to lift tons of weight uphill.
14. His classmates laughed at him, saying he
had a pea-sized brain.
15. John was called the elephant of the class for
his clumsiness.
Allusion Definition
Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a
person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural,
literary or political significance. It does not describe
in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is
just a passing comment and the writer expects the
reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the
allusion and grasp its importance in a text.
Allusion Examples in Everyday Speech
The use allusions are not confined to literature
alone. Their occurrence is fairly common in our
daily speech. Look at some common allusion
examples in everyday life:
 “Don’t act like a Romeo in front of her.” –
“Romeo” is a reference to Shakespeare’s
Romeo, a passionate lover of Juliet, in
“Romeo and Juliet”.
 The rise in poverty will unlock the
Pandora’s box of crimes. – This is an
allusion to one of Greek Mythology’s origin
myth, “Pandora’s box”.
 “This place is like a Garden of Eden.” – This
is a biblical allusion to the “garden of God”
in the Book of Genesis.
 “Hey! Guess who the new Newton of our
school is?” – “Newton”, means a genius
student, alludes to a famous scientist Isaac
Newton.
 “Stop acting like my ex-husband please.” –
Apart from scholarly allusions we refer to
common people and places in our speech.
Definition of Idiom
The term idiom 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 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.
Definition of Imagery
Imagery means to use figurative language to
represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way
that it appeals to our physical senses.
 It was dark and dim in the forest.
The words “dark” and “dim” are visual
images.
 The children were screaming and shouting
in the fields.
“Screaming” and “shouting” appeal to our
sense of hearing, or auditory sense.
 He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.
“Whiff” and “aroma” evoke our sense of
smell, or olfactory sense.
 The girl ran her hands on a soft satin
fabric.
The idea of “soft” in this example appeals to
our sense of touch, or tactile sense.
 The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and
sweet.
“Juicy” and “sweet” – when associated with
oranges – have an effect on our sense of
taste, or gustatory sense.
Short Examples of Imagery
1. The old man took the handful of dust, and
sifted it through his fingers.
2. The starry night sky looked so beautiful that
it begged him to linger, but he reluctantly
left for home.
3. The fragrance of spring flowers made her
joyful.
4. The sound of a drum in the distance
attracted him.
5. The people traveled long distances to watch
the sunset in the north.
6. The stone fell with a splash in the lake.
7. The sound of bat hitting the ball was
pleasing to his ear.
 8. The chirping of birds heralded spring.
9. There lay refuse heaps on their path that
were so smelly that it maddened them.
10. The silence in the room was unnerving.
11. The blind man touched the tree to learn if its
skin was smooth or rough.
12. When he was on the way to work, he heard
the muffled cry of a woman.
13. The beacons of moonlight bathed the room
in ethereal light.
14. The wild gusts of cold wind pierced her
body.
15. The burger, aromatic with spices, made his
mouth water in anticipation of the first bite.
Definition of Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas
and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings
that are different from their literal sense
Common Examples of Symbolism in Everyday Life
In our daily life, we can easily identify objects that
can be taken as examples of symbolism, such as the
following:
 The dove is a symbol of peace.
 A red rose, or the color red, stands for love
or romance.
 Black is a symbol that represents evil or
death.
 A ladder may stand as a symbol for a
connection between heaven and earth.
 A broken mirror may symbolize separation.
Short Examples of Symbolism in Sentences
1. Ching Chua gave his wife a red rose. (In
Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes
property and happiness.)
2. David stopped his car at the red signal. (In
other cultures, the color red is symbol of
blood, passion, and danger.)
3. Rebels raised a white flag to negotiate.
(During war, the color white symbolizes
making peace with the enemy. Otherwise, it
represents purity and life.)
4. The Red Cross is working around the world.
(The symbol of the cross represents
Christianity, and the red cross in particular
represents aid in times of need.)
5. The Muslim forces raised their flag with a
crescent on it. (The crescent moon
represents Islam.)
6. He turned green when found a wallet.
(Green color is often associated with greed,
jealousy, and monetary affairs.)
7. They dressed in black to the funeral of their
friend. (The color black is associated with
death.)
8. The yellow boat turned into the channel, to
make the tourists happy. The color yellow
color is the symbol of deterioration and
infidelity, as well as the symbol of freshness
and happiness.)
9. He was disappointed when the mirror broke.
(Broken mirror is an symbol of separation.)
10. He gave a red rose to his wife on Valentine
Day. (Red rose is a symbol for love.)
11. He, after a long time, saw a silver lining in
the shape of the arrival of his brother. (Silver
edge/lining of clouds symbolize hope and
optimism.)
12. You have a sixth sense like an owl. (Owl
symbolizes wisdom.)
13. You work like an ox. (The ox symbolizes
hard work and stamina.)
14. When he saw a bat in dream, he grew white
with fear. (Bats are the symbol of death.)
Alliteration Definition
Alliteration is derived from Latin’s “Latira”. It
means “letters of alphabet”. It is a stylistic device in
which a number of words, having the same first
consonant sound, occur close together in a series.
 Both sentences are alliterative because the
same first letter of words (B) occurs close
together and produces alliteration in the
sentence. An important point to remember
here is that alliteration does not depend
on letters but on sounds. So the phrase not
knotty is alliterative, but cigarette chase is
not.
 A big bully beats a baby boy.
Assonance Definition
Assonance takes place when two or more words,
close to one another repeat the same vowel sound,
but start with different consonant sounds.
“Men sell the wedding bells.”
The same vowel sound of the short vowel “-e-”
repeats itself in almost all the words, excluding the
definite article. The words do share the same vowel
sounds, but start with different consonant sounds –
unlike alliteration, which involves repetition of the
same consonant sounds. Below are a few assonance
examples that are common.
Common Assonance Examples
 We light fire on the mountain.
 I feel depressed and restle
 Go and mow the lawn.
 Johnny went here and there and everywhe
 The engineer held the steering to steer the
vehicle.
Brief Examples of Assonance
1. “If I bleat when I speak it’s because I just
got . . . flee”
— Deadwood, by Al Swearengin
2. “Those images that yet,
Fresh images beget,
That dolphin-torn, that gong-tormented sea.”
— Byzantium, by W. B. Yeats
3. “Strips of tinfoil winking like people”
— The Bee Meeting by Sylvia Plath
4. “I must confess that in my quest I felt
depressed and restless.”
— With Love, by Thin Lizzy
Definition of Consonance
Consonance refers to repetitive sounds produced by
consonants within a sentence or phrase.
This repetition often takes place in quick
succession, such as in “pitter, patter.
Common Consonance Examples
 The ship has sailed to the far off sh
 She ate seven sandwiches on
a sunny Sunday last year.
 Shelley sells shells by the seash
Examples of Consonance in Literature
Example #1: Zealots (By Fugees)
The following lines from a song also show how
consonant sounds have been used repeatedly.
“Rap rejects my tape deck, ejects projectile
Whether Jew or gentile, I rank top percentile
Many styles, more powerful than gamma rays
My grammar pays, like Carlos Santana plays.”
Metonymy Definition
Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the
name of a thing with the name of something else
with which it is closely associated. We can come
across examples of metonymy both from literature
and in everyday life.
Examples of Metonymy in Everyday Life
We use metonymy frequently in our everyday life.
For a better understanding, let us observe a few
metonymy examples:
 “England decides to keep check on
immigration.” (England refers to the
government.)
 “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
(Pen refers to written words, and sword to
military force.)
 “The Oval Office was busy in work.”
(The Oval Office is a metonymy, as it stands
for people who work in the office.)
 “Let me give you a hand.” (Hand means
help.)
Synecdoche Definition
Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of
something represents the whole, or it may use a
whole to represent a part. Synecdoche may also use
larger groups to refer to smaller groups, or vice
versa. It may also call a thing by the name of the
material it is made of, or it may refer to a thing in a
container or packaging by the name of that
container or packing
Synecdoche Examples from Everyday Life
It is very common to refer to a thing by the name of
its parts. Let us look at some of the examples of
synecdoche that we often hear in casual
conversations:
 The word “bread” refers to food or money,
as in “Writing is my bread and butter,” or
“He is the sole breadwinner.”
 The phrase “gray beard” refers to an old
man.
 The word “sails” refers to a whole ship.
 The word “suit” refers to a businessman.
 The word “boots” usually refers to soldiers.
 The term “coke” is a common synecdoche
for all carbonated drinks.
 “Pentagon” is a synecdoche when it refers to
a few decision makers.
 The word “glasses” refers to spectacles.
Definition of Irony
Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used
in such a way that their intended meaning is
different from the actual meaning of the words. It
may also be a situation that ends up in quite a
different way than what is generally anticipated. In
simple words, it is a difference between appearance
and reality.
Types of Irony
On the grounds of the above definition, we
distinguish two basic types of irony: (1) verbal
irony, and (2) situational irony. Verbal irony
involves what one does not mean. For example,
when in response to a foolish idea, we say, “What a
great idea!” This is verbal irony. Situational irony
occurs when, for instance, a man is chuckling at the
misfortune of another, even when the same
misfortune is, unbeknownst to him, befalling him.
Difference Between Dramatic Irony and Situational
Irony
Dramatic irony is frequently employed by writers in
their works. In situational irony, both the characters
and the audience are fully unaware of the
implications of the real situation. In dramatic irony,
the characters are oblivious of the situation, but the
audience is not. For example, in
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we know well
before the characters that they are going to die. In
real life circumstances, irony may be comical,
bitter, or sometimes unbearably offensive.
Common Examples of Irony
Let us analyze some interesting examples of irony
from our daily life:
 I posted a video on YouTube about how
boring and useless YouTube is.
 The name of Britain’s biggest dog was
“Tiny.”
 You laugh at a person who slipped stepping
on a banana peel, and the next thing you
know, you’ve slipped too.
 The butter is as soft as a slab of marble.
 “Oh great! Now you have broken my new
camera.”
Short Examples of Verbal Irony
1. The doctor is as kind hearted as a wolf.
2. He took a much-needed vacation,
backpacking in the mountains.
Unfortunately, he came back dead tired.
3. His friend’s hand was as soft as a rock.
4. The desert was as cool as a bed of burning
coals.
5. The student was given ‘excellent’ on getting
zero in the exam.
6. The roasted chicken was as tender as a
leather boot.
7. He was in such a harried state that he drove
the entire way at 20 miles per hour.
8. He enjoyed his job about as much as a root
canal.
9. My friend’s kids get along like cats and
dogs.
10. Their new boss was as civilized as a shark.
11. The new manager is as friendly as a
rattlesnake.
12. The weather was as balmy as a winter day in
Siberia.
13. A vehicle was parked right in front of the
no-parking sign.
14. The CEO of a big tobacco company said he
did not smoke.
15. The fear of long words is called
“Hippopotomonstrosesquippedalio phobia.”
Definition of Sarcasm
Sarcasm is derived from the French
word sarcasmor, and also from the Greek
word sarkazein, which means “tear flesh,” or “grind
the teeth.” Somehow, in simple words it means to
speak bitterly
“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter
saying I approved of it.” (Mark Twain)
Types of Sarcasm
Sarcasm often depends upon the voice tone. There
are seven types:
1. Self-Deprecating Sarcasm – This category
of sarcasm expresses an overstated sense of
inferiority and worthlessness.
2. Brooding Sarcasm – In this criticism, the
speaker utters something polite. However,
the tone of his speech has a marked
bitterness to it.
3. Deadpan Sarcasm – It is expressed without
emotion or laughter, making it difficult for
the listener to judge whether the speaker is
joking or mocking.
4. Polite Sarcasm – A speaker is said to have
delivered a polite sarcasm when his listeners
only get to realize that his kind remark was a
sarcastic one after they had given it some
thought.
5. Obnoxious Sarcasm – This kind of sarcasm
makes people feel like punching the speaker
in the face. It is not very funny, and it gets
under your skin.
6. Manic Sarcasm – This type of sarcasm is
delivered in an unnatural happy mood,
which makes the speaker look like he has
gone crazy.
7. Raging Sarcasm – This kind of sarcasm
relies mainly on exaggeration and violent
threats.
Road not taken (By Robert Frost)
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all
the difference.”
The poet is talking about two roads, one is not
traveled often by people, and the other one is
chosen by the majority of people. He had taken the
less-traveled road. Frost uses a sarcastic remark,
that he feels regret for having chosen this path or
road which made a difference.
Definition of Litotes
Litotes, derived from a Greek word meaning
“simple,” is a figure of speech that employs
an understatement by using double negatives or, in
other words, a positive statement expressed by
negating its opposite expressions.
For example, using the expression “not too bad” for
“very good” is an understatement, as well as a
double negative statement that confirms a positive
idea by negating the opposite (meaning it’s good, by
saying it’s not bad). Similarly, saying “She is not a
beauty queen,” means she is ugly, or saying “I am
not as young as I used to be,” in order to avoid
saying I am old. Litotes, therefore, is an intentional
use of understatement that renders an ironic effect.
Common Litotes Examples
In everyday life, it is common to experience litotes
in conversations, though not many people are aware
of this term and its usage. Below are a few
examples of litotes from daily conversations:
 They do not seem the happiest couple
around.
 The ice cream was not too bad.
 New York is not an ordinary city.
 Your comments on politics are not useless.
 You are not as young as you used to be.
 I cannot disagree with your point of view.
 William Shakespeare was not a bad
playwright at all.
 He is not the cleverest person I have ever
met.
 She is not unlike her mother.
 Ken Adams is not an ordinary man
 A million dollars is no small amount.
 You are not doing badly at all.
 Your apartment is not unclean.
Anaphora Definition
In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the
first part of the sentence in order to achieve an
artistic effect is known as Anaphora.
Anaphora, possibly the oldest literary device, has its
roots in Biblical Psalms used to emphasize certain
words or phrases. Gradually, Elizabethan and
Romantic writers brought this device into practice.
Examine the following psalm:
Common Anaphora Examples
It is common for us to use anaphora in our everyday
speech, to lay emphasis on the idea we want to
convey, or for self affirmation. The following are
anaphora examples:
 “Every day, every night, in every way, I am
getting better and better.”
 “My life is my purpose. My life is my
goal. My life is my inspiration.”
 “Buying diapers for the baby, feeding the
baby, playing with the baby: This is what
your life is when you have a baby.”
 “I want my money right now, right here,
all right?”
 “The wrong person was selected for
the wrong job, at the wrong time, for
the wrong purpose.”
 “Their property was sold, their
homestead was sold, and their
everything was sold for want.”
 “Who is to blame, who is to look to, who is
to turn to, in a tough situation like this.”
 “In adversity, his close friends left him, his
close colleagues left him, and his best close
relatives left him.”
 “Everything looked dark and
bleak, everything looked gloomy,
and everything was under a blanket of
mist.”
 “All the people were moving in the same
direction; all the people were thinking
about the same thing; and all the people
were discussing the same topic.”
 “After a long term of studies, the
students wanted to go home, they wanted to
play, and they wanted to meet their parents
and friends.”
 “The players were much exited for the
tour; the players wished to do a lot of
shopping; the players planned to go
sightseeing.”
 “The young writer was given the award for
his best seller. The young writer was exited
to get the reward, and he decided to
celebrate the occasion in a fitting manner.”
 “Tell them to be good, tell them to follow
their elders, and tell them to mind their
manners.”
 “The young athlete was in a decent uniform,
and wanted to perform very well.”
 “My mother liked the house very much, but
she couldn’t buy it.”
 “An apple fell on the head of a peasant, but
he couldn’t grasp the laws of motion.”
 “The search party barely got to the middle of
the desert, when a storm overtook it.”
 “The film was based on a true story, but it
failed to get viewers’ attention.”
Definition of Tautology
Tautology is the repetitive use of phrases or words
that have similar meanings. In simple words, it is
expressing the same thing, an idea, or saying, two or
more times. The word tautology is derived from the
Greek word tauto, meaning “the same,” and logos,
meaning “a word or an idea.” A grammatical
tautology refers to an idea repeated within a phrase,
paragraph, or sentence to give an impression that
the writer is providing extra information.
Tautologies are very common in the English
language due to the large variety of words it has
borrowed from other languages. Given the fact that,
during its evolution, the English language has been
greatly influenced by several other languages –
including Germanic and Latin – it is not uncommon
to find several exotic tautologies. This is how
tautologies can often be found in English poetry
and prose.
Types of Tautology
There are several types of tautology that are
commonly used in everyday life, in poetry, in prose,
in songs, and in discussions, depending on the
requirements of a situation. Some of the common
categories include:
 Repetitive words used due to inadequacies
in the language
 Intentional ambiguities
 Derision
 Poetic device
 Psychological significance
 Speech by inept speaker or narrator