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 A figure of speech is a A form of expression
word or phrase using (such as a simile or
figurative language— metaphor) used to convey
language that has other meaning or heighten
meaning than its normal effect often by comparing
definition. In other words, or identifying one thing
figures of speeches rely on with another that has a
implied or suggested meaning or connotation
meaning, rather than a familiar to the reader or
dictionary definition. listener.
 SIMILE

FIGURES
METAPHOR OF SPEECH

IDIOMS
TYPES OF FIGURE OF SPEECH
ALLITERATION HYPERBOLE
METAPHOR IRONY
ANAPHORA LITOTES
ANTITHESIS OXYMORON
 METONYMY PARADOX
ONOMATOPOEIA PERSONIFICATION
APOSTROPHE PUN
ASSONANCE SIMILE
CHIASMUS SYNECDOCHE
EUPHEMISM UNDERSTATEMENT
 ALLITERATION METAPHOR
THE REPITITION OF USUALLY A METAPHOR IS A FIGURE OF
INITIAL CONSONANT SOUNDS SPEECH THAT, FOR RHETORICAL
EFFECT, DIRECTLY REFERS TO
IN TWO OR MORE
ONE THING BY MENTIONING
NEIGHBORING SYLLABLES. ANOTHER. IT MAY PROVIDE
CLARITY OR IDENTIFY HIDDEN
EXAMPLE: THE WILD AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN TWO
WOOLLY WALRUS WAITS AND IDEAS.
WONDERS WHEN WE’LL WALK
BY. EXAMPLE: HE WAS A TORNADO,
BLASTING HIS WAY THROUGH
THE OPPOSING TEAM
 ANAPHORA
ANAPHORA IS A FIGURE OF
SPEECH IN WHICH WORDS
REPEAT AT THE BEGINNING OF
SUCCESSIVE CLAUSES, PHRASES
OR SENTENCES.
EXAMPLE:
AND WHAT SHOULDER, AND
WHAT ART
COULD TWIST THE SINEWS OF
THY HEART
ANTITHESIS
IT IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH
THAT JUXTAPOSES TWO
CONTRASTING OR OPPOSING
IDEAS, USUALLY WITHIN
PARALLEL GRAMMATICAL
STRUCTURES.
EXAMPLE: SPEECH IS AS
SILVERN, BUT SILENCE IS
GOLDEN.
METONYMY IS A FIGURE IN SPEECH IN WHICH SOMETHING IS CALLED BY A NEW
NAME THAT IS RELATED IN MEANING TO THE ORIGINAL OR CONCEPT.

EXAMPLE:
THE CROWN NEVER APPROVED OF MARRIAGES BETWEEN ROYALTY AND
COMMONERS.

ONOMATOPOEIA IS THE USE OF WORDS (SUCH AS HISS OR MURMUR) THAT

IMITATE THE SOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OBJECTS OR ACTIONS THEY
REFER TO. AN ONOMATOPE IS A PARTICULAR WORD THAT IMITATES THE SOUND
IT DENOTES.

EXAMPLE:
THE SKY EXPLODED WITH A CRASH, BANG AND A HISSING OF FIREWORK.
APOSTROPHE – REAKING OFF DISCOURSE TO ADDRESS SOME
ABSENT PERSON OR THING, SOME ABSTRACT QUALITY, AN
INANIMATE OBJECT, OR A NONEXISTENT CHARACTER.

EXAMPLE:
“IS THIS A DAGGER WHICH I SEE BEFORE ME,
THE HANDLE TOWARD MY HAND?
COME, LET ME CLUTCH THEE!
I HAVE THEE NOT, AND YET I SEE THEE STILL.”
ASSONANCE – IDENTITY OR SIMILARITY IN SOUND BETWEEN
INTERNAL VOWELS IN NEIGHBORING WORDS.

EXAMPLE:
“HEAR THE MELLOW WEDDING BELLS”
CHIASMUS – A VERBAL PATTERN IN WHICH THE SECOND HALF
OF AN EXPRESSION IS BALANCED AGAINST THE FIRST BUT WITH
THE PARTS REVERSED.

EXAMPLE:
“WE SHAPE OUR BUILDINGS, AND AFTERWARD OUR BUILDINGS
SHAPE US”

EUPHEMISM – THE SUBSTITUTION OF AN INOFFENSIVE

TERM FOR ONE CONSIDERED OFFENSIVELY EXPLICIT.

EXAMPLE:
THE OLD MAN PASSED AWAY.
HYPERBOLE – AN IRONY – THE USE OF
EEXTRAVAGANT WORDS TO CONVEY THE
STATEMENT; USE OF OPPOSITE OF THEIR
EXAGGERATED TERMS LITERAL MEANING. ALSO,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF A STATEMENT OR
EMPHASIS OR SITUATION WHERE THE
HEIGHTENED EFFECT. MEANING IS
CONTRADICTED BY THE
EXAMPLE: APPEARANCE OR
SINCE HE HAS BEEN AWAY PRESENTATION OF THE
FROM HOME HE HAS IDEA.
GOTTEN AS THIN AS A
TOOTHPICK. EXAMPLE:
A FIRE STATION BURNS
DOWN.
LITOTES – A FIGURE OF SPEECH CONSISTING OF UNDERSTATEMENT
IN WHICH AN AFFIRMATIVE IS EXPRESSED BY NEGATING ITS OPPOSITE.

EXAMPLE:
HE DOES NOT DISAGREE ABOUT THE FACT THAT BELLA LOVES HIM AS
HER OWN BROTHER.

OXYMORON – A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH INCONGOROUS

OR CONTRADICTORY TERMS APPEAR SIDE BY SIDE.

EXAMPLE:
IT IS AN OPEN SECRET.
 PARADOX – A PERSONIFICATION – A
STATEMENT THAT FIGURE OF SPEECH IN
APPEARS TO WHICH AN INANIMATE
CONTRADICT ITSELF. OBJECT OR ABSTRACTION
IS ENDOWED WITH
EXAMPLE: HUMAN QUALITIES OR
DON’T GO NEAR THE ABILITIES.
WATER ‘TIL YOU HAVE
LEARNED HOW TO EXAMPLE:
SWIM. THE WIND HOWLED AS
THE STORM GREW
STRONGER.
PUN – A PLAY ON WORDS, SOMETIMES ON DIFFERENT SENSES
OF THE SAME WORD AND SOMETIMES ON THE SIMILAR
SENSE OR SOUND OF DIFFERENT WORDS.

EXAMPLE:
SHE HAD A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY BUT NEVER DVELOPED
IT.

SIMILE – A STATED COMPARISON (USUALLY FORMED WITH

“LIKE” OR “AS”) BETWEEN TWO FUNDAMENTALLY DISSIMILAR
THINGS THAT HAVE CERTAIN QUALITIES IN COMMON.

EXAMPLE:
SHE IS AS BRAVE AS A LION.
SYNECHDOCHE – A UNDERSTATEMENT – A
FIGURE OF SPEECH IN FIGURE OF SPEECH IN
WHICH A PART IS USED WHICH A WRITER OR
TO REPRESENT THE SPEAKER DELIBERATELY
WHOLE OR THE WHOLE MAKES A SITUATION SEEM
PART. LESS IMPORTANT OR
SERIOUS THAT IT IS.
EXAMPLE:
JACK BOUGHT A NEW SET EXAMPLE:
OF WHEELS. THE WEATHER IS A LITTLE
COOLER TODAY.