Figures of Speech (Grammar)

Figures of speech are creative and expressive language techniques that make writing or speaking more interesting and impactful. These help us communicate more creatively, evoke emotions, and paint vivid pictures in the minds of listeners or readers. They add color and depth to our words, making them more memorable and engaging. They make language more interesting and fun to use!

Here are some common figures of speech:

Simile

A word or a group of words that compares one thing to something else, using the words “like” or “as” is called a simile.

Examples:

Each book is like a city street.
This comparison is a simile because it says that a book is like a city street.

More Examples of Simile

The paintbrush was like a magic wand in the hand of the artist.

I work all week but on Sundays I am free as a bird.

Metaphor

A word or a group of words that says one thing is something else, and not just like it, is a metaphor.

A metaphor is a stronger comparison then a simile.

Examples:

They (books) are the homes of queens and fairies.

This comparison is a metaphor because it says and that books are “homes of queens and fairies”.

More Examples of Metaphor

My sister is a walking dictionary and knows the meaning of every word that I ask her.

He is a night owl. He stays awake all night and sleeps all day.

When my grandmother sees me, she smiles and says “You are my sunshine!” – Metaphor

Personification

Personification gives human qualities or actions to non-human things. For example, “The flowers danced in the wind” or “The sun smiled down on us.”

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for emphasis or humor. For example, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” or “I’ve told you a million times!”

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia refers to words that sound like the noises they represent. For example, “buzz,” “crash,” or “meow.”

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of neighboring words. For example, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” or “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”

Idiom

An idiom is a phrase or expression that doesn’t mean exactly what the words say. Its meaning is understood through common usage. For example, “Break a leg” means “good luck” or “It’s raining cats and dogs” means “it’s raining heavily.”

Oxymoron

An oxymoron combines two contradictory terms to create a new meaning. For example, “jumbo shrimp” or “bittersweet.”

Irony

Irony is when the opposite of what is expected happens or is said. For example, “I posted a video about how boring YouTube is.”

Pun

A pun is a play on words that exploits different possible meanings or similar sounds of a word. For example, “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough” or “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

Related: More English Grammar Topics