We use a figure of speech to create an effect, boost an expression, and produce emotion in language.
We can find some figures of speech, such as simile, metaphor, and metonymy, in regular language.
But to use some figures of speech in language requires more knowledge and practice.
Figures of speech help authors express complicated thoughts and emotions more clearly than plain words by adding richness to sentences.
We refer to a language that uses figures of speech as figurative language.
What is a figure of speech?
A figure of speech is a literary technique that tells a story’s meaning in a non-literal manner. It is an expression of ideas. It usually does this by using creative language to make the story more expressive and emotional. Some examples of figures of speech are metaphors, similes, personification, and exaggeration.
People use figures of speech in their daily speech and writing. We can categorise them into two groups: schemes and tropes. Schemes change the order of words to get a specific effect, while tropes use words in a way that isn’t what they mean literally.
We can transform ordinary expressions into a more engaging sense by using figures of speech in language.
21 Common types of figures of speech
Some figures of speech are used more often than others.
In this lesson, we will discuss the 21 most commonly used figures of speech.
Let’s have a look.
1. Simile
A simile compares one object of different kinds with another that shares at least one characteristic. In this speech, some words that we use are ‘like’, ‘as’ or ‘so’. In this speech, the speaker makes a direct comparison.
The use of a simile in a sentence helps a reader understand the described thing by relating it to what they already know.
Examples
- She sings like a nightingale.
- The watchman is as watchful as a hawk.
- She is beautiful like you.
- She looks like a fairy.
- He wanders lonely as a bird.
- The huge mountain stood like a question mark in front of us.
In this sentence, ‘mountain’ and ‘question mark’ are dissimilar things, but they have a common quality of ‘standing’. It means ‘existing’. This is the speciality of simile, wherein there is a direct comparison with each other using the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.
2. Metaphor
In Metaphor, it is shown that two things are one and the same.
In this, there is no use of words such as ‘like’, ‘as’, etc., but the qualities of one object are explained to another object which is totally dissimilar to it.
We call an implicit comparison a metaphor.
Examples
- She is a fairy in that city.
- That field is an elephant’s head.
- A camel is the ship of the desert.
Here, ‘camel’ and ‘ship’ are entirely different things, but here, the qualities of the ship are attributed to the camel.
Every metaphor can be expanded into a simile, and every simile can be compressed into a metaphor.
Examples
- Shivaji was a lion in that war. (metaphor)
- Shivaji fought like a lion. (simile)
3. Personification
Personification is a special kind of metaphor. In this figure of speech, nonliving objects and ideas speak as if they have intelligence and life, and those are represented as a person with human qualities.
Examples
- The room is silent.
- The wind whispered secrets through the trees.
- The old house groaned and sighed.
- The flames danced wildly.
4. Apostrophe
An apostrophe is a special form of personification addressing directly a personified idea, object, or a dead or absent person.
Examples
- O liberty, how many criminals have born in your name!
- O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
5. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech people use to create something that sounds or looks better than it actually is. It is an emphatic or exaggerated statement.
Examples
- She is as tall as a palm tree.
- My grandfather is as old as the Himalayan mountains.
6. Euphemism
A euphemism consists of the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name. This speech refers to the use of gentle language to express difficult or unpleasant situations and harsh words.
Examples
- He kicked the bucket. (He is dead.)
- She has fallen asleep. (She is dead.)
- You are telling me a fairy tale. (You are lying.)
7. Antithesis
In this figure of speech, two contradictory words or ideas are placed close to each other to highlight the contrast; that is, two opposite ideas or words occur in the same sentence.
They consist of compound sentences having two independent clauses divided by contrasting ideas.
Examples
- Their glory to decay.
- To err is human; to forgive is divine.
- Many are called, but few are chosen.
- If you have the will to live and the courage to die.
- Here, ‘live’ and ‘die’ are completely opposite to each other.
8. Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a special form of antithesis. In this figure of speech, two contradictory qualities of the same thing are stated at once in the same sentence.
Examples
- He accepted it as the kind cruelty of the surgical knife.
- So innocent, Arch, so cunningly simple.
9. Epigram
An epigram is a proverb. It gives exciting, surprising ideas and attracts attention.
An epigram is a quick, witty statement that usually shares some kind of truth or insight. Epigrams are typically short and make you think.
Examples
- My son is my mother.
- The child is the father of the man.
- Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
10. Irony
In this speech, the real meaning is exactly opposite to that of the literal.
In irony, we use words that convey the opposite of our true intentions, frequently in a humorous manner and with a tone of voice.
Examples
- One of the twins says other, “You are ugly!”
- A boy died in his living room.
- The thieves robbed the police station.
11. Pun
In this, the word is used in such a way that it is capable of performing more functions. A pun is a wordplay in which the use of a word with multiple meanings creates a humorous effect.
To use this figure of speech in language, we require a creative intellect and wit to create humorous puns.
Examples
- Is life worth living? – It depends on the liver.
The word ‘liver’ in this sentence refers to both the physical organ and the person who lives.
- A horse is a very stable animal.
In this sentence, stable refers to the ‘home of a horse’ and ‘not likely to move’.
12. Metonymy
Metonymy is the act of referring to something by the name of something that is closely related to it.
It helps a writer to be more creative with their descriptions. In this figure of speech, we use a word to represent a class or category of things.
Examples
- The Bench (used to represent the judges)
- The House (used to represent the members of the House of Commons)
- The Crown (used to represent the king)
13. Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something stands for the whole, or when the whole stands for a part of something. In other words, synecdoche is when a smaller unit stands for a bigger one or vice versa.
It helps concentrate on a certain part of what is being talked about.
Examples
- All hands to the pumps.
Here, ‘hands’ stands for ‘crew’
- He has many mouths to feed.
Here, ‘mouths’ means many people.
Example
- India won the cricket World Cup.
Here, ‘India’ refers to the Indian cricket team.
14. Transferred Epithet
A transferred epithet is a type of speech that happens when an epithet is shifted.
An epithet is a phrase or an adjective that we use to describe someone or something’s most important quality or character to criticise or praise them.
An epithet, which is an adjective of the proper word, is transferred to another, which is closely associated with it in the sentence.
It modifies a noun in a sentence, generally the subject.
So, a transferred epithet is the transfer of such an adjective from the noun to another noun in the sentence, resulting in a modification of the latter and creating an emotional effect.
Example
- I had a wonderful day!
In this sentence, ‘day’ was not wonderful, but the experiences I had that made me wonderful.
- In those days, he experienced sleepless nights.
The night itself was not sleepless; rather, the person experiencing it was unable to sleep. The adjective ‘sleepless’ is transferred from the person to the night.
15. Litotes
Litotes is the opposite of hyperbole. In this speech, the negative meaning of the opposite word conveys a positive message.
Litotes is a figure of speech that uses negative words to highlight the positive. Instead of directly saying something is excellent, strong, or impressive, litotes uses a double negative or a softened phrasing. Weaker means are used to express something strongly.
Examples
- I am not a fool. (I am very clever.)
- They were not a little surprised. (They were surprised greatly.)
16. Interrogation
Interrogation is a figure of speech that we use to ask a question, not to get the answer but to put a point more effectively. This is also called a rhetorical question because a question is asked only for the rhetorical effect.
Examples
- Who is here so vile that will not love his country?
- Is she his maid?
17. Exclamation
An exclamation is a figure of speech that uses the exclamatory form to emphasise a point and draw more attention. It is marked by an exclamation mark (!) in writing, indicating a sudden and forceful expression.
Examples
- What beautiful women were there!
- What a peaceful place it is!
18. Climax
A climax is a figure of speech that arranges concepts in ascending order of their importance. This makes a deep impression on the reader.
Examples
- Look up in the sky; it’s a bird.
- Now, we have reached a point of great decision, not just for our nation, not only for humanity but for life upon the Earth.
19. Anticlimax
This figure of speech functions as the opposite of a climax. Here, the speaker arranges the ideas in order of decreasing importance. We mostly use anticlimax to show satire or ridicule.
Examples
- She lost her family, her bungalow and her car.
- She is a great artist, a good mother and a humorist.
20. Alliteration
In this speech, the same letter or sound is used at the beginning of words that are next to or close to each other; that is, the beginning sounds of words are repeated.
Examples
- Danny’s dog dove into the dam and drank dirty water.
- Cory collected cola cans, counting continuously.
- The stuntman flipped from a forty-foot Ferris wheel.
- Grass grows greener in the graveyard.
21. Repetition
This speech repeats a word, phrase, or sentence to enhance the expression.
Examples
- Words, words, words
- He felt that it was an end, an end of the world.
- We shall enjoy the education; we shall enjoy the games.
Related lessons you may like.
- Interjection
- Demonstratives
- Subject and predicate
- Uses of past tense
- Passive voice of continuous present tense
All lessons in Grammar
