Figures of Speech

Personification Applying human traits to animals and things or ideas.

Personification

Similes Comparison of characteristics of two different things using like or as. The stock market is like a roller coaster ride--up and down.

Simile

Metaphors My best friend was a backstabber. He told my girl friend I had been fired from my job.

Metaphor

Metaphor It’s a land of milk and honey.

Metaphor

Metaphor No man is an island.

A repetition of initial consonant sounds. Alliteration A repetition of initial consonant sounds.

Alliteration The sign reads: Education: The inculcation of the incomprehensible into the indifferent by the incompetent.

Alliteration If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Hyperbole Gross exaggeration

Your Text Here Hyperbole

Words written like the sound they make. Onomatopoeia Words written like the sound they make.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

Words used that have a different meaning than the literal meaning. Idioms Words used that have a different meaning than the literal meaning. “ You can’t tell a book by its cover.” Meaning: You can’t know a person by their looks alone.

“live out of a suitcase” meaning traveling all the time. Idioms “live out of a suitcase” meaning traveling all the time.

“name dropper” Someone who wants others to know they associate with important or famous people.

“had a ball” meaning had a good time Idioms “had a ball” meaning had a good time

Idioms “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” Meaning: I’ll deal with that when the time comes. “Don’t burn your bridges.” Meaning: Don’t alienate people that can help you, or don’t cut off your connections to opportunities.

“man on the street” meaning the ordinary or average man Idioms “man on the street” meaning the ordinary or average man

Idioms “highway robbery” meaning charging too much i.e. Some credit card interest rates are highway robbery.

Idioms Example: I was late because I was caught in a traffic jam.