Figurative Language Fun and Interactive Created by TEACHERS UNLEASHED

What is figurative language? Figurative language is a way of making words and phrases more dramatic or interesting. It takes language BEYOND what is literally meant.

I’m as excited as a puppy to learn more about figurative language! What is figurative language? Whenever you describe something by comparing it to something else, you are using figurative language. I’m as excited as a puppy to learn more about figurative language!

What is figurative language? There are many different kinds of figurative language: similes, metaphors, hyperboles, onomatopoeia, idioms, alliteration, and personification. These are 7 of the most commonly used types.

Let’s get to learning more about each type.

Example: He was busy as a bee. What is a simile? A simile uses the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare one object with another to suggest that they are alike or similar. Example: He was busy as a bee.

Example: She was silly like a clown. What is a simile? A simile uses the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare one object with another to suggest that they are alike or similar. Example: She was silly like a clown.

Example: Her eyes were jewels, sparkling in the sun. What is a metaphor? A metaphor is like a simile. It compares two things, but DOES NOT use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. A simile would say you are LIKE something. A metaphor would say you ARE something. Example: Her eyes were jewels, sparkling in the sun.

Example: The deep ocean is a dark cave. What is a metaphor? A metaphor is like a simile. It compares two things, but DOES NOT use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. A simile would say you are LIKE something. A metaphor would say you ARE something. Example: The deep ocean is a dark cave.

What is a hyperbole? A hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic that no one would believe the statement is true. Example: He was so hungry, he ate the whole cow for lunch, tail and all!

What is a hyperbole? A hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic that no one would believe the statement is true. Example: I don’t have time to do my chores. I already have a million things to do.

What is onomatopoeia? Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sounds of a thing. Example: The duck quacked as it crossed our path.

What is onomatopoeia? Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sounds of a thing. Example: The tiny fairy disappeared with a poof.

Example: Everything is coming up roses for Sarah today! What is an idiom? An idiom is a phrase that says one thing, but means something entirely different. Example: Everything is coming up roses for Sarah today!

What is an idiom? An idiom is a phrase that says one thing, but means something entirely different. Example: Thank you for helping me today. You’re my knight in shining armor.

Example: Lovely Lisa loves lazy lizards. What is alliteration? Alliteration is the repetition of a sound at the beginning of two or more neighboring words. Example: Lovely Lisa loves lazy lizards.

Example: Dancing dinosaurs deserve donuts. What is alliteration? Alliteration is the repetition of a sound at the beginning of two or more neighboring words. Example: Dancing dinosaurs deserve donuts.

What is personification? Personification is when human characteristics are given to an animal or an object. Example: My teddy bear gave me a hug.

What is personification? Personification is when human characteristics are given to an animal or an object. Example: The flowers danced in the breeze.

Now, let’s see if you can identify figurative language on your own.

Which type of figurative language is being used? His skin was tan like the sand on the beach. like Simile: This sentence uses the word ‘like’ to compare the color of his skin, to the color of the sand. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Clever cats catch critters constantly. Alliteration: This sentence repeats the hard ‘c’ sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? My brother is so skinny, he could be a telephone pole. Hyperbole: This is an exaggeration! No one is as skinny as a telephone pole. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? That monkey is cool as a cucumber. Idiom and simile: Who knew that cucumbers were so cool, but it is a common phrase. It also compares the monkey to a cucumber. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Stella took the time to wave and moo at the passersby. Onomatopoeia and personification: The word moo imitates the sound, and cows do not wave. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Patty preferred to plant petunias in pots. Alliteration: This sentence repeats the ‘p’ sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Kaya was enjoying her book so much that it slipped her mind that she was supposed to be doing homework. Idiom: The phrase ‘slipped her mind’ is an idiom that means she forgot. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The tires screeched as the race began. Onomatopoeia: The word screeched imitates the sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? I got so dirty, that my pants screamed, “Clean me!” CLEAN ME!! Personification: This sentence gives human characteristics to pants. Pants cannot scream. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Samantha the sad sheep sulked silently. Alliteration: This sentence repeats the ‘s’ sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? After we moved out, our house was an empty shell. Metaphor: This sentence is comparing the house to an empty shell. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? If Francis wins the lottery tonight, I’ll eat my hat. Idiom: The phrase “I’ll eat my hat” means that whatever is happening is not very likely. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The sun stretched his rays and said hello as he came up over the horizon. Personification: This sentence is giving human characteristics to the sun. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Emily swam like a dolphin in the pool. like Simile: This sentence uses the word ‘like’ to compare Emily to a dolphin. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Santa’s beard was itchy sandpaper. Metaphor: This sentence is comparing Santa’s beard to itchy sandpaper. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The soccer ball was not going to whiz by the goalie. She had other plans. Onomatopoeia: The word whiz imitates the sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? My grandpa’s nose is so big, he could smell the flowers from miles away. Hyperbole: It is an exaggeration. No one’s nose could smell flowers from miles away. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? My mom’s perfume was like sweet roses in bloom. like Simile: It is comparing Mom’s perfume to roses using the word ‘like’. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The popcorn jumped in my mouth so fast that I ate the whole bowl. Personification: Popcorn cannot really jump into your mouth. It is giving human characteristics to popcorn. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Paul was a shining star at the basketball game. Metaphor: It is comparing Paul to a shining star, without using ‘like’ or ‘as’. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? My pencil was as sharp as a razor, slicing the paper with every move. as Simile: This sentence is comparing a pencil to a razor using the word ‘as’. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Ash sang and strummed the strings of the guitar. Onomatopoeia: The word strummed imitates the sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? My dad’s feet were so smelly, I thought there were garbage trucks in the house! Hyperbole: This is an exaggeration. No one’s feet could smell as bad as a garbage truck. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The bodybuilder was as strong as King Kong. as Simile: This sentence is comparing a bodybuilder to King Kong, using the word ‘as’. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? I was so hungry, I could have eaten a million donuts. Hyperbole: This is an exaggeration. No one could eat a million donuts. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? He could leap tall buildings in a single bound! Hyperbole: Jumping over a building is just not possible. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The ticking clock reminded her that she ought to be sleeping. Onomatopoeia: The word ticking imitates the sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Her lips were red like ripe cherries. like Simile: This sentence is comparing lips to cherries using the word ‘like’. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The pirates were dirty rats floating in the water. Metaphor: It compares a pirate to a rat, without using ‘like’ or ‘as’. It says the pirates were rats. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Grey geese, in a green field, are grazing. Alliteration: This sentence repeats the ‘g’ sound. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? The sneakers walked all the way to Alaska! Personification: Sneakers cannot really walk. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? Stan decided it was time to hit the hay, for it had been a long day. Idiom: Hitting the hay means that it is time for bed. Hitting the sack means the same thing. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

Which type of figurative language is being used? When Sally Salamander smiled at Timmy Turtle, he was so embarrassed he thought he would die! Hyperbole: This is an exaggeration because no one can die of embarrassment. Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Idiom Alliteration Personification

You’ve done a fantastic job! We’ve had a whale of a time, haven’t we? Hee hee! Good job friends!

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