Idioms, Hyperboles, and Dialect

Idioms Idioms are phrases which people use in everyday language which do not make sense literally but we understand what they mean An idiom is an expression that has meaning apart from the meanings of its individual words Example: To stick your neck out is to saw or do something that is bold and dangerous To break the ice is to be the first one to say or so something with the expectation that others will follow.

Hyperboles Hyperboles are figures of speech that use intentional exaggeration. Descriptive language that uses a creative way to describe something. By exaggerating certain characteristics hyperboles give the reader a vivid image. Example I have been studying for a million hours He was 20 feet tall

Idiom or Hyperbole? Read the following statements and on your sheet of paper write down if it is an idiom or a hyperbole.

Statement #1 I was so hungry that I even ate the plate.

Statement #2 Her head was so full of ideas that it was ready to burst wide open.

Statement #3 That movie took my breath away.

Statement #4 I like pancakes so much I could eat a million of them.

Statement #5 You're just throwing money down the drain.

Statement #6 You are as slow as molasses in January.

Statement #7 Nobody listens to that song anymore.

Statement #8 These shoes are killing me.

Statement #9 Bob’s new corner office was just the icing on the cake 

Statement #10 Yeah, I already beat that game 80,000 years ago.

Statement #1 I was so hungry that I even ate the plate. Hyperbole

Statement #2 Her head was so full of ideas that it was ready to burst wide open. Hyperbole

Statement #3 That movie took my breath away. Idiom

Statement #4 I like pancakes so much I could eat a million of them. Hyperbole

Statement #5 You're just throwing money down the drain. Idiom

Statement #6 You are as slow as molasses in January. Idiom

Statement #7 Nobody listens to that song anymore. Hyperbole

Statement #8 These shoes are killing me. Hyperbole

Statement #9 Bob’s new corner office was just the icing on the cake  Idiom

Statement #10 Yeah, I already beat that game 80,000 years ago. Hyperbole

Dialect The language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or any other group of people. Dialect involves the spelling, sounds, grammar, and pronunciation used by a particular group of people and it distinguishes them from other people around them. Why do authors use dialect? To make characters realistic To make the story historically accurate To demonstrate the social and educational level of a character To display the age, culture or geographical background of a character

Dialect - Examples Used to display North v. South(Vovcabulary)

Dialect - Examples Used to display Education Level/Geographical Region Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Fin Jim: “We’s safe, Huck, we’s safe! Jump up and crack yo’ heels. Dat’s de good ole Cairo at las’, I jis knows it.” Huck: “I’ll take the canoe and go see, Jim. It mightn’t be, you know.”

Dialect Map of the US