Figurative Language

Figurative language is a great way to make your writing more descriptive and meaningful.

Six common types of figurative language: idiom simile metaphor personification hyperbole pun

Idiom I feel like a million dollars whenever I win a race. An expression whose meaning is not what it sounds like. I feel like a million dollars whenever I win a race.

Simile A comparison using the word “like” or “as.” Her sunburned face looked like a strawberry.

Metaphor A comparison saying one thing is another thing. He was so embarrassed his face was a tomato.

Personification Giving human qualities to an object, animal, or idea. The angry sea swallowed up the tiny boat.

An exaggeration used to make a point. My backpack weighed a ton. Hyperbole An exaggeration used to make a point. My backpack weighed a ton.

I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got over it. Pun Figurative language that purposely and deliberately takes advantage similarities between words. I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got over it.

Practice See if you can correctly identify the following types of figurative language.

What kind of figurative language is this? My stomach growled.

Personification The sentence gives a stomach human qualities (growling).

What kind of figurative language is this? Bob was so scared he turned white as a ghost.

Simile The sentence compares Bob to a ghost using the word “as.”

What kind of figurative language is this? She nearly died laughing.

Hyperbole The sentence exaggerates to prove a point (she didn’t really almost die).

What kind of figurative language is this? My stomach is a bottomless pit.

Metaphor The sentence compares two things by saying my stomach is a bottomless pit.

What kind of figurative language is this? This couch is as hard as a rock.

Simile The sentence compares the couch to a rock using the word “as.”

What kind of figurative language is this? I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Hyperbole The sentence exaggerates to prove a point (I couldn’t really eat a horse).

What kind of figurative language is this? Mary is an angel.

Metaphor The sentence compares two things by saying Mary is an angel.

What kind of figurative language is this? I have a fear of needles. They really get under my skin.

Pun It’s “punny” because needles really do get under your skin, but the phrase can also mean that something is creepy.

What kind of figurative language is this? The two large oak trees guarded the path.

Personification The sentence gives the trees human qualities (guarding the path).

What kind of figurative language is this? Ernest and Julie decided not to plan their presentation before its due date; they figured they would play it by ear.

Idiom “Play it by ear” is an expression. It does not mean to actually use your ear to play something.

What kind of figurative language is this? The cabin was a freezer during the winter.

Metaphor The sentence compares two things by saying the cabin was a freezer.

What kind of figurative language is this? The wind howled through the trees.

Personification The sentence gives the wind human qualities (howled).

What kind of figurative language is this? I tried calling him a million times.

Hyperbole The sentence exaggerates to prove a point (I didn’t really call a million times).

What kind of figurative language is this? Jason ran like a cheetah.

Simile The sentence compares Jason to a cheetah using the word “like.”

What kind of figurative language is this? That poem really spoke to me.

Personification The sentence gives the poem human qualities (the poem speaking).

What kind of figurative language is this? The test was a piece of cake.

Metaphor/Idiom The sentence compares two things by saying the test was a piece of cake, but it also uses the expression “piece of cake,” meaning “easy.”

What kind of figurative language is this? Her hair flowed over her shoulders like a golden river.

Simile The sentence compares her hair to a golden river using the word “like.”

What kind of figurative language is this? “I’ve been waiting forever!” she exclaimed.

Hyperbole The sentence exaggerates to prove a point (she didn’t really wait forever).

Guided Practice Using what you have learned about figurative language types, read President Obama’s inaugural speech from 2008. Highlight or underline as many examples of figurative language as you can. Then answer the questions on the board on the back of the paper.