Your Guide to Understanding Figurative Language

IAMPOSHIAMPOSH DIOM LLITERATION ETAPHOR ERSONIFICATION NOMATOPOEIA IMILE YPERBOLE

IDIOM Definition: An expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the meanings of the individual words composing it Example: “Cat Got Your Tongue” Side Note: In ancient Middle Eastern times, liars were punished by having their tongues ripped out an fed to the king’s cats.

ALLITERATION Definition: The repeating of beginning consonant sounds in a series of words. Example: The boy was nodding off, nearly napping.

METAPHOR Definition: A figure of speech that compares two different things without using a word of comparison, such as “like” or “as”. Example: The streetlight was a security guard.

PERSONIFICATION Definition: Human characteristics are given to a non-living object. Example: The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up.

ONOMATOPOEIA Definition: The forming of a name or word by imitating the natural sound Example: MOO HISS WOOF

SIMILE Definition: A figure of speech that makes a comparison using the words “like” or “as” Example:

HYPERBOLE Definition: An extreme exaggeration used to make a point. Example: I had to walk 15 miles, uphill, both ways, in the snow, everyday to get to school.