Figure of Speech Examples

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that has a meaning something different than its literal meaning. It can be ametaphor or simile that is designed to further explain a concept. Or, it can be a different way of pronouncing a word or phrase such as with alliteration to give further meaning or a different sound.

Examples of Figures of Speech

Using Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of beginning sounds. Examples are:

• Sally sells seashells.
• Walter wondered where Winnie was.
• Blue baby bonnets
• Nick needed notebooks.
• Fred fried frogs.

Using Anaphora

Anaphora is a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the same word or words. Examples are:

• I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar
• Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! King John - William Shakespeare
• We laughed, we loved, we sang
• With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, - Abraham Lincoln
• We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. - Winston Churchill

Using Assonance

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together. Examples are:

• A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore (Poe)
• E - Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee (Coleridge)
• I - From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire (Frost)
• O - Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn (Wordsworth)
• U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)

Using a Euphemism

Euphemism is a word or phrase that replaces a word or phrase to make it more polite or pleasant. Examples are:

• A little thin on top instead of bald
• Homeless instead of bum
• Letting him go instead of fired him
• Passed away instead of died
• Put to sleep instead of euthanize

Using Hyperbole

Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Examples are:

• I’ve told you a hundred times
• It cost a billion dollars
• I could do this forever
• She is older than dirt
• Everybody knows that

Using Irony

Irony is using words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning. Examples are:

• After begging for a cat and finally getting one, she found out she was allergic.
• A traffic cop gets suspended for not paying his parking tickets.
• The Titanic was said to be unsinkable.
• Dramatic irony is knowing the killer is hiding in a closet in a scary movie.
• Naming a Chihuahua Brutus

Using Metaphor

Metaphor compares two unlike things or ideas. Examples are:

• Heart of stone
• Time is money
• The world is a stage
• She is a night owl
• He is an ogre

Using Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it is describing. Examples are:

• Whoosh
• Splat
• Buzz
• Click
• Oink

Using Oxymoron

Oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together. Examples are:

• Peace force
• Kosher ham
• Jumbo shrimp
• Small crowd
• Free market

Using Personification

Personification is giving human qualities to non-living things or ideas. Examples are:

• The flowers nodded
• Snowflakes danced
• Thunder grumbled
• Fog crept in
• The wind howled

Using Simile

Simile is a comparison between two unlike things. Examples are:

• As slippery as an eel
• Like peas in a pod
• As blind as a bat
• Eats like a pig
• As wise as an owl

Using Understatement

Understatement is when something is said to make something appear less important or less serious. Examples are:

• It's just a scratch - referring to a large dent
• It is sometimes dry and sandy - referring to the driest desert in the world
• The weather is a little cooler today - referring to sub-zero temperatures
• I won’t say it was delicious - referring to terrible food
• The tsunami caused some damage - referring to a huge tsunami

  Figure of Speech Examples

  A figure of speech is a word or phrase that has a meaning something different than its literal meaning. It can be ametaphor or simile that is designed to further explain a concept. Or, it can be a different way of pronouncing a word or phrase such as with alliteration to give further meaning or a different sound.

  Examples of Figures of Speech

  Using Alliteration

  Alliteration is the repetition of beginning sounds. Examples are:

  • Sally sells seashells.
  • Walter wondered where Winnie was.
  • Blue baby bonnets
  • Nick needed notebooks.
  • Fred fried frogs.

  Using Anaphora

  Anaphora is a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the same word or words. Examples are:

  • I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar
  • Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! King John - William Shakespeare
  • We laughed, we loved, we sang
  • With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, - Abraham Lincoln
  • We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. - Winston Churchill

  Using Assonance

  Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together. Examples are:

  • A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore (Poe)
  • E - Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee (Coleridge)
  • I - From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire (Frost)
  • O - Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn (Wordsworth)
  • U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)

  Using a Euphemism

  Euphemism is a word or phrase that replaces a word or phrase to make it more polite or pleasant. Examples are:

  • A little thin on top instead of bald
  • Homeless instead of bum
  • Letting him go instead of fired him
  • Passed away instead of died
  • Put to sleep instead of euthanize

  Using Hyperbole

  Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Examples are:

  • I’ve told you a hundred times
  • It cost a billion dollars
  • I could do this forever
  • She is older than dirt
  • Everybody knows that

  Using Irony

  Irony is using words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning. Examples are:

  • After begging for a cat and finally getting one, she found out she was allergic.
  • A traffic cop gets suspended for not paying his parking tickets.
  • The Titanic was said to be unsinkable.
  • Dramatic irony is knowing the killer is hiding in a closet in a scary movie.
  • Naming a Chihuahua Brutus

  Using Metaphor

  Metaphor compares two unlike things or ideas. Examples are:

  • Heart of stone
  • Time is money
  • The world is a stage
  • She is a night owl
  • He is an ogre

  Using Onomatopoeia

  Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it is describing. Examples are:

  • Whoosh
  • Splat
  • Buzz
  • Click
  • Oink

  Using Oxymoron

  Oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together. Examples are:

  • Peace force
  • Kosher ham
  • Jumbo shrimp
  • Small crowd
  • Free market

  Using Personification

  Personification is giving human qualities to non-living things or ideas. Examples are:

  • The flowers nodded
  • Snowflakes danced
  • Thunder grumbled
  • Fog crept in
  • The wind howled

  Using Simile

  Simile is a comparison between two unlike things. Examples are:

  • As slippery as an eel
  • Like peas in a pod
  • As blind as a bat
  • Eats like a pig
  • As wise as an owl

  Using Understatement

  Understatement is when something is said to make something appear less important or less serious. Examples are:

  • It's just a scratch - referring to a large dent
  • It is sometimes dry and sandy - referring to the driest desert in the world
  • The weather is a little cooler today - referring to sub-zero temperatures
  • I won’t say it was delicious - referring to terrible food
  • The tsunami caused some damage - referring to a huge tsunami

    Figure of Speech Examples

    A figure of speech is a word or phrase that has a meaning something different than its literal meaning. It can be ametaphor or simile that is designed to further explain a concept. Or, it can be a different way of pronouncing a word or phrase such as with alliteration to give further meaning or a different sound.

    Examples of Figures of Speech

    Using Alliteration

    Alliteration is the repetition of beginning sounds. Examples are:

    • Sally sells seashells.
    • Walter wondered where Winnie was.
    • Blue baby bonnets
    • Nick needed notebooks.
    • Fred fried frogs.

    Using Anaphora

    Anaphora is a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the same word or words. Examples are:

    • I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar
    • Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! King John - William Shakespeare
    • We laughed, we loved, we sang
    • With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, - Abraham Lincoln
    • We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. - Winston Churchill

    Using Assonance

    Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together. Examples are:

    • A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore (Poe)
    • E - Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee (Coleridge)
    • I - From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire (Frost)
    • O - Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn (Wordsworth)
    • U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)

    Using a Euphemism

    Euphemism is a word or phrase that replaces a word or phrase to make it more polite or pleasant. Examples are:

    • A little thin on top instead of bald
    • Homeless instead of bum
    • Letting him go instead of fired him
    • Passed away instead of died
    • Put to sleep instead of euthanize

    Using Hyperbole

    Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Examples are:

    • I’ve told you a hundred times
    • It cost a billion dollars
    • I could do this forever
    • She is older than dirt
    • Everybody knows that

    Using Irony

    Irony is using words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning. Examples are:

    • After begging for a cat and finally getting one, she found out she was allergic.
    • A traffic cop gets suspended for not paying his parking tickets.
    • The Titanic was said to be unsinkable.
    • Dramatic irony is knowing the killer is hiding in a closet in a scary movie.
    • Naming a Chihuahua Brutus

    Using Metaphor

    Metaphor compares two unlike things or ideas. Examples are:

    • Heart of stone
    • Time is money
    • The world is a stage
    • She is a night owl
    • He is an ogre

    Using Onomatopoeia

    Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it is describing. Examples are:

    • Whoosh
    • Splat
    • Buzz
    • Click
    • Oink

    Using Oxymoron

    Oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together. Examples are:

    • Peace force
    • Kosher ham
    • Jumbo shrimp
    • Small crowd
    • Free market

    Using Personification

    Personification is giving human qualities to non-living things or ideas. Examples are:

    • The flowers nodded
    • Snowflakes danced
    • Thunder grumbled
    • Fog crept in
    • The wind howled

    Using Simile

    Simile is a comparison between two unlike things. Examples are:

    • As slippery as an eel
    • Like peas in a pod
    • As blind as a bat
    • Eats like a pig
    • As wise as an owl

    Using Understatement

    Understatement is when something is said to make something appear less important or less serious. Examples are:

    • It's just a scratch - referring to a large dent
    • It is sometimes dry and sandy - referring to the driest desert in the world
    • The weather is a little cooler today - referring to sub-zero temperatures
    • I won’t say it was delicious - referring to terrible food
    • The tsunami caused some damage - referring to a huge tsunami