What is a figure of speech?

A figure of speech is a phrase that has an implied meaning and should not be taken at face value.
This means that the real meaning of such a phrase differs from its literal meaning.
Since most figures of speech are used widely in common parlance, native English language
speakers are quite familiar with them. However, if you are not a native English speaker, or if you
are one and wish to learn more about your language, then you have come to the right place!

Types of Figures of Speech

After looking at these phrases, you may be eager to start using figures of speech in your daily
conversation . But for that, you also need to know which figure of speech to use in which context.
So let’s get into the details of the 15 types of figures of speech with examples so you know
exactly when to use each of them.

1. Personification
This type of figure of speech is constructed by attributing certain human characteristics to
otherwise inanimate objects. For example, you may have often heard people saying that the “wind
is howling.” Look at these two popular examples to get a better idea-
 Opportunity knocked at his/her door.
 Time flies when you’re having fun.

2. Metaphor
This type of figure of speech is generally used by talking about two very different kinds of things
that have a common link. Hence, the action, feature, or effect of the unrelated thing can be applied
to that of the related thing, and imply a new meaning. For example- 
 She is the apple of my eye.
 The Sun is a creature of habit.

3. Simile
These phrases are somewhat similar to metaphors but are more direct than implied in their
meaning. In similes, the indirectly implied meaning is replaced with the words “as” or “like.”
These words are used to make the connection between the two different words being used. For
example- 
 His response was as cold as ice.
 After taking his medication, he became fit as a fiddle.

4. Alliteration
These types of phrases are figures of speech that have a similar sounding consonant (non-vowel
letters) at the beginning of each word. You can identify them by checking for these similarities in
two to three consecutive words. Some alliteration figure of speech examples are- 
 Claire, close your cluttered closet.
 Go and gather the green leaves on the grass.

5. Onomatopoeia
These are rather simple yet unique figures of speech. Onomatopoeiae are words or phrases that are
similar to the sounds they produce. While they may be an informal and childish way of speaking,
these figures of speech can often come in handy when one is trying to be illustrious. Two popular
examples are- 
 “Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears, and sometimes voices&”
(From Shakespeare’s “Tempest”)
 “Tis some visitor&tapping at my chamber door Only this and nothing more.” (From Edgar Allen
Poe’s “The Raven”)

6. Hyperbole
These are one of the most common figures of speech in English, and you must have used them at
least once, even if you are not a native English language speaker. These phrases are meant to
emphasize the importance of something by using overexaggerated phrases. Two examples of
hyperbole figures of speech are- 
 I have told you a million times not to touch my stuff!
 He has a pea-sized brain.

7. Euphemism
Euphemisms are figures of speech that are used to replace stronger and harsher phrases. These are
generally milder or more acceptable terms that you can use in your conversations to sound more
polite and sometimes, politically correct. For example- 
 She has “passed away”, instead of “died.”
 The company has “let him go,” instead of “fired him.”

8. Irony
Figures of speech sometimes also express sarcasm. You can use these phrases to convey a certain
meaning by stating the opposite of it. In common English parlance, such ironic statements or
phrases are easily understood. However, here are two examples that will make it clearer-
 During a thunderstorm, Thomas exclaimed ironically, “What beautiful weather we are having!”
 Gerald proposed a useless idea, to which Thomas responded saying, “That’s genius!”

9. Anaphora
This type of figure of speech is characterized by words, phrases, or clauses that repeat in
consecutive sentences. They are generally used contrastingly in either children’s rhymes or
powerful and dramatic speeches. For example- 
 “So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the
mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania…” (From Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech).
 “In every cry of every Man, In every infant’s cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-
forg’d manacles I hear” (in William Blake’s poem “London”).

10. Pun
Puns are also one of the most common figures of speech that you can use in everyday life. They
make you sound witty and even comical in some cases, and can surely be a conversation starter. A
couple of examples of pun figures of speech are- 
 Denial is a river in Egypt (referring to The Nile using the word Denial).
 Her cat is near the computer to keep an eye on the mouse.

11. Apostrophe
Apostrophe figures of speech are situations (usually in literary worlds), when a character, author,
or speaker addresses an inanimate object or even a person that does not really exist in the given
scenario. While you may not find it in common usage, it is definitely an interesting figure of
speech to learn about. Here are two examples- 
 Oh, rose, how sweet you smell and how bright you look!
 Oh, trees, how majestic you are as you throw down your golden leaves.

12. Paradox
Similar to ironies, these figures of speech highlight something by talking about exactly the
opposite of it. However, a paradox is different because it does not point out the dissimilarity as
obviously as an irony. Let’s look at two paradox figures of speech examples-
 “Some of the biggest failures I ever had were successes.” (As said by American actress Pearl
Bailey).
 “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” (As said by English novelist George
Orwell).

13. Understatement
An understatement is also a type of figure of speech. It is aimed at inciting a less reactive
response to a particular statement. These can really come in handy during your day-to-day English
conversations. For example- 
 That condemned house just needs a coat of paint.
 Sue won the lottery, so she’s a bit excited.
 14. Metonymy

Break your learning

into small chunks to make it easy for you to grasp everything.
Much like synonyms, these figures of speech refer to words that are used in place of other words
(nouns, to be specific). These replacement words are different from the word replaced but share a
common connection. Here are two metonymy figure of speech examples- 
 “The pen is mightier than the sword.” (here, ‘pen’ has replaced ‘the written word’).
 “If you want I can give you a hand.” (here, ‘hand’ has replaced ‘help’).

15. Oxymoron
Not to be confused with ironies and paradoxes, this figure of speech is used to connect two
opposite ideas simultaneously. This means that, in an oxymoron figure of speech, two contrasting
ideas are used within a single sentence to have a jocular effect. For example- 
 This is another fine mess you have got us into.
 Suddenly the room filled with a deafening silence.