Figurative Language and

Idiomatic Expressions
S&R By: Cristine NIcole Tabique

A kind of expression known as FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE does not rely on the

literal or realistic meaning of a word. Figurative language is frequently
employed to add artistic flourish to written or spoken language or to
convey a difficult concept. It is frequently found in comparisons and
exaggerations. Figurative language refers to the use of words in a way
that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey
a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison.
It refers to something without actually declaring it by using a regular
sentence.

TYPES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE There are several types of figurative

languages that are used in modern writing. They include: 1. Simile, A simile
is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things and uses the words
“like” or “as” and they are commonly used in everyday communication. A
simile is used with the aim of sparking an interesting connection in the
reader’s mind. An example of a simile is, “The cat sat in the chair like a king
overlooking his kingdom.” The cat’s sitting posture is compared to that of
a king who relaxes in a special chair that is reserved for him and not any
other person in the kingdom. Other examples of similes include, the boy
was as brave as a lion in the jungle. Also the assistant was as busy as a bee
when she was preparing the podium for the presidential address. 2.
Metaphor, A metaphor is a statement that compares two things that are
not alike. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the words “like” or “as.”
Such statements only make sense when the reader understands the
connection between the two things being compared. An example of a
popular metaphor is “Time is money.” The statement compares time and
money, and it does not literally mean that the amount of time you have
equals the money that you have. Instead, it means that time is a valuable
resource, and it should be used effectively to earn money. Any time
wasted means that a person loses the chance to make more money.
Other examples of metaphors include, Love is a battlefield. Baby, you are
my sunshine. And also Chaos is a friend of the legislator.
 3. Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is created to
emphasize a point or bring out a sense of humor. It is often
used in everyday conversations without the speaker
noticing it. The exaggeration is so outrageous that no one
would believe that it is true. It is used to add depth and
color to a statement. An example of hyperbole is, “I would
die for you.” The sentence does not necessarily mean that
one person is literally willing to die for the other, but it used
to exaggerate the amount of love that one person has for
another person. Death is only used to show the extent of
affection. 4. Personification, Personification is the
attribution of human characteristics to non-living objects.
Using personification affects the way readers imagine
things, and it sparks an interest in the subject. An example
of personification is, “The sun greeted me when I woke up
in the morning.” The sun is a non-human object but has
been given human characteristics since greetings can only
be performed by living creatures. 5. Synecdoche,
Synecdoche is a type of figurative language that uses one
part to refer to the whole, or the whole to refer to the part.
For example, a set of wheels can be used to refer to a
vehicle and a suit to refer to a businessman. When
referring to a car as a set of wheels, the wheels are only a
part of the car and not the whole thing. Similarly, a typical
businessman wears a suit alongside other accessories
such as a watch and a briefcase. 6. Onomatopoeia,
Onomatopoeia is a language that names something or an
action by imitating the sound associated with it. They add
some reality to the writing. Examples of onomatopoeia
include, the fireplace heater hissed and cracked. And The
truck engine roared as it climbed the hill.
 Idiomatic expressions are linguistic expressions,
grammatical forms, phrases or words that are used
conventionally and possess a figurative meaning which
cannot be predicted from the individual components or
literal meanings of the constituent parts. Here's an
example of an idiomatic expression: Hold your tongue.
This idiom doesn't actually mean that you should stick
your fingers in your mouth and grab a hold of your tongue.
It means that you shouldn't talk. People "hold their
tongues" when they're in situations where they want to
talk, but it would be better if they didn't. So, while their
tongue is ready to do some talking, they "hold" it and don't
say anything. Here are some other example of the most
common idioms that are easy to use in daily
conversation:“Hit the hay.” “Sorry, guys, I have to hit the
hay now! “Up in the air” “Stabbed in the back” “Takes two
to tango” “Kill two birds with one stone.”
Learning idiomatic expressions helps non-native speakers
of a language become more fluent, and sound more
native-like. Learning idiomatic expressions increases the
vocabulary and lexicon of the English Language learner.
Figurative language also makes ideas and concepts easier
to visualize. It can bring clarity to abstract ideas,
concepts, and feelings. Devices like imagery and
onomatopoeia form a clear picture in the mind.
Comparisons through metaphors, similes, and symbolism
make complex ideas easier to understand.