Types of Figure of Speech in English: Examples of Figurative Language to Ace English

Word or phrase possessing different meaning from its literal definition is called a figure of speech. Different types of figure of speech in English are used for expressing different meanings.

This is an integral part of the English language and can be found in poetry, oral literature and even in everyday conversations. For eye-catching purposes and also for adding humour, advertising slogans, newspaper headlines, greeting-card rhymes, captions of images etc use different types of figure of speech.

Figurative speech makes communication even more expressive and creative. These have always been a huge part of the English language and even today also more additions are being done. Let’s check out the different kinds of figures of speech and meaning.

Types of Figurative Speech

Figurative speech is used for conveying difficult meaning and also for bringing clarity in writing. These are used for indirectly stating something which an ordinary sentence can not do. Let’s check the types of figurative speech:

Metaphor

This is used for comparing two unlike or unrelated things or ideas which have some common qualities. Metaphor type of figurative speech is used for representing ideas through comparison.

Example of Common Metaphor Figures of Speech

Her father has a heart of stone
Love is a battlefield.
He went through a rollercoaster of emotions.
Chaos is a friend of hers.
He was drowning in a sea of grief.
The classroom is a zoo.
I am a night owl.
He behaved like a pig at the dinner party.
The stormy sea looks like a raging bull.
She was a swan dancing across the stage.
Her mother’s eyes were fireflies.
The alligator’s teeth are white daggers.
The equipment at the laboratory is old dinosaurs.
Jenny was a chicken.
His dad is a road hog.
Our teacher was a dragon.

Some more Example of Metaphor Figure of Speech in English

Her kid is a shining star.
Donations to the charity were a tsunami.
The stadium was a lake after the rain.
The sun is a golden ball.
The clouds were balls of cotton.
That lawn is a green carpet.
Her eyes are sparkling diamonds.
His temper was a volcano, ready to explode.
These two friends are two peas in a pod.
Kisses are the flowers of affection.
The calm lake in the forest was a mirror.
The full moon is a white balloon.

Simile

This figure of speech is used for comparing two unlike or unrelated things or ideas using the words like or as. This type of figurative speech is very much used in daily conversations.

Example of Simile Figures of Speech

As tough as rock
As hard as nails
As hot as hell
As innocent as a lamb
As sweet as sugar
As black as coal
As tall as a giraffe
As common as dirt
As cold as ice
As white as a ghost
As cute as a kitten
As bright as a button
As blind as a bat
As happy as a clam
As light as cotton
As shiny as gold.
As bold as brass
As dry as a bone
As deep as the sea.
Fits like a sock.
Ate like a pig.
Sleeping like a dog.
As brave as a lion.

Some more Example of Simile Figure of Speech in English

As sly as a fox
As clear as day.
As big as an elephant.
As busy as a bee
As sharp as a razor.
As tough as an old boot.
As easy as pie
Like a fish out of water
Cuts like butter.
Moves like a snail.
Soft like velvet.
Ran like lightning.
Teeth like razors.
Slept like a baby.
As sweet as honey.

Hyperbole

This is an exaggeration created to bring out humour or emphasize a point. These exaggerations are too monstrous to be the truth. This is used for adding depth to a statement.

Example of Hyperbole Figures of Speech

Older than the hills.
Her brain is the size of a pea
I have a million things to do today.
I had a ton of work.
I’ll die if I can’t buy that perfect diamond ring.
She’s as skinny as a toothpick.
The bus passed faster than the speed of light.
His new car cost a gazillion dollars.
They act as if they are too poor to have two cents to rub together.
That dress is so old, the last time he wore it he was riding a dinosaur.
They’ve got tons of money.
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
She is so thin that the wind can carry her.

Example of Hyperbole in Speech

“So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address

“Please sit down because having produced nine million award shows, I know the producer’s up there saying, ‘Hurry, say thanks fast’.”

-Dick Clark, Daytime Emmy Award Acceptance Address

“I think this is the most extraordinary collection of human talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

-President John F. Kennedy, White House dinner honouring Nobel Prize winners

“That year, 1967, the Dallas Cowboys had 137 rookies in training camp. Gil Brandt was signing everybody that could walk. Only five made the team that year, and I was one of the five.”

-Larry Rayfield Wright, Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Address

Synecdoche

This is one of the types of figurative speech where one part refers to the whole or vice versa. Let’s look at some of the examples to understand this better

Example of Synecdoche Common Figures of Speech

“Glasses” refer to eyewear.
“Bread” refers to food
“Wheels” refers to a vehicle.
“Boots” refers to soldiers.
“Sails” is often used to refer to a whole ship.
“Bubbly” refers to champagne.
“Hired hands” is used to refer to workers.
“Head” refers to counting people.
In good hands.

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