Figures of speech are expressions used to give a vivid and rhetoric effect to language.

1. FIGURES
OF
SPEECHCompiled by
Dr. T. Lilly Golda
Assistant Professor of English
A.P.C. Mahalaxmi College for Women
Thoothukudi.

2. PARADOX
Reveals something true which at first
seems contradictory
Examples:
1.He was a brave coward.
2.When you win all the time, you lose.

3. METAPHOR
Is a comparison of two unlike things without
using the words “like” or “as”
Examples:
1. He was a statue, waiting to hear the news.
2. She was a mother hen, trying to take care of
everyone around her.

4. IMAGERY
Is when a writer invokes the five senses
Examples:
1. The smell reminded him of rotting
tomatoes.
2. The fence was uneven, like baby teeth
growing awkwardly in. (also a simile!)

5. PUN
Is a humorous play on words, often involving
double meanings
Examples:
1. When a clock is hungry it goes back four
seconds.
2. A man stole a case of soap from the corner
store. He made a clean gateway.

6. ALLITERATION
Is the repetition of the same consonant sound
in words occurring near one another
Examples:
1. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled
peppers.
2. Sally sells seashells by the seashore.

7. OXYMORON
Two opposite terms
Examples:
1. A peaceful war
2. A generous cheapskate dark sunshine

8. EUPHEMISM
Is a polite word or phrase used in place of one that
may be too direct, unpleasant, or embarrassing.
Examples:
1. Pass away= die
2. Vertically challenged= short
3. Let go= fired
4. Pre-owned= used

9. PERSONIFICATION
Is when a writer gives human qualities to
animals or objects
Examples:
1. My car drank the gasoline in one gulp.
2. The cat laughed.
3. The newspaper headline glared at me.

10. SIMILE
Is an expression comparing one thing to
another using the words “like” or “as”
Examples:
1. He ran like a cat, lightly and quietly.
2. Her blue mood passed as quickly as an
afternoon rain shower.

11. CLICHE
Is an expression that has lost its power or
originality from overuse
Example:
Talking a mile a minute quiet as a mouse easy
as pie

12. ALLUSION
Is a casual reference to a famous historical or
literary figure or event
Examples:
1. If it doesn’t stop raining, I’m going to build
an ark.
2. My sister has so many pets, I’m going to
call myself Old McDonald.

13. SYMBOLISM
Is using an object or action that means
something more than its literal meaning
Examples:
1. Pink- the fight against breast cancer
2. The Statue of Liberty- freedom