The document defines and provides examples of various types of figurative language, including imagery, idioms, similes, hyperbole, alliteration, metaphors, personification, oxymorons, onomatopoeia, and more. Figurative language uses comparisons between objects or descriptions that appeal to the senses rather than being literal. Examples are given for each type to illustrate how figurative devices are used in language in a non-literal way.

1. I SHAMPOO
Figurative Language

2. WHAT IS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE?
Whenever you describe something
by comparing it with something
else,
you are using figurative language.

3. IMAGERY
Language in which descriptions of
people or objects appeals to the
senses.
• Sight
• Hearing
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell

4. IDIOMS
 An expression whose meaning is not
predictable from the usual meanings
 The coach and players threw in the towel.

5. WHAT DO THESE IDIOMS MEAN?
 YOU ARE A HOT POTATO.
 A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.
 COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG.
 THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT.

6. SIMILE
Comparison using like or as
 My mom was as blind as a bat

7. HYPERBOLE
An exaggeration
 My dad had a heart attack when he saw my
grade.

8. COMMON HYPERBOLE:
 I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
 I had a ton of chores to do.
 If I can’t get a Smartphone, I will die.
 She is as thin as a toothpick.
 This car goes faster than the speed of light.
 Our new house cost a bazillion dollars.

9. ALLITERATION
 Two or more words of a word group with the same
sound at the beginning of the word
 Betty Blake bought big butter.

10. METAPHOR
 Comparison NOT using like or as; indicator
words – am, is, are, was, & were
 She is sunshine, brightening our day

11. PERSONIFICATION
 Giving human characteristics to inanimate
objects and other living things
 The printer ate my paper

12. OXYMORON
 Contradictory terms are used in conjunction
(together)
 Inside out; cold sweat; alone in the crowd

13. FOR EXAMPLE
 Great Depression
 Jumbo shrimp
 Cruel to be kind
 Pain for pleasure
 Clearly confused
 Act naturally
 Beautifully painful
 Painfully beautiful
 Deafening silence
 Pretty ugly

14. ONOMATOPOEIA
 The formation of a word, intended as an
imitation of a sound
 Bang! Zip! Meow!

15. EXAMPLES
The wind
whispered through
dry grass.
I am trying to solve a
million issues these
days.
She is as beautiful
as the rising sun.
That
was a
piece
of
cake!
He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.

16. EXAMPLES
BUZZ!
ONOMATOPOIA
The dress was
pretty ugly!
OXYMORON
The wind whispered through
dry grass.
PERSONIFICATION
I am trying to solve a
million issues these
days.
HYPERBOLE
She is as beautiful
as the rising sun.
SIMILE
That
was a
piece
of
cake!
IDIOM
He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.
IMAGERY