Figures of Speech in the English Language

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!

While you may find several figures of speech definitions and examples online, it is important that you first understand the need of using these phrases.

1. Many figures of speech contain metaphors, idioms, similes, ironies, antithesis, alliterations, personifications, and paradoxes. So as you learn about these figures of speech, you also start to understand other aspects of the English language.
2. Since figures of speech are used not only in spoken English but also in the written word, using them can greatly enhance the overall quality of your English.
3. In most cases, you can use these phrases in the form of a witty comeback or simply as a way to demonstrate your eloquence in the language. 

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.

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.

What’s next?

Apart from these 15 types of figures of speech with examples, there are many more that you may want to know about. Like-

1. Synecdoche
2. Epigram
3. Litotes
4. Circumlocution, and
5. Pleonasm

1. What is ‘irony’ in the figure of speech examples?

Irony is a type of figure of speech that is used to denote an opposite meaning to whatever is being said or written. 

2. What figure of speech is good?

While each person may have his/her own personal favorite figures of speech, using metaphors, euphemisms and oxymorons may be considered quite clever. 

3. Which are the 3 most popular figures of speech example sentences?

Three popular figures of speech example sentences are- 

• Your hands are as clean as mud.
• Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.
• He passed away in his sleep.

4. What are examples of a metaphor?

Some popular examples of metaphors are-

• “I’m feeling blue”
• “Sharon is an early bird”
• “Raining cats and dogs”
• “Heart of gold”