30 Figures of Speech Definition and Examples [Find PDF and Quiz]

Figures of Speech in English are creative language tools that make communication more engaging and effective. Some figures of speech examples in English are similes, metaphors, alliteration, hyperbole, and personification. For students, mastering figures of speech improves essay writing, enhances storytelling, and boosts overall language skills. For the uninformed, language that uses these figures of speech is called figurative language. By understanding these techniques, you can create vivid imagery, express emotions powerfully, and make your ideas stand out. Here is a comprehensive blog on 30 figure of speech definition and examples in English literature and poetry. Make sure to stick till the end to practice 20 figures of speech quiz questions and answers.

What are Figures of Speech?

Figures of Speech are an integral part of any language. It is used extensively not only in our day-to-day speech but also in written texts and oral literature. These are words or phrases used in a distinctive way to produce a rhetorical effect. To say it in very simple terms, it is a phrase whose actual meaning is different from its literal meaning.

Figures of Speech are expressed through various techniques such as metaphirs, similes, hyperbole, and personification. All of us use different figures of speech in our daily conversations, both deliberately and subconsciously.

Figures of Speech vs. Figurative Language

Figures of speech are specific literary devices used to make language more expressive, while figurative language is a broader term that includes all types of non-literal expressions used to create imagery or emphasize ideas. Here are more differences between figures of speech vs figurative language:

Aspect	Figures of Speech	Figurative Language
Definition	Specific literary devices like simile, metaphor, or hyperbole.	The overall use of non-literal expressions in writing or speech.
Purpose	Enhances style, creativity, and impact.	Creates deeper meaning, imagery, or emphasis.
Examples	Metaphor, personification, alliteration.	Poetry, storytelling, speeches.

30 Figure of Speech Definition and Examples

There is a wide range of different types of figures of speech that are used in our daily communication. Let us take a look at some of the most popular ones that are used extensively:

Personification

Personification attributes human nature or human qualities to abstract or inanimate objects.

For example, we often use phrases like the howling wind, dancing leaves, time flies, etc. Some examples of personification in a sentence are:

• The opportunity knocked at his door
• The plants in her house silently begged to be watered
• Lightning danced across the sky
• The wind howled in the night.

Metaphor

A metaphor is used to imply a comparison between two things that have something in common but are in general different from each other.

Some examples of the usage of metaphors in a sentence are as follows:

• It is raining cats and dogs
• He is the star of our class
• Life is a highway.
• Her eyes were diamonds.

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things that are different from each other but have similar qualities. These are generally formed through the usage of the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.

Some examples of similes in a sentence include:

• He is as brave as a lion
• Her expression was as cold as ice
• Swim like a fish
• As light as a feather

Alliteration

Alliteration is a sentence that consists of a series of words that have the same consonant sound at the beginning.

Some popular examples of alliteration in a sentence include:

• She sells sea shells on the seashore
• A good cook could cook as many cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies
• All Adam ate in August was apples and almonds
• Barry bought a book to bring to the backyard barbecue

Onomatopoeia

This is a figure of speech that is used to express a sound. To be more precise, it involves the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the action or object referred to, i.e., hiss, clap, etc.

Some examples of onomatopoeia include:

• The buzzing bee flew over my head
• The stone hit the water with a splash
• The boulder hit the ground with a flump.
• Leaves rustle in the wind and are whipped into the air.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole is a figure of speech that consists of an exaggeration. It is the usage of exaggerated terms in order to emphasize or heighten the effect of something.

Some examples of using hyperboles in a sentence include:

• I have told you a million times not to touch my stuff!
• She has got a pea-sized brain.
• I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
• She’s as old as the hills.

Euphemism

Euphemism is the usage of a mild word in substitution of something more explicit or harsh when referring to something unfavorable or unpleasant. Some examples of its usage include:

• This mall has good facilities for differently-abled people
• He passed away in his sleep
• Passed away” instead of “died.”
• “Let go” instead of “fired.”

Irony

Irony or sarcasm is a figure of speech in which the usage of words conveys the opposite of their literal meaning. These are often used in a humorous manner. Some examples of irony include:

• Your hands are as clean as mud
• The dinner you served was as hot as ice
• Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it’s great to be back.”
• Telling a rude customer to “have a nice day.”

Anaphora

It is a repetition of a word or phrase at the start of several sentences of clauses.

Some of the examples of anaphora are as follows:

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “I Have a Dream” Speech
• Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities
• “Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.”
• “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

Apostrophe

It addresses a subject that is not present in the work. In this case, the object is absent or inanimate.

Here are some examples of apostrophes.

• Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are
• Welcome, O life!
• Alarm clock, please don’t fail me.
• Seven, you are my lucky number!

Pun

Puns are among the most frequently used figures of speech in daily conversation. They may be great conversation starters since they make you sound clever and occasionally even humorous.

Here are a few instances of puns in speech:

• 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.
• No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationery.
• Everyone thinks my runny nose is funny, but it’s snot.

Paradox

These figures of speech, like ironies, emphasize something by discussing the exact opposite of it. A paradox, on the other hand, differs from irony in that it does not make the contrast as evident.

Let’s examine two instances of paradoxical figures of speech:

• “Some of my biggest triumphs have also been failures” (According to US actress Pearl Bailey)
• “War is good. Slavery is freedom. “Ignorance is power” (As said by English author George Orwell)
• Save money by spending it
• If I know one thing, it’s that I know nothing

Oxymoron

This figure of speech, which should not be confused with ironies and paradoxes, links two opposing ideas at once. This indicates that two opposing concepts are utilized inside a single sentence to create levity in an oxymoron figure of speech. For instance,

• This is another fine mess you have gotten us into
• Suddenly, the room filled with a deafening silence
• The comedian was seriously funny
• You are clearly confused by the situation you have found yourself in

Assonance

Internal vowels in nearby words that are the same or comparable in sound. Here are a few examples of assonance in speech:

• How now, brown cow?
• The light of the fire is a sight
• Go slow over the road
• Try as I might, the kite did not fly

Metonymy

Metonymy is a figure of speech when one term or phrase is used in place of another with which it is closely related. It is also a rhetorical technique used to describe something indirectly by making references to objects around it.

Here are a few instances of Metonym:

• “That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman,” the manager said angrily.
• The pen is mightier than the sword.”
• I’m a Silicon Valley guy. I just think people from Silicon Valley can do anything.
• Most of the successful people in Hollywood are failures as human beings.

Antithesis

Antithesis is a figure of speech that presents two contrasting ideas in a balanced structure to emphasize their difference.

Some examples of antithesis in a sentence are:

• Speech is silver, but silence is golden.
• It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
• You’re easy on the eyes but hard on the heart.
• Many are called, but few are chosen.

Circumlocution

Circumlocution is the use of unnecessarily long and indirect language to express an idea, often to avoid being blunt.

Some examples of circumlocution include:

• Instead of saying “he died,” one might say, “he passed away peacefully.”
• Referring to a pen as “an instrument for writing.”
• Saying “the elongated yellow fruit” instead of “banana.”
• Calling a car “a four-wheeled vehicle used for transportation.”

Epigram

An epigram is a brief, witty, and memorable statement, often carrying a satirical or paradoxical twist.

Some examples of epigrams include:

• The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
• Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.
• I can resist everything except temptation.
• A lie travels halfway around the world before the truth puts on its shoes.

Litotes

Litotes is a figure of speech that uses understatement by negating the opposite, often to create emphasis.

Some examples of litotes include:

• She’s not unhappy with her results.
• That wasn’t a bad idea at all.
• He’s no stranger to hard work.
• It’s not the worst weather we’ve seen.

Pleonasm

Pleonasm involves the use of redundant words or phrases to emphasize a point or add stylistic flair.

Some examples of pleonasm are:

• I saw it with my own eyes.
• The tiny little puppy was adorable.
• He shouted out loud.
• The end result was unexpected.

Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or vice versa.

Some examples of synecdoche include:

• All hands on deck. (Hands represent sailors.)
• He bought a new set of wheels. (Wheels represent a car.)
• The crown will decide the nation’s fate. (Crown represents the monarchy.)
• She’s counting heads for attendance. (Heads represent people.)

Understatement

An understatement is a figure of speech where the significance of something is intentionally downplayed to create a subtle or ironic effect.

Some examples of understatement include:

• Winning the lottery wasn’t too bad.
• The weather during the storm was a bit windy.
• He’s not the brightest bulb in the box.
• Breaking my leg was a little inconvenient.

Allegory

An allegory is a narrative or description in which characters, events, and details symbolize a deeper moral, political, or spiritual meaning.

Examples of allegory:

• George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution.
• The tortoise and the hare from Aesop’s fables represent perseverance and overconfidence, respectively.
• Dante’s The Divine Comedy is an allegory of the soul’s journey toward God.
• The Lion in The Chronicles of Narnia represents Christ or sacrifice.

Allusion

Allusion is an indirect reference to a person, event, or piece of literature that the audience is expected to understand.

Examples of allusion:

• He’s a real Romeo with the ladies. (Refers to Romeo from Romeo and Juliet.)
• This place is a Garden of Eden. (Refers to the biblical paradise.)
• She opened Pandora’s box with her questions. (Refers to Greek mythology.)
• He met his Waterloo in the finals. (Refers to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.)

Chiasmus

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device where two or more clauses are reversed to create a balanced or artistic effect.

Examples of chiasmus:

• Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.
• Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
• Love as if you would one day hate, and hate as if you would one day love.
• You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.

Climax

Climax is a figure of speech where ideas are presented in ascending order of importance to build intensity.

Examples of climax:

• I came, I saw, I conquered.
• He lost his family, his car, and his life savings in the flood.
• To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
• It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman!

Ellipsis

Ellipsis involves the deliberate omission of words for brevity while still conveying meaning.

Examples of ellipsis:

• I went to the mall on Monday, and she on Tuesday. (Omitting “went to the mall.”)
• The streets were deserted, the doors bolted. (Omitting “and the doors were bolted.”)
• Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.
• She ordered two cakes; he, one.

Hyperbaton

Hyperbaton is a figure of speech where the normal order of words is rearranged for emphasis or poetic effect.

Examples of hyperbaton:

• This I must see. (Instead of “I must see this.”)
• Sweet is the night air. (Instead of “The night air is sweet.”)
• Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.
• Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.

Zeugma is a figure of speech where one word applies to multiple parts of a sentence, often in different senses.

Zeugma

Examples of Zeugma:

• She broke his car and his heart.
• He lost his coat and his temper.
• I just blew my nose, a fuse, and three circuits.
• They covered themselves with dust and glory.

Common Examples of Figures of Speech in English

Explore engaging figures of speech examples that bring language to life! From metaphors to similes, see how these tools add depth and creativity to everyday communication.

• When dissolving like soap in water. (Smile)
• John is a goat. (Metaphor)
• A rain starts or thinner, then look at the joy in the soil. The birds told me that you are going to distant lands. That beautiful sound of the mountain has traveled all around. (Personification)
• The wave of the sea did not go as far as my heart. (Hyperbole)
• Can you hear the clicks coming from the roof? (Onomatopoeia)
• The monkey ate the beans in his hand. (Onomatopoeia)
• I could not sleep through my mother’s snort during the night. (Onomatopoeia)
• The flowing waters of the waterfall took all my troubles. (Onomatopoeia)
• The food in the cauldron was boiling and scalding. (Onomatopoeia)

Given below are some more common examples to explain the figures of speech:

Let’s learn more about figures of speech and their examples below.

Figures of Speech	Examples
Euphemism	He passed away in his sleep
Irony	Your hands are as clean as mud
Anaphora	Dr Martin Luther King Jr: “I Have a Dream” Speech
Apostrophe	Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are
Pun	Everyone thinks my runny nose is funny, but it’s snot.
Paradox	“Some of my biggest triumphs have also been failures,”
Oxymoron	You are clearly confused by the situation you have found yourself in
Assonance	How now, brown cow?
Metonymy	“The pen is mightier than the sword

How to Use a Figure of Speech?

Figures of speeches do not convey the literal meaning, hence, it is very important to know how to use the figure of speech. The most significant way of doing this is by making sure that the figure of speech that you are using implies, or gives out the desired effect and feeling.

There are different ways and points you can remember to easily do this. Some of them are as follows.

1. Understand the Different Types

There are many different figures of speech, each with its own unique function. Some common ones include:

• Similes: Comparisons using “like” or “as” (e.g., “as brave as a lion”)
• Metaphors: Direct comparisons without using “like” or “as” (e.g., “time is a thief”)
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things (e.g., “the wind whispered through the trees”)
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis (e.g., “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”)
• Irony: A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens
• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words (e.g., “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”)
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words (e.g., “the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain”)
• Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds (e.g., “buzz,” “meow,” “boom”)

2. Choose the Right Figure of Speech

The best figure of speech to use depends on the specific effect you want to create. Consider the following:

• The message you want to convey: What is the main point you want to make?
• Your audience: Who are you speaking or writing to?
• The tone of your message: Is it serious, humorous, or something else?

3. Use Figures of Speech Sparingly

While figures of speech can be powerful, it’s important to use them sparingly. Overusing them can make your writing or speech sound artificial or confusing.

4. Practice and Experiment

The best way to learn how to use figures of speech effectively is to practice. Try incorporating them into your everyday conversations and writing. Experiment with different types of figures of speech to see what works best for you.

5. Be Creative

Figures of speech are a great way to add creativity and flair to your writing or speech. Don’t be afraid to experiment and come up with your own unique metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech.

Download 30 Figure of Speech Definition and Examples List in English

Download our comprehensive 30 figure-of-speech definition and examples list PDF for easy access to definitions, and types. This PDF is handy for deepening your understanding of Figures of Speech anytime, anywhere. Download the figures of speech pdf Now!

Must Read: Poetic Devices

Writing Figures of Speech

In writing, when figures of speech are used effectively, these devices enhance the writer’s ability for description and expression so that readers have a better understanding of what is being conveyed. Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating it into their work:

• Figure of Speech as Artistic Use of Language: Effective use of figures of speech is one of the greatest demonstrations of artistic use of language. Writing forms art with words by creating poetic meaning, comparisons, and expressions with these literary devices.

• Figure of Speech as Entertainment for Reader: Effective figures of speech often elevate the entertainment value of a literary work for the reader. Many invoke humor or provide a sense of irony in ways that literal expressions do not. This can create a greater understanding of engagement for the reader regarding a literary work.

• Figure of Speech as Memorable Experience for Reader: By using it effectively to enhance description and meaning, writers make their works more memorable for readers as an experience. Writers can often share a problematic truth or convey a particular concept through figurative language so that the reader has a greater understanding of the material and one that lasts in memory.

Importance of Figures of Speech in English Poetry

Figures of speech enhance your writing and content and hold great significance in English poetry and literature. Here are other points highlighting the importance of figures of speech:

• Expressions like similes and personifications make complex ideas more relatable by comparing them to familiar concepts.
• Using the right figure of speech can improve communication.
• Knowing how to use figures of speech allows you to connect with your audience by painting pictures in their minds and evoking emotions. They help make language more imaginative, impactful, and memorable.
• They draw readers or listeners into the message effectively.
• Figures of speech in English poetry also helps readers think beyond the literal meaning.

20 Figures of Speech Quiz with Answers

Till now, you have read about 30 types of figures of speech in English with their definition and examples. But are you able to recall everything with ease? The best way to test your knowledge is by participating in this 20 figures of speech quiz with questions and answers. Let’s get started.

1. What figure of speech is used when a comparison is made without using “like” or “as”?

a) Simile

b) Metaphor

c) Hyperbole

Answer: b) Metaphor

2. What figure of speech involves giving human qualities to non-human things?

a) Irony

b) Hyperbole

c) Personification

Answer: c) Personification

3. What figure of speech uses extreme exaggeration for effect?

a) Hyperbole

b) Simile

c) Metaphor

Answer: a) Hyperbole

4. Which figure of speech is used in the sentence “She sells seashells by the seashore”?

a) Alliteration

b) Onomatopoeia

c) Simile

Answer: a) Alliteration

5. What is it called when words imitate sounds, like “buzz” or “clang”?

a) Oxymoron

b) Onomatopoeia

c) Pun

Answer: b) Onomatopoeia

6. What figure of speech is “The world is a stage”?

a) Metaphor

b) Simile

c) Personification

Answer: a) Metaphor

7. What is the figure of speech in “He is as brave as a lion”?

a) Hyperbole

b) Simile

c) Irony

Answer: b) Simile

8. What figure of speech is “Parting is such sweet sorrow”?

a) Pun

b) Paradox

c) Oxymoron

Answer: c) Oxymoron

9. Which figure of speech involves the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses?

a) Anaphora

b) Apostrophe

c) Alliteration

Answer: a) Anaphora

10. What figure of speech is used in “The pen is mightier than the sword”?

a) Metonymy

b) Synecdoche

c) Hyperbole

Answer: a) Metonymy

11. What is it called when a statement contradicts itself, like “Less is more”?

a) Oxymoron

b) Paradox

c) Hyperbole

Answer: b) Paradox

12. What figure of speech uses a part to represent the whole, like “All hands on deck”?

a) Synecdoche

b) Metonymy

c) Personification

Answer: a) Synecdoche

13. What is it called when the opposite of what is expected happens?

a) Irony

b) Pun

c) Hyperbole

Answer: a) Irony

14. What figure of speech is in “He kicked the bucket” for dying?

a) Euphemism

b) Hyperbole

c) Metaphor

Answer: a) Euphemism

15. What figure of speech directly addresses an absent person or thing, like “O Death, where is thy sting”?

a) Apostrophe

b) Anaphora

c) Metonymy

Answer: a) Apostrophe

16. What is the figure of speech in “She cried a river of tears”?

a) Hyperbole

b) Metaphor

c) Simile

Answer: a) Hyperbole

17. What figure of speech is in “Wise fool”?

a) Irony

b) Oxymoron

c) Paradox

Answer: b) Oxymoron

18. What is it called when a humorous play on words is used, like “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana”?

a) Irony

b) Pun

c) Metaphor

Answer: b) Pun

19. What figure of speech is “He runs like the wind”?

a) Metaphor

b) Simile

c) Personification

Answer: b) Simile

20. What figure of speech is in “The silence was deafening”?

a) Hyperbole

b) Paradox

c) Oxymoron

Answer: a) Hyperbole

How to Practice Figures of Speech?

Wondering what the hard and fast rule is to practice figures of speech? The only thing that will help you is practice. We have curated a list of the best books that will help you ace it like a pro:

Figures of Speech: The Art of Ornate Diction	Buy Here
Figures of Speech: Sixty Ways to Turn a Phrase	Buy Here
A Handbook of Scansion and Figures of Speech	Buy Here
Fantastic Figures of Speech (Fun with English)	Buy Here
Figures of Speech: Figures of Speech	Buy Here

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