Term |
Meaning |
Example |
analogy |
comparison of seemingly unlike things that compares their functions: A is to B as C is to D. |
When he swims, he uses his feet the way a dolphin uses its fluke. |
hyperbole |
exaggeration that is used for effect or emphasis; the opposite of understatement |
She cried a river of tears over the smallest insult. |
irony |
words used to convey the opposite of the literal meaning; to say one thing and mean another |
The directions were as clear as mud. |
metaphor |
comparison of seemingly unlike things (made without using like or as) |
He was a cheetah running through the forest. |
rhetorical question |
a question that is used to persuade but is not intended to be answered |
Aren't you the most thoughtful person? |
simile |
a comparison of seemingly unlike things using like or as |
Her heart beat fast like the hummingbird's wings. |
understatement |
a statement that minimizes the complete or true picture; the opposite of hyperbole |
The bully gently hurt her feelings. |
Term |
Meaning |
Example |
antithesis |
juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases |
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens |
inverted word order |
placing a preposition, prepositional phrase, or other expression at the beginning of a sentence followed by inverted word order |
Sweet was the taste of blackberries on her tongue. |
parallelism |
similarity of structure in a pair of words or phrases |
They couldn't come to an agreement. She wouldn't say he was right. He wouldn't say she was wrong. |
repetition |
repetition of words or phrases more than once in a short passage resulting in emphasis |
She was the best runner on the team, the very best. |
