Figurative Language

Types of figurative language

Introduction.
Simile and metaphor
Idioms
Hyperbole
Personification
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Cliché
Pun
Irony
Figurative Language Quiz
Credits
 Introduction
As you first begin to learn English, you start talking about very concrete things. You
say exactly what you mean.

But as your English improves, you can start to use jokes, exaggerations, common
expressions, and puns. All of these are examples of figurative language.
Here are some examples of literal statements and figurative statements:

LITERAL: Ed is a very tall, muscular man.

FIGURATIVE: Ed is as big as a house!
(This is an exaggeration or hyperbole.)

LITERAL: The weather is very bad today.

FIGURATIVE: Wow, what a beautiful day.
(This is irony or sarcasm.)

LITERAL: It is raining very hard.

FIGURATIVE: It is raining cats and dogs!
(This is an idiom or expression.)
 To truly understand English, you must have some knowledge of the most
common types of figurative language.

What does figurative mean?

Figurative means that words are used in a way that is different from the usual
meaning. That way the description is more interesting or impressive. Figurative
language creates a picture in your mind.

For example:

He is about to explode!

We do not mean to say that the man will actually explode.

We only want to say that he is extremely angry.

So we use the verb "explode" in a figurativeway. In other

words, we use a word that usually describes something
else.

That way the description is more interesting. It creates a

certain picture in the mind.
 The opposite of figurative is literal
Literal means that you mean what you say exactly.
For example:

He is about to explode!

Here we do mean to say that the man will actually explode. The man
holds fireworks, and it looks dangerous enough to explode.

So here we use the verb "explode" in a literal way.

In other words, we use the usual meaning of the word.

Figurative comes from the word figure (also figure of speech).

A figure of speech is a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual
meaning in order to express a particular meaning.

In the about example, "explode" is a figure of speech.

Literal comes from the Latin word littera, which means "letter."
To get a better understanding of figurative language, let's look at some common
figurative sayings:

"Sam is a pig!"
This is an example of figurative language.
This sentence does not mean that Sam is actually an animal.

This sentence is a figure of speech meaning that Sam is very messy and does not
have good manners.
 "Beth let the cat out of the bag
about Lisa's surprise party."
This is another example of figurative language.

This sentence does not mean that Beth had a cat in a bag and let it out.

Native English speakers understand this sentence is figurative language meaning that
Beth told Lisa the secret about the surprise party.
 Figurative or Literal
To truly understand figurative language, you must first understand the terms
"figurative" and "literal."

Literal
If a statement is "literal" it is true. You can believe every word. When you say something
"literally," you mean exactly what you say.

She looks beautiful in her red dress!

This is a literal statement because the writer thinks the lady looks beautiful. The
writer is simply stating that she looks beautiful.
 He is a very big man.

This is a literal statement. The writer means that the man is big and strong.

These statements are literal and can sometimes be boring! To add interest,
writers often write in a figurative way.
 Figurative
"Figurative" is the opposite of "literal." You do not believe a figurative statement word for
word. When you say something "figuratively," you are usually making a comparison to
give a description or make a point.

She looks like a million dollars!

This is a figurative statement, because a person can't really look exactly like money.
The statement means that she is well dressed and looks beautiful.
 He is as big as an elephant!

This is also a figurative statement because a person cannot be as big as an elephant.

The statement means he is very large. The writer compares the man to an elephant
to help the reader visualize the large, strong man!
 Figurative language definition
Figurative language is a word or phrase that cannot be taken literally.
Writers use figurative language to describe things, people, or ideas.
Common reasons to use figurative language:
for comparison
for emphasis or stress
to make something clear
to say something in a new way
to help the reader/listener form a picture in their mind
to make a story or poem interesting

If used correctly, figurative language can greatly improve your writing and speaking.

When reading, speaking, or writing in English, it is important to understand the

meaning of some common figures of speech.

First, let's look at definitions and examples of the most common types of figurative
language.
Simile and metaphor

Introduction

Simile

Metaphor

Simile vs Metaphor

Similes and metaphors in poetry

 Simile and metaphor
Similes and metaphors are the two most common types of figurative language in the
English language.

Similes and metaphors both compare two different things that do not usually go
together. The difference between them is that a simile uses the words "like" or "as"
and a metaphor does not.

with like/as => simile

without like/as => metaphor

Similes and metaphors are very common in speaking, singing, and writing. Similes
and metaphors are often used in stories, music, and poetry to create good
descriptions.
Reasons to use similes and metaphors:

for comparison
for emphasis or stress
for humor
to make something clear or easy to understand
to say something in a new way
to help the reader/listener form a picture in their mind
to make something interesting and descriptive
 Simile
A simile is a word or phrase that compares something to something else. It
uses the words like or as.

Examples of similes:
eat like a pig
sleep like a baby
as cute as a kitten
as white as snow

The word "simile" comes from the Latin root similes, which means sameness or likeness.
The word "similar" also uses the same root word.

Similes are the most common type of figurative language in the English language.

Similes compare two different things that do not usually go together.

Similes compare using the words "like" or "as."

How to form a simile

There are two ways to form a simile.

1. as + adjective/adverb + as + noun

2. verb + like + noun

This is a list of some common similes. Add a subject to the beginning of each
simile to make the sentence complete. There are some examples below.
Pattern 1: as + adjective/adverb + as + noun

as cold as ice.
as white as snow
as gentle as a lamb
as funny as a clown
as light as a feather
as colorful as a rainbow
The crayons are as colorful as a rainbow.
as slow as a turtle
as pretty as a flower
as tall as a giant
as quiet as a mouse
as fluffy as cotton candy
The sheep was as fluffy as cotton candy.
as wise as an owl
as hungry as a bear
as tough as nails
 Pattern 2: verb + like + noun
smells like a rose
eats like a pig
sings like an angel
runs like a cheetah
slept like a baby
I slept like a baby last night.
crying like a baby
jumps like a frog
howls like a dog
sparkles like a diamond
roared like a lion
 Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison of two different things, without "like" or "as." It makes a
description more interesting or powerful.

The word "metaphor" comes from the Latin word metaphoria and the Greek
word metapherin. Both of these words mean "to transfer." A metaphor gives
(transfers) qualities from one noun to another noun.

Examples of metaphors:
wooden face (= a face as stiff as wood)
army of letters (= letters as great in amount and as powerful as an army)
sea of sadness (= sadness as huge and endless as the sea)
My plan was a house of cards (= as fragile and unstable as a house of cards)

Metaphors are like similes, but they do not use the words "like" or "as."

A metaphor compares things by stating something IS something else.

 How to form a metaphor
There are a few ways to make a metaphor.

The simplest way to make a metaphor is to use this pattern:

First noun + to be verb + a/an + second noun

She is an angel.

(She is a nice.)
My hands are ice.

(My hands feel very cold.)

He is a pig.

(He is messy.)
Her eyes were diamonds.

(Her eyes were beautiful.)

The shark's teeth are daggers.

(The shark's teeth are sharp.)
The stars were a blanket over the earth.

(The stars filled the night sky above the earth.)

The wind was a piercing arrow.

(It was windy and very cold.)

The jet was a bolt of lightning shooting across the sky.

(The jet flew fast across the sky.)

The classroom was a zoo.

(The classroom was noisy and the kids are not in their seats.)
Not all metaphors are written in the simple pattern like those
on the previous slides.
Here are a few more examples of metaphors. Even though they are not written in the
same pattern, they do compare two different nouns.

My boss fired the snake.

(The employee is being compared to a snake. The boss
fired an employee who was sneaky and not trustworthy.)

He has a heart of stone.

(His heart is being compared to a stone. He is angry and
mean.)

The bride wore a dress of snow.

(The dress is being compared to snow. The dress is soft
and white.)
In addition, you can form a metaphor with verbs and adjectives.
A flock of children went to the circus.
(A flock is a group of birds. Children are being compared to birds.)

The investigator digs up evidence about the crime.

(The investigator is looking for evidence. He is being compared to a dog who digs up
bones.)
 Simile vs metaphor
People often confuse similes and metaphors. They are very similar because they both
compare two different things.

With similes, the comparison is easy to understand.

Sam eats like a pig

This simile compares the way Sam eats to the way a pig eats. Sam is very messy when he
eats. He does not have good manners.
 Sam's house is as dirty as a pigsty.
This simile compares Sam's home to a pigsty (where pigs live). It means that Sam's home
is very messy. He probably does not clean often and leaves dirty clothes on the floor.
A metaphor is not always as easy to understand and can sometimes be understood in
different ways by different people or in different situations.
Sam is a pig.
This metaphor does not mean Sam is actually a pig.
This sentence can have different meanings depending on the
context. We can usually figure out the meaning based on a
picture or context of the paragraph or story.
In our example, "Sam is a pig" it could mean different things,
since pigs can have different qualities. For example, they can
be dirty or greedy (eating everything).
"Sam is a pig" could mean:
1. Sam is a messy eater. He does not have good manners.
2. Sam is a sloppy dresser. His clothes are dirty.
3. Sam has a messy house. He does not clean his house.
4. Sam acts very rude. He is not polite.
5. Sam is greedy. He takes everything.
 Similes and metaphors in poetry
Here is a great example of similes and metaphors being used in classic poetry. Read
this short poem to see if you can spot the similes or metaphors. Then scroll past the
picture for the answers.

New words:
flint = a very hard gray stone used to make fire
emerald = a beautiful green stone
ruby = a beautiful dark red stone
sapphire = a beautiful blue stone
heaven = sky
brilliant = very bright
opal = a beautiful stone that shows changing colors
hold = have or contain
fiery = of fire
 Flint

(by Christina Rossetti)

An emerald is as green as grass,

A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;
A flint lies in the mud.

A diamond is a brilliant stone,

To catch the world's desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;
But a flint holds a fire.
 Similes and Metaphors
(answers)
An emerald is as green as grass,
(an emerald is green and grass is green)

A ruby red as blood;

(a ruby is red and blood is red)

A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;

(a sapphire is blue and the sky, or heaven, is blue)

A flint lies in the mud.

A diamond is a brilliant stone,

To catch the world's desire;
(the diamond is being compared to something that can catch something, such as a baseball
glove)

An opal holds a fiery spark;

(the opal looks like a spark of fire)

But a flint holds a fire.

(the flint is being compared to an object that can contain something else)
 Idiom
An idiom is one type of figurative language in the English language.

An idiom is a commonly used phrase that does not mean what it says. It cannot be
taken literally. There are many common idioms in the English language.

Idioms should not be taken literally. That means that you should not believe it
exactly as it is written.

Knowing the meanings of common idioms will help you understand American
English better.

Although American English and British English are similar, they do not always use
the same idioms.

Idioms can be unique to a language, culture, or area. A British English idiom

may not have the same meaning (or any meaning at all) in another language or
culture.

However, some idioms are found in both American English and British English.
 American & British Same

American & British Different

MSWord list of American Idioms

MSWord list of British Idioms
 These are a few well-known idioms that have the same meaning in both
American English and British English.

a piece of cake
(If something is a piece of cake, it is very easy to do.)
That math test was a piece of cake.

just the ticket

(If something is just the ticket, it is the perfect thing.)
A day on the beach is just the ticket to help me relax.

doing time
(When someone is doing time, they are spending time
in jail or prison.)
Sam is doing time for theft.
off your rocker
(If you are off your rocker, you are acting crazy or
insane.)
Tom is acting weird today. He is off his rocker.

with child
(A woman who is with child is pregnant.)
Sally is eating healthy because she is with child.

lost your lunch

(If you vomit, you might say you lost your lunch.)
She had the flu and lost her lunch.

The idioms above are the same in both American English and British English.
Many times idioms in British English are different from idioms
in American English.

For example, suppose someone is in jail or prison.

In American English you would say they are:

in the slammer
or
behind bars

In British English, you would say they are:

in the clink

All of these are ways of saying that someone is in prison.

Here is another example:

In American English, if you want someone to hurry up,

you might say:

Shake a leg!

However, in British English, you would say:

Pull your finger out!

or
Get your finger out!
Here is one more example:

In American English, if something is very common and easy to get,

you might say it is:

a dime a dozen

In British English, you might say it is:

ten a penny
or
two a penny
 Hyperbole
Introduction

Learn about hyperboles

Hyperboles and similes

Hyperbole examples
 Introduction
A hyperbole is a type of figurative language in the English language.

Hyperboles are obvious exaggerations.

Obvious means that it is easy to understand or clear to everyone.

An exaggeration is something that is described as larger or greater than it really is.

A hyperbole should not be understood literally. That means that you cannot
believe it word for word.
 Learn about hyperboles
Let us look at some examples of hyperboles.

If you have to tell your son multiple times to pick up his toys, you might say:

I told you a million times to pick up your toys!

This is an exaggeration because you did not literally tell your

child a million times. You are exaggerating to make a point.

It is obvious to most people that you are exaggerating and did not really tell him a
million times.

You are really saying that you have told him many times and do not want to tell him
again.
Here is another hyperbole example.

When you are waiting in a long line, you might say:

I am going to be standing here forever!

This is an exaggeration because you will not literally be standing in the line forever.
You might stand in the line for a long time, but eventually you will get to the end of
the line.

This is figurative language meaning:

This is a long line.

I am going to be standing here for a while!

We use hyperboles like these in speaking and writing to create emphasis or effect.
They are also sometimes used to make a point.
 Hyperboles and similes
Sometimes hyperboles can be in the form of a simile. A simile is a comparison of
two things using the words "like" or "as."

Her feet are as big as boats.

(She has large feet.)

The dog was as big as my car!

(The dog was bigger than most dogs.)

Nick is as tall as a giraffe.

(Nick is very tall.)

These are all hyperboles because they are obvious exaggerations. They are also similes
because they are comparing two things using the words "like" or "as."
 Hyperbole examples

Here are some more examples of hyperboles. Enjoy!

I was so hungry I could eat a horse.

(I was very hungry and could eat a lot of food.)

The fish was almost as tall as me!

(The fish was large.)

She jumped so high she couldtouch the sky!

(She jumped very high in the air.)

Tim was so tired he slept for a year!

(Tim slept a long time.)
The spider was bigger than my face!
(The spider was big.)

The man was so big, he had touse a tree for a

toothpick.
(The man is taller and bigger than most men.)

The dirty dishes were stackedto the ceiling.

(There were a lot of dirty dishes.)

Susan was so mad, steam came out of her ears!

(Susan was very mad.)

I have not seen him for an eternity.

(I have not seen him for a long time.)

Lisa is as skinny as a toothpick.

(Lisa is very skinny.)
I have a ton of work to do.
(I have a lot of work to do.)

It is going to take me a billion yearsto finish my

work!
(I have a lot of work to do.)

If I do not get that job, I will die!

(I really want the job!)

He is so old he was born when dinosaurs walked

on earth.
(He is very old. He was born a long time ago.)

My sister never stops talking.

(My sister talks a lot.)
My sister never stops talking.
(My sister talks a lot.)

My dog is fatter than an elephant.

(My dog is very fat.)

These shoes are killing my feet!

(The shoes hurt my feet.)

Mom cooked enough food to feed an army.

(Mom cooked enough food to feed a lot of people.)

They waited there for a century.

(They waited for a very long time.)
 Personification

Introduction

Personification examples

Personification in poetry
 Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in the English language.

Personification is when we give a human characteristic to something

that is not human, such as an object or an animal.

Writers personify things to give good descriptions and help readers form pictures
in their minds.

As with other types of figurative language, sentences with personification cannot

be understood literally. That means that you cannot believe it word for word.
Instead, you have to understand its figurative meaning.
 Let us look at an example of personification:
The leaves danced to the ground.

In this sentence, the leaves are being personified. That means they are given the
human characteristic of dancing.

Humans can dance, but leaves cannot.

We are giving the leaves the human characteristic of dancing to show the reader how
they gracefully fell to the ground.

The leaves fell off the tree and floated to the ground.
Here is another example of personification:

The flowers were begging for water.

We know that flowers do not have mouths and they cannot really ask us for
water. We are giving the flowers the human characteristic of begging to show that
they are in need of water. They are starting to dry up and they really need
someone to water them.
 Personification examples
Here are some more common examples of personification.

My stomach was growling.

(I felt hungry.)

Tom's pencil was flying across the page.

(Tom was writing fast.)

The ocean waves ran across the beach.

(The waves were covering the sand.)

The old door moaned in protest as it opened.

(The old door creaked because it had not been opened for
a long time.)

The moon guarded the city at night.

(The moon was shining over the city.)
His hair was dancing in the wind.
(His hair was moving in the wind.)

The angry rain pounded on my windows.

(The rain was falling hard against the windows.)

The red light yelled, "Stop!"

(A red traffic light is a signal to stop your car.)

The apples jumped off the tree.

(The apples were falling to the ground.)

The wind caressed her cheeks.

(The wind moved across her face.)
The trees were waving in the wind.
(The wind was blowing and moving the tree limbs.)

Nick's puppy barked a sad goodbye.

(Nick's puppy was barking at him as he left.)

The painting spoke to me about my childhood.

(The painting made me think about when I was a child.)

The tornado attacked the city and wrecked the farms.

(The tornado caused a lot of damage.)

My jacket hugged me in the cold snow.

(I was wearing the jacket and it kept me warm.)
 Personification in poetry
Personification is very common in poetry. Writers use personification because it
helps readers form visual pictures in their minds. Personification can also add
humor in poetry.

Here are two poems that contain examples of personification. In each poem, the
objects and personification are colored green.

Here are some definitions to help you understand the first poem better

weary = tired
dew = drops of water
arranged = set; get into position
topaz = blue-green color
tortoises = turtles
 Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room
by William Blake
"Ah, William, we're weary of weather,"
said the sunflowers, shining with dew.
"Our traveling habits have tired us.
Can you give us a room with a view?"

They arranged themselves at the window

and counted the steps of the sun,
and they both took root in the carpet
where the topaz tortoises run.

In this poem, the sunflowers are being personified. To understand this poem, you have
to know that sunflowers are a type of flower that always turn toward the sun.
These two sunflowers are telling William that they are tired of the changes in the
weather outside. They want to be put inside in a window where the sun shines in on
them all day.

They counted the steps of the sun means that they moved with the sunlight as it came
through the window.

They took root in the carpet means they stayed in that room for a long time.
The second personification poem gives human characteristics to your food at dinnertime.
Personification is used in this poem to add humor.
chorus = music
cackled = laughed
chattered = talked
gurgled = talked; made noises Dinnertime Chorus
clan = family by Sharon Hendricks

The teapot sang as the water boiled

The ice cubes cackled in their glass
the teacups chattered to one another.
While the chairs were passing gas
The gravy gurgled merrily
As the oil danced in a pan.
Oh my dinnertime chorus
What a lovely, lovely clan!

This poem describes the sounds you hear while dinner is being prepared. Each object
makes its own sound creating a "dinnertime chorus."
Introduction

Alliteration in poetry
and books

Alliteration as
tongue twisters
Alliteration in
advertising

More alliteration!
 Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound in a series of words. It is usually the
first sound but can be sounds in other parts of the words.
Alliteration is a type of figurative language in the English language.
She sells seashells by the seashore.
In this example of alliteration, there are two sounds that
are repeated:
1. S sound as in "sells"
2. Sh sound as in "she"
You can find examples of alliteration in many places!
poetry
books
advertising
titles
names
and MORE!
In this presentation, we are going to focus on examples of alliteration in poetry and
books, tongue twisters, and advertising.
 Alliteration in poetry and books

Here are some examples of alliteration in popular poems and books:

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

(from "Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost)

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

(from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe)

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into
the past.
(from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

The Teeny Tiny Teacher, a children's book by Stephanie Calmenson

Some popular book and cartoon characters also have names that contain alliteration.

Bugs Bunny

Mickey Mouse

Peter Pan

Betty Boop

Willy Wonka

Severus Snape (Harry Potter series)

Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter series)

 Alliteration as tongue twisters

Tongue twisters are a great way to learn about alliteration.

A tongue twister is a phrase that is hard to say. Tongue twisters are fun and a
good way to teach proper speaking.

Here are two tongue twisters that are popular nursery rhymes for children.

Try reading the following aloud!

 Peter Piper
Notice the "p" and "ck" sounds in the following tongue twister.

peck = an amount of something

Peter Piper = a person's name

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,

How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

 Betty Botter
Notice the "b", "t", and "er" sounds in this one.

bitter = bad taste

batter = a mixture of flour, egg, milk, and other ingredients
(cake batter, pancake batter, bread batter)
Betty Botter = a person's name

Betty Botter bought some butter,

but, she said, the butter's bitter;
if I put it in my batter
it will make my batter bitter,
but a bit of better butter
will make my batter better.
 Alliteration in advertising
Alliteration is common in advertising because it grabs your attention and is easy to
remember.

Here are a few popular brands that use alliteration in their names.

Bed, Bath, & Beyond Roto-Rooter

Dunkin Donuts Krispy Kreme
Best Buy Captain Crunch
American Apparel Baby Back Ribs
American Airlines PayPal (website)
Weight Watchers YouTube (website)
Coca-Cola StubHub (website)
Here are some popular advertising slogans that use alliteration.

Don't dream it. Drive it.

(Jaguar)

Intel Inside
(Intel)

You'll never put a better bit of butter on your knife

(Country Life Butter)

The best four by four by far

(Land Rover)

Welcome to the World Wide Wow

(AOL)
Many popular sports teams use alliteration in their names.

Los Angeles Lakers

Seattle Seahawks

Buffalo Bills

Pittsburgh Pirates

San Antonio Spurs

 More alliteration!
Can you find more examples of alliteration?

Here are some places to look for alliteration!

book titles
band names
song titles
newspaper headings and titles
popular sayings
movie titles
events
television shows
candy names
 Onomatopoeia
[on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh]
1

Introduction
2

Bam! Examples
3
Onomatopoeias
Smack!
in poetry
4
Onomatopoeias in
BOOM!
comic books
 Onomatopoeia
[on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh]
An onomatopoeia is a type of figurative language in the English language.
Onomatopoeias are words used to describe or imitate a sound. Onomatopoeias
sound like the objects they represent or the sounds those objects make.

If you slap your hand down on a table, what

sound does it make?

Smack! Bam! Bang! BOOM! Examples:

 bang
 buzz
 moo
 click
 smack
Words used to represent the sounds animals make are onomatopoeias.

cow = moo
duck = quack
dog = bark, growl, howl
cat = meow, hiss, purr
goose = honk
mouse = squeak
bird = chirp, tweet, caw, twitter
horse = neigh, knicker, whinny
owl = screech, hoo-hoo, hoot
chicken = cluck
sheep = baa
rooster = cock-a-doodle-doo
 Here are some more onomatopoeias:
honk
shhhh
click
snap
chop
pop
tap
ping
beep
plop
knock-knock
tweet
crash
twitter
crackle
hush
whisper
swish
screech
tinkle
pitter-patter
yell
achoo (sneeze)
hiccup
slurp
Scratch
laugh
smack
zing
cheep
 Onomatopoeias in poetry
Onomatopoeias are popular in poetry because they are very descriptive words.
Onomatopoeias help readers understand by forming images in their minds.

Let us look at an onomatopoeia poem by Eve Merriam.

The poem describes water running out of a rusty spigot, or faucet. The spigot has
not been turned on recently. When it is turned on, the water runs slowly at first
and makes "sputtering" sounds. Then it begins running faster and splashes to the
ground.

Here are some words with definitions to help you understand the poem.

spigot = water faucet

gashes = opens
smattering of drops = a few drops
The onomatopoeias are in red.
The rusty spigot
sputters,
utters
a splutter,
spatters a smattering of drops,
gashes wider;
slash,
splatters,
scatters,
spurts,
finally stops sputtering
and plash!
gushes rushes splashes
clear water dashes.
 Onomatopoeias in comic books
Onomatopoeias are also very common in comic books to help the reader understand
the pictures and what is happening in each scene.

For example, if a man and woman are kissing, you might see the words

smack smooch kiss

If people are fighting, you might see the words

Smack! bang slap

If a phone is ringing, you might see

riiiiiiinnnnngggg buzz ring-ring-ring

When someone is sleeping, you might see

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz snore
 Cliché
Introduction

American English
clichés
 Cliché
Clichés are very common phrases and expressions that have been overused.
A cliché is a type of figurative language in the English language.

That means people have said them and written them too many times and they have
lost their original meanings or effects. They are no longer original or interesting.

Here are two examples of clichés:

He is as blind as a bat!

(He does not see very well.)

Don't cry over spilled milk.

(Don't waste your time worrying about something that has

already happened.)
Most clichés are phrases that were originally imaginative, fun, and interesting.
Some people like to use clichés in their writing for humor or to make a point.
You should avoid using clichés when writing in English, especially in
formal writing. Clichés are more acceptable in informal writing. Using too many
clichés can annoy or bore your readers.

Examples:
easy as pie
(very easy)
let the cat out of the bag
(tell a secret)
stick in the mud
(someone who does not want to try anything new)
slept like a baby
(very well)

For example, easy as pie is a cliché. It is an overused idiom.

Slept like a baby is another cliché. It is an overused simile.

 American English clichés
Below, you will see a list of some common American English clichés. The original
meaning of each cliché is included.

Not everyone will agree that these are all clichés. Whether or not a sentence or
phrase becomes a clichés depends on the audience. While some people may think a
phrase is boring, others may still enjoy hearing it.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

(Eat healthy.)

ants in his pants

(A person who has ants in his pants cannot sit without
moving.)

apple of my eye
(If you are the apple of my eye, then you are my favorite.)

as poor as dirt
(very poor)
as white as snow
(very white)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

(What you think is beautiful might not be beautiful to someone
else.)

Been there, done that.

(I already had that experience.)

best thing since sliced bread

(something very good)

Better safe than sorry.

(It is good to be prepared for things even if they do not happen.)

big as life
(very big)

busy as a bee
(very busy)
chip off the old block
(A child who is a chip off the old block acts like their parent.)

cool as a cucumber
(calm)

Don't have a cow.

(Do not get too excited or upset.)

fat chance
(It will never happen)

fresh as a daisy
(something that is new, clean, or original)

Give a little, take a little.

(Help someone and they might help you.)

Go with the flow.

(Be flexible.)
Home is where the heart is.
(It feels good to be at home with family.)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

(Do not change something that already works.)

just fell off the turnip truck

(Someone who just fell off the turnip truck is
inexperienced.)

Knock on wood.
(Knock on wood is a phrase people say when they do not
want something bad to happen. It is like a "good luck
charm." It is a saying to keep bad luck away.)

Money does not grow on trees.

(Be careful how much money you spend.)

old as dirt
(very old)
once in a blue moon
(not very often.)

open up a can of worms

(create new problems when you are trying to solve a problem)

rise and shine

(wake up)

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

(If a person is always moving to new places, then he will never form
relationships or have attachments to anything.)

Stop and smell the roses.

(Take time to enjoy life.)
The grass is always greener on the other side.
(Things or situations seem to look better for other people.)

two peas in a pod

(two people that are similar or have a very close
relationship)

when pigs fly

(never)

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
(You can show people how to do things, but you cannot
force them to do it.)
 Pun

Introduction

Examples of Puns

American English Puns

 A pun is a "play on words." Puns are meant to be clever and funny. Many jokes
are actually puns.
A pun is a type of figurative language in the English language.

Sometimes puns are difficult to understand, even for native

English speakers.
There are two ways to create a pun:

Use words that sound the same but have different meanings.
Examples: I took a job as a baker because I knead dough.
red/read (A baker can knead (mix) bread dough. People work
two/to/too because they need dough (money).)
need/knead
Use a word that has multiple meanings.
Examples:
fly = insect
fly = move through the air
saw = past tense of see
saw = a tool that cuts wood
 Let's look at a few examples of puns:
How do celebrities stay cool?
They have many fans!

This pun is using two words that have multiple meanings: cool and fan

Cool can be defined as:

1. cold (not hot)
2. awesome and popular

A fan can be defined as:

1. something that you use when you are warm
2. someone who likes you and supports you

So, this pun has two meanings.

1. Celebrities do not get hot because they can cool themselves with fans.

2. Celebrities are popular because they have many people who like them.
 Here is another example of a pun:
When she got married, she got a new name and a dress.
This is a pun using words that have the same sound but different meanings.

1. When a woman marries, she changes her name

and she buys a wedding dress (a dress).

2. She also moves out of her parent's home to live with

her husband, so she gets a new address.
 American English puns

Math teachers have lots of problems.

problems = math equations or puzzles
problems = troubles, difficulties

Two silkworms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

tie = finishing the race at the same time
tie = a necktie worn by men, sometimes made
from silk

I used to work at an orange juice factory, but I

was canned.
canned = fired; released from a job
canned = put into a can like juice

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

pointless = stupid, worthless
pointless = does not have a sharp tip
A backwards poet write inverse.
inverse = backward, opposite
in verse = in rhyme

The thief who stole the calendar got 12 months.

There are 12 months on a calendar.
The thief could be put in prison for 12 months for stealing.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Time flies like an arrow. = Time flies (moves) fast like an arrow
moves fast.
Fruit flies like a banana. = Fruit flies (insects) like to eat bananas.

Why did the turkey cross the road? To prove he wasn't chicken!
chicken = an animal
chicken = scared

I used to be twins. My mother has a picture of me when I

was two.
twins = two identical children
two = an age; two years old
two = two people
 Irony
Introduction
Verbal Irony
Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony
Situational irony in literature

Review
Irony is a type of figurative language in the English language.
Irony can be difficult to understand because it is often defined incorrectly. Authors use
irony to make their writing more interesting. Television and movie producers use irony
to make their shows interesting and funny.

Let’s look at a definition of irony.

Definition:

Irony is when someone says or does something, but means another thing or intends
for something else to happen.

For example:

Nick just got an F on his test. Maria looks at Nick

and says, "Good job! You must have studied hard."

Does Maria really mean "good job"? No! Maria is using verbal irony to be sarcastic.
Irony is

1. when someone says something but means the exact opposite

2. when something happens that is the exact opposite of what you expected.

It is easiest to understand irony when you look at types of irony

separately. There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic,
and situational.
 Verbal Irony
Verbal irony is the most common type of irony. Verbal irony is when a character or
person says something, but means the exact opposite.
This type of irony is used to create humor, make a point, or be mean. Verbal irony
can also be called sarcasm if the speaker is making fun of somebody. Sarcasm is very
popular in everyday language.

Example:
Nick just got an F on his test. Maria looks at Nick
and says, "Good job! You must have studied hard."

Does Maria really mean "good job"? No! Maria is

using verbal irony to be sarcastic.

Watch this video from Ted-Ed to learn more about verbal irony.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiR-bnCHIYo

https://youtu.be/IiR-bnCHIYo
 Dramatic Irony
Dramatic Irony is a type of irony often found in humorous and suspenseful
literature or movies. Dramatic irony is when the audience is aware of something
that the character is not.
Let’s look at one example.
While watching a suspenseful movie, the audience sees the bad
guy enter a house, turn off the electricity, and hide in a dark
room. Then, the main character walks into the dark house
alone. The character does not know that the bad guy is in the
room, but the audience does. This creates suspense or drama
because the audience knows something that the character does
not.

This is one example of dramatic irony. It is ironic because the audience knows
more than the character.

Watch this video from Ted-Ed to learn more about verbal irony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZFYuX84n1U

https://youtu.be/RZFYuX84n1U
 Situational Irony
The final type of irony is situational irony. Situational irony is when you expect one
thing to happen but get the exact opposite.

Watch this video from Ted-Ed to learn about situational irony.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqg6RO8c_W0

https://youtu.be/tqg6RO8c_W0
 Situational irony vs bad luck
Situational irony can sometimes be the most difficult to identify. It is often
confused with bad luck.
Bad luck is just something unpleasant that happens. Situational irony is when
the exact opposite of what is supposed to happen, happens.

Bad luck: A car is being towed.

Situational irony: A tow truck is being towed.

Bad luck: A building burns down.

Situational irony: The firehouse burns down.

Bad luck: It rains on your wedding day.

Situational irony: You scheduled an outdoor wedding in July because it hasn't

rained in July for 10 years. Unfortunately, it still rains on your wedding day.

Bad luck: A man falls in a swimming pool.

Situational irony: A man takes a step to the side in order to avoid walking in a
puddle. He falls in the swimming pool.
 Situational irony in literature
One great example of situational irony can be found in O. Henry's: The Gift of the Magi.

Summary:
Della and Jim are very poor. They do not own many things. The two things that are
the most important to them are Della’s beautiful, long hair and Jim’s gold watch.
It is Christmas time. Della wants to buy a gift for Jim. She decides to sacrifice her hair to buy Jim
a Christmas gift. She cuts off her hair and sells it for money.
Jim wants to buy a gift for Della. He decides to sacrifice his gold watch to buy Della a Christmas gift.
He sells his watch for money.

Della and Jim exchange gifts. Della gives Jim a gold chain for his watch, but Jim sold his watch to buy
Della’s gift.

Jim bought Della a comb for her hair, but Della cut and sold her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch.

The events of this story are ironic. Jim thinks Della will love her comb because she has beautiful hair.
But Della cut her hair to buy Jim a gift. Della thinks Jim will love the gold chain because he can put it
on his watch. But Jim sold his watch to buy Dell a gift.

The ending of the story is the opposite of what was expected. That is the definition of situational
irony.
 Review
Irony = When someone says or does something, but means another things or
intends for something else to happen.

Verbal irony = Someone says something but means the opposite.

Dramatic irony = The audience is aware of something that the characters are
not aware of.

Situational irony = Something happens that is the exact opposite of what

was expected to happen.
 Figurative Language Quiz
Now that you have learned about all the different types of figurative language in
the English language, it is time to review and practice.

Here are some definitions to help you.

simile = a comparison of two things using "like" or "as"
metaphor = a comparison of two things
idiom = a phrase that cannot be taken literally
hyperbole = an obvious exaggeration
onomatopoeia = a sound word
alliteration = repetition of a sound in a group of words
personification = giving an object or animal a human
characteristic
cliché = an overused phrase (can be other types of figurative
language)
pun = a joke that is a "play on words"
Choose the correct type of figurative
language for each sentence below.

1. The kitten is as
soft as silk.
C. onomatopoeia A. idiom
D. simile B. personification
2. Nick's head exploded when
he heard the bad news!

"Head exploded" is an example

of a/an
C. idiom
B. onomatopoeia
D. alliteration

A. simile
3. Silly Sally sings sixty songs on
Sunday.

A. alliteration
B. idiom
C. cliché
D. pun
4. That test was as easy as pie.

This simile is also an example of

a/an

C. cliché A. hyperbole
D. onomatopoeia B. pun
5. The bees were busy buzzing.

This is an example of a/an

C. pun
A. simile
B. alliteration
D. hyperbole
6. The bees were busy buzzing.

"Buzzing" is an example of a/an

C. cliché A. hyperbole

B. onomatopoeia
D. idiom
7. She jumped so high
she could touch the
moon!

A. metaphor
C. hyperbole
B. pun
D. simile
8. My car died on the way to
work.

"Car died" is an example of

a/an
B. hyperbole
A. metaphor

C. onomatopoeia
D. personification
9. The baby was a
screaming alarm that
woke the neighbors.
A. simile C. metaphor
B. personification
D. cliché
10. When a clock is
hungry, it goes back
four seconds.

A. pun B. simile

C. onomatopoeia
D. alliteration