figurative language to use in creative writing

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Figurative Language Definition

What is figurative language? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech . When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language focuses on the use of figures of speech that play with the meaning of words, such as metaphor , simile , personification , and hyperbole .

Some additional key details about figurative language:

• Figurative language is common in all sorts of writing, as well as in spoken language.
• Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative speech is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine.
• It's a common misconception that imagery, or vivid descriptive language, is a kind of figurative language. In fact, writers can use figurative language as one tool to help create imagery, but imagery does not have to use figurative language.

Figurative Language Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce figurative language: fig -yer-uh-tiv lang -gwij

Figures of Speech and Figurative Language

To fully understand figurative language, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of figures of speech. More specifically, it's helpful to understand the two main types of figures of speech: tropes and schemes .

• Tropes are figures of speech that play with and shift the expected and literal meaning of words.
• Schemes are figures of speech that involve a change from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.

Put even more simply: tropes play with the meaning of words, while schemes play with the structure of words, phrases, and sentences.

The Different Things People Mean When They Say Figurative Language

When people say figurative language, they don't always mean the precise same thing. Here are the three different ways people usually talk about figurative language:

• Dictionary definition of figurative language: According to the dictionary, figurative language is simply any language that contains or uses figures of speech. This definition would mean that figurative language includes the use of both tropes and schemes.
• Much more common real world use of figurative language: However, when people (including teachers) refer to figurative language, they usually mean language that plays with the literal meaning of words. This definition sees figurative language as language that primarily involves the use of tropes.
• Another common real world use of figurative language: Some people define figurative language as including figures of speech that play with meaning as well as a few other common schemes that affect the rhythm and sound of text, such as alliteration and assonance .

What does all that boil down to for you? If you hear someone talking about figurative language, you can usually safely assume they are referring to language that uses figures of speech to play with the meaning of words and, perhaps, with the way that language sounds or feels.

Common Types of Figurative Language

There are many, many types of figures of speech that can be involved in figurative language. Some of the most common are:

• Metaphor : A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, the phrase "her lips are a blooming rose" obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the red beauty and promise of a blooming rose with that of the lips of the woman being described.
• Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. An example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
• Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels.
• Personification : In personification, non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of personification, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human emotion.
• Idiom : An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is known to most Americans to mean that it's raining hard, but an English-speaking foreigner in the United States might find the phrase totally confusing.
• Onomatopoeia : Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The “boom” of a firework exploding, the “tick tock” of a clock, and the “ding dong” of a doorbell are all examples of onomatopoeia.
• Synecdoche : In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to its whole . For example, "The captain commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part.
• Metonymy : Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an object or concept is referred to not by its own name, but instead by the name of something closely associated with it. For example, in "Wall Street prefers lower taxes," the New York City street that was the original home of the New York Stock Exchange stands in for (or is a "metonym" for) the entire American financial industry.
• Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “ b ” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
• Assonance : The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the " ee " sound: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another.

Figurative Language vs. Imagery

Many people (and websites) argue that imagery is a type of figurative language. That is actually incorrect. Imagery refers to a writers use of vivid and descriptive language to appeal to the reader's senses and more deeply evoke places, things, emotions, and more. The following sentence uses imagery to give the reader a sense of how what is being described looks, feels, smells, and sounds:

The night was dark and humid, the scent of rotting vegetation hung in the air, and only the sound of mosquitoes broke the quiet of the swamp.

This sentence uses no figurative language. Every word means exactly what it says, and the sentence is still an example of the use of imagery. That said, imagery can use figurative language, often to powerful effect:

The night was dark and humid, heavy with a scent of rotting vegetation like a great-aunt's heavy and inescapable perfume, and only the whining buzz of mosquitoes broke the silence of the swamp.

In this sentence, the description has been made more powerful through the use of a simile ("like a great-aunt's..."), onomatopoeia ("whining buzz," which not only describes but actually sounds like the noise made by mosquitoes), and even a bit of alliteration in the " s ilence of the s wamp."

To sum up: imagery is not a form of figurative language. But a writer can enhance his or her effort to write imagery through the use of figurative language.

Figurative Language Examples

Figurative language is more interesting, lively, beautiful, and memorable than language that's purely literal. Figurative language is found in all sorts of writing, from poetry to prose to speeches to song lyrics, and is also a common part of spoken speech. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.

Figurative Language Example: Metaphor

Metaphor in shakespeare's romeo and juliet.

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo uses the following metaphor in Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony:

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Romeo compares Juliet to the sun not only to describe how radiantly beautiful she is, but also to convey the full extent of her power over him. He's so taken with Juliet that her appearances and disappearances affect him like those of the sun. His life "revolves" around Juliet like the earth orbits the sun.

Figurative Language Example: Simile

In this example of a simile from Slaughterhouse-Five , Billy Pilgrim emerges from an underground slaughterhouse where he has been held prisoner by the Germans during the deadly World War II firebombing of Dresden:

It wasn't safe to come out of the shelter until noon the next day. When the Americans and their guards did come out, the sky was black with smoke. The sun was an angry little pinhead. Dresden was like the moon now , nothing but minerals. The stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.

Vonnegut uses simile to compare the bombed city of Dresden to the moon in order to capture the totality of the devastation—the city is so lifeless that it is like the barren moon.

Figurative Language Example: Oxymoron

These lines from Chapter 7 of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover María.

She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, “And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.”

The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation.

Figurative Language Example: Hyperbole

Elizabeth Bennet, the most free-spirited character in Pride and Prejudice , refuses Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal with a string of hyperbole :

From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.

Elizabeth's closing statement, that Darcy is the "last man in the world" whom she would ever marry, is an obvious hyperbole. It's hard to believe that Elizabeth would rather marry, say, an axe murderer or a diseased pirate than Mr. Darcy. Even beyond the obvious exaggeration, Austen's use of hyperbole in this exchange hints at the fact that Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy are more complicated than she admits, even to herself. Austen drops various hints throughout the beginning of the novel that Elizabeth feels something beyond mere dislike for Darcy. Taken together with these hints, Elizabeth's hyperbolic statements seem designed to convince not only Darcy, but also herself, that their relationship has no future.

Figurative Language Example: Personification

In Chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne describes a wild rose bush that grows in front of Salem's gloomy wooden jail:

But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.

In the context of the novel's setting in 17th century Boston, this rose bush, which grows wild in front of an establishment dedicated to enforcing harsh puritan values, symbolizes those elements of human nature that cannot be repressed, no matter how strict a community's moral code may be: desire, fertility, and a love of beauty. By personifying the rosebush as "offering" its blossoms to reflect Nature's pity (Nature is also personified here as having a "heart"), Hawthorne turns the passive coincidence of the rosebush's location into an image of human nature actively resisting its constraints.

Figurative Language Example: Idiom

Figurative language example: onomatopoeia.

In Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's The Tempest , Caliban uses onomatopoeia to convey the noises of the island.

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices...

The use of onomatopoeia makes the audience feel the sounds on the island, rather than just have to take Caliban's word about there being noises.

Figurative Language Example: Synecdoche

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth , an angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:

Take thy face hence.

Here, "thy face" stands in for "you." Macbeth is simply telling the servant to leave, but his use of synecdoche makes the tone of his command more harsh and insulting because he uses synecdoche to treat the servant not as a person but as an object, a body part.

Figurative Language Example: Metonymy

In his song "Juicy," Notorious B.I.G. raps:

Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight

Here he's using "limelight" as a metonymy for fame (a "limelight" was a kind of spotlight used in old theaters, and so it came to be associated with the fame of being in the spotlight). Biggie's use of metonymy here also sets him up for a sweet rhyme.

Figurative Language Example: Alliteration

In his song "Rap God," Eminem shows his incredible lyrical dexterity by loading up the alliteration :

S o I wanna make sure, s omewhere in this chicken s cratch I S cribble and doodle enough rhymes T o maybe t ry t o help get s ome people through t ough t imes But I gotta k eep a few punchlines Just in c ase, ‘ c ause even you un s igned Rappers are hungry l ooking at me l ike it's l unchtime…

Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

The term figurative language refers to a whole host of different figures of speech, so it's difficult to provide a single definitive answer to why writers use figurative language. That said, writers use figurative language for a wide variety of reasons:

• Interest and beauty: Figurative language allows writes to express descriptions, ideas, and more in ways that are unique and beautiful.
• Complexity and power: Because figurative language can create meanings that go beyond the literal, it can capture complex ideas, feelings, descriptions, or truths that cause readers to see things in a new way, or more closely mirror the complex reality of the world.
• Visceral affect: Because figurative language can both impact the rhythm and sound of language, and also connect the abstract (say, love) with the concrete (say, a rose), it can help language make an almost physical impact on a reader.
• Humor: By allowing a writer to layer additional meanings over literal meanings, or even to imply intended meanings that are the opposite of the literal meaning, figurative language gives writers all sorts of options for creating humor in their writing.
• Realism: People speak and even think in terms of the sorts of comparisons that underlie so much figurative language. Rather than being flowery, figurative language allows writers to describe things in ways that match how people really think about them, and to create characters who themselves feel real.

In general, figurative language often makes writing feel at once more accessible and powerful, more colorful, surprising, and deep.

Other Helpful Figurative Language Resources

• The dictionary definition of figurative : Touches on figurative language, as well as some other meanings of the word.
• Figurative and Frost : Examples of figurative language in the context of the poetry of Robert Frost.
• Figurative YouTube : A video identifying various forms of figurative language from movies and television shows.
• Wikipedia on literal and figurative language : A bit technical, but with a good list of examples.

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Figurative Language – Definition and Examples

• 3-minute read
• 13th April 2023

In this article, you’ll learn about figurative language: what it is, how to use it, and lots of examples to inspire your everyday speech and descriptive writing .

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. It is often used to create imagery, evoke emotion, or emphasize a point in a way that literal language cannot. Think of it as painting a picture with words in the minds of your audience – for example, “She was as light as a feather while dancing.”

5 Types of Figurative Language

Below, we’ll look at five types of figurative language – metaphor, idiom, simile, hyperbole, and personification – that you can use in an essay, poem , speech, or conversation.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things by stating that one thing is another, without using “like” or “as.” Metaphors are used to create imagery, evoke emotions, and help readers or listeners to understand an idea or concept in a new and interesting way.

Here are some examples of metaphors:

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. Idioms are often used in informal or conversational language to add color or humor.

Here are some examples of idioms:

If you want to include idioms in your everyday speech or writing, make sure you fully understand the figurative meaning before using them. If used incorrectly, they can cause confusion for your audience.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as.” They are a great writing technique to create vivid imagery and a memorable comparison.

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Here are some examples of similes:

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is mostly used to emphasize a point in a funny or memorable way. Hyperbole is great to use in everyday language or writing, but it’s important to use it in moderation – otherwise, it can come across as insincere or unbelievable.

Here are some examples of hyperbole:

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or animal is given human-like qualities or characteristics. This technique is mostly used in poetry or descriptive writing to create vivid imagery.

Here are some examples of personification:

Figurative language is a great addition to your everyday speech and is frequently used in literature and poetry. It can add depth and richness to language, making it more interesting and expressive. However, it can also be confusing if the reader or listener does not understand the intended meaning of the figurative language. Therefore, it is important to have a basic understanding of figurative language in order to fully appreciate and understand written and spoken communication.

Interested in learning more about how use descriptive language and vivid imagery? Check out our Writing Tips blog to learn more.

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Figurative Language: Meaning & Examples

Knowing what “figurative language” is and how to use it in your writing can take your writing from average to exceptional. Below, we’ll define “figurative language” and go over 10 different types.

What Does Figurative Language Mean?

Figurative language is an excellent tool you can use in writing that helps your audience better visualize and understand your message.

There are several different types including:

• Personification

What Is Figurative Language?

Figurative language are words or phrases that help readers engage with, visualize, and understand your writing. They do this by transcending the literal definition of words.

Every writer should familiarize themselves with figurative language. Why? Not only because it makes your writing sound nice, but also because it can play a major role in the effectiveness of the message you’re trying to get across.

There are different types of figurative language— some more useful than others depending on what you’re writing about. Below, we’ll go over 10 common types of figurative language .

Types of Figurative Language

Similes use the words “as” or “like” to explicitly highlight the similarities between two seemingly different things.

You’re sweet like candy.

2. Metaphors

Compared to similes, metaphors are implicit comparisons because they don’t use “as” or “like.”

Daniel is the light of my life.

There are many different types of metaphors , including standard, implied, mixed, extended, and conceptual metaphors.

An idiom is a phrase in which the meaning of the whole cannot be derived from the meaning of the parts.

There are plenty of fish in the sea.

A non-native English speaker might not deduce that this phrase means “there are numerous eligible people to date.”

4. Hyperboles

A hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that is used to emphasize something or add a desired effect. You’ve likely used a hyperbole if you’ve ever said something like:

I’m so tired that I’m going to sleep for the rest of time.

The example above is hyperbolic because there’s no way someone can literally sleep for the rest of time. However, it does help the audience understand how tired the writer (or speaker) is.

5. Oxymorons

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory words are put side by side.

In my unbiased opinion , the movie was terrible.

Unbiased opinion is an oxymoron because opinions are inherently biased. There are many reasons a writer might decide to include an oxymoron in their text, whether it be for comedic or dramatic effects.

Simply put, a pun is a humorous play on words that exploits the different meanings of a word.

Make like a tree and leave.

This pun makes use of leave as a verb, and the fact that a tree has leaves (plural noun). Puns are often added to a text to entertain readers.

7. Personification

Personification is when human qualities and abilities are figuratively applied to inanimate objects or abstractions.

Personification makes it easier to write about things that are usually challenging. It also makes your writing more engaging and tangible.

The last piece of the pie was calling my name.

Obviously, pie cannot call out someone's name. But personifying it is a creative way to let the audience know that the last piece of pie was tempting to you.

8. Allusion

An allusion is when a famous person, place, literary work, or event is implicitly referenced. For example:

Surrounded by the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, I could be forgiven for thinking I was in Eden.

The example above alluded to the biblical Garden of Eden.

Litotes is a type of ironic understatement that uses negative terms to express a positive statement.

It’s not uncommon for something like this to happen.

The use of not and uncommon together ends up meaning common. Litotes are used to emphasize the positive through the use of negatives. They also sometimes make your reader pause and reflect.

10. Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a type of figurative language in which a part of something is used to represent a whole (or vice-versa).

Did you see Jason’s new set of wheels ?

Here, wheels represents a car. A synecdoche can be useful when you want to keep your writing fluent or concise.

Experienced writers know when to employ figurative language in their writing. They also know which ones work best depending on the setting and context of the text.

Familiarizing yourself with these different types of figures of speech is an effective way of sharpening your writing skills.

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Blogs / 3. Creative Writing / 7 Figurative Language Examples, Definitions, and Types

7 Figurative Language Examples, Definitions, and Types

You’ve probably heard the term figurative language, but what does it actually mean?

Valid question, but fear not because I’ve broken down the seven different kinds of figurative language, provided some examples for each one, and wrapped up with my top three tips for using good figurative language.

Let’s get stuck in.

What is Figurative Language?

According to Merriam-Webster, “Figurative language refers to words or phrases that are meaningful but not literally true.”

The 7 Different Kinds of Figurative Language

There are many types of figurative language you can use to enhance your writing, and each one serves a slightly different purpose. Below, I’ve included a list of the different kinds of figurative language out there and a definition of what they are.

Once you understand each category of figurative language, we’ll look at some examples so you can really bed the knowledge in.

Let’s start with one of my favorite kinds of figurative language, similes

You use similes when you want to compare two things that rarely go together, and you split them up with the words “like” or “as” to draw the reader’s attention to the comparison.

The purpose of a simile is to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind. When writers use similes, they’re often taking complex or abstract ideas and expressing them in ways readers understand.

This technique of taking something nebulous or unfamiliar and comparing it with something we encounter often in our daily lives can also create unique descriptions, add emphasis, or set a particular tone.

Metaphors confused me for the longest time. I never really understood what they were, so I couldn’t explain them clearly. Then one day, it clicked.

Much like a simile, a metaphor makes a comparison between two different things that rarely go together. The crucial difference between a simile and a metaphor is that readers know a simile is a comparison because of the words “like” and “as.”

With a metaphor, you’re effectively told that one thing is something else, which makes the comparison sound like reality. The purpose of a metaphor is to create “literal comparisons” that lend your writing a creative and poetic flourish. You can use metaphors when you want to add a deeper meaning to your writing.

Let’s get nerdy for a second (because why wouldn’t you) and chat about the different metaphors you can use. They include:

• Direct Metaphors : Clearly state that one thing is another without using “like” or “as”
• Implied Metaphors : Suggest the comparison without specifying it
• Extended Metaphors : Develop the initial comparison over several sentences or throughout an entire work
• Dead Metaphors : Commonplace comparisons that have lost their original vividness because of overuse
• Mixed Metaphors : Combine elements of multiple metaphors, often creating a jarring or humorous effect

Yep. That’s a lot of metaphors right there, but hopefully that’s helped clarify what they are.

Personification

Another favorite of mine.

When you use personification, you apply human characteristics to a non-living object or an abstract idea to create vivid imagery in the reader’s mind. This technique can make your writing more interesting when done well.

The purpose of personification is to enhance the reader’s ability to connect with the ideas you express because, by giving something abstract or inanimate some human characteristics, readers will instantly be able to picture it in their minds. Readers are used to interpreting human emotions, physical gestures, and intellectual attributes because they do it daily.

Using personification in this way helps make your writing relatable. 

We all know someone who speaks using exaggerated turns of phrase that border on the ridiculous and can be downright funny. This is hyperbole. You can use it in your writing if you want to create deliberate and obvious exaggeration, which can be more useful than you might think.

Writers often use this literary device to convey strong character emotion or an inflated sense of danger because, when used sparingly, hyperbole can work well in moments of high tension to really convey the stakes of what a character is going through.

Now you know what hyperbole is, you’ll spot it everywhere, not just in books. You’ll see it all the time in speeches, advertising, and marketing materials and in everyday conversation with your friends and family.

The purpose of hyperbole is to add drama, urgency, and sometimes humor to your prose, and these exaggerated moments can really resonate with readers.

Allusion is when the author alludes to someone or something that exists in the world and is familiar to readers to make a point.

TV shows are renowned for their pop culture references, and this is perhaps the most well-known type of allusion out there. In these shows, the writers use pop culture references as a kind of shorthand to convey a message because most readers (even if they don’t know exactly what the pop culture reference is‌) will have heard of it.

The purpose of allusion is to use references to a well-known person, place, event, book, TV show, song, band, etc. to add layers of meaning to your writing.

Synecdoche is when you use the word for one part of an item or object to refer to the whole item or object. You can also use it in the opposite way, using the word for the whole item to refer to a specific part of it. This will become clearer when we look at some examples later.

The purpose of synecdoche is to add depth, layers of meaning, and symbolism to your writing.

Onomatopoeia

The last type of figurative language we’re going to talk about is onomatopoeia.

This all relates to sound, and it’s when the word you use, when spelled phonetically, sounds the same as the noise you’re describing.

The purpose of onomatopoeia is to use sound to create atmosphere, enhance your imagery (a sound creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind), and make your writing more engaging.

Figurative Language Example Sentences

Now we’ve covered what each type of figurative language is, let’s get the knowledge cemented in by looking at a couple of examples of each.

Simile Examples

• Ray Bradbury, The October Country: “The water made a sound like kittens lapping.”
• William Shakespeare, As You Like It: “The world is like a stage, and we are merely players.”

Metaphor Examples

• Dante Alighieri, Inferno: “I am the way into the city of woe.”
• William Goldman, The Princess Bride : “Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high.”

Personification Examples

• Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale : [Referring to a garden] “It breathes, in the warmth, breathing itself in.”
• F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby: “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.”

Hyperbole Examples

• L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables: “I must have died and gone to heaven.”
• William Shakespeare, Hamlet: “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space.”

Allusion Examples

• Hercules (or Herculean): Often used to emphasize strength.
• Pandora’s Box: Describes big (and usually unexpected) consequences or a source of trouble.

Synecdoche Examples

• “Jack got some new wheels.”: This means Jack got a new car, but wheels can refer to part of the car or the entire car.
• “I can’t wait to get back out on the waves.”: Waves are a part of the ocean, but surfers refer to the entire ocean as waves.

Onomatopoeia Examples

• “Crash.”: The word crash sounds like the noise an impact makes.
• “Bang.”: The word bang sounds like the noise an explosion makes.

Tips For Using Good Figurative Language

Tip 1: use figurative language with purpose.

When I first discovered these seven types of figurative language, I couldn’t wait to use them. And use them, I did. Everywhere. All the time. Too much.

As with any literary tool that draws attention to itself, use it sparingly. As discussed, similes can be super useful when you want to create a funny comparison, and metaphors are great if you want to add some poetic qualities to your writing. But less is more.

You can use all these tools to create a certain effect, and their effects are so well received because they’re unusual. They’re a fantastic way to avoid repetition, but the more you use them, the less effect they have, and the more repetitive they become.

If you’ve read any of my previous articles, you’ll know how important it is to avoid repetition because it bores readers. And bored readers are never good. They might just decide to pick up another book because yours can’t keep them hooked.

Tip 2: Match The Tone of Your Figurative Language to Your Genre

Whatever effect you’re trying to create, it’s best to match the tone of your figurative language to your genre.

If you’re writing a comedic or satirical book, or you write in a genre where readers expect humor (like romantic comedy or urban fantasy), then you can use your similes, metaphors, personification (or any other figurative language) to enhance the humor of the piece. But if you’re writing in crime, thriller, horror, or any genre with darker themes, experiment with making your figurative language dark as well.

Tone is so key for readers, especially those who don’t read outside their preferred genre. Don’t disappoint readers by striking the wrong tone.

Tip 3: Avoid Overuse and Cliches

Where possible, try not to use figurative language we’ve all heard before. We call these phrases cliches, and while they have their place (e.g., one of your characters has a habit of speaking using cliche figurative language), the use of cliches is another form of repetition. And you know how I feel about repetition (he repeats).

Instead, spend some time practicing your figurative language skills, and see if you can come up with fresh new ways of being figurative.

And finally, always remember that story comes first. Before worrying about the perfect piece of figurative language to use, it’s best to focus on:

• Creating engaging characters
• Penning an interesting plot
• Structuring solid settings

A tool like Fictionary helps you turn your draft into an interesting story readers love. So, with the right language and a strong narrative foundation, your writing can truly shine.

Figurative Language

Figurative language definition, types of figurative language, short examples of figurative language, examples of figurative language from literature, example #1: the base stealer (by robert francis).

Poised between going on and back, pulled Both ways taut like a tight-rope walker, Now bouncing tiptoe like a dropped ball, Or a kid skipping rope, come on, come on! … Taunts them, hovers like an ecstatic bird, He’s only flirting, crowd him, crowd him,

Example #2: I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings (By Maya Angelou)

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage Can seldom see through his bars of rage His wings are clipped and his feet are tied The caged bird sings with a fearful trill … And his tune is heard on the distant hill for The caged bird sings of freedom.

The entire poem is rich with metaphor as a bird in a cage represents a group of people who are oppressed and cannot get freedom. The cage represents physical barriers, fear, addiction, or society; while the song of the bird represents true self yearning for something greater in life.

Example #3: She Sweeps with Many-Colored Brooms (By Emily Dickinson)

Personification.

She sweeps with many-colored Brooms And leaves the Shreds behind Oh Housewife in the Evening West Come back, and dust the Pond!

Dickinson uses personification of a housewife to describe the sunset in the very first line of this poem. She is using a sweeping housewife who does her daily work, likewise the rays of the setting sun sweep away beneath the horizon.

Example #4: The Raven (By Edgar Allen Poe)

Alliteration.

O nce upon a midnight dreary w hile I pondered w eak and w eary ; r are and r adiant maiden; And the s ilken s ad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain … D eep into that d arkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, D oubting, d reaming d reams no mortal ever d ared to d ream before.

Poe uses alliteration by repeating the /w/ sound to emphasize the weariness of the narrator , and then /r/ and /s/ sounds in the second and third lines respectively. In the last two lines, the /d/ sound highlights the narrator’s hopelessness.

Example #5: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (By Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks Had I from old and young ! Instead of the cross , the Albatross About my neck was hung.

In these lines, the albatross symbolizes a big mistake, or a burden of sin, just like the cross on which Christ was crucified. Therefore, all people on the ship agreed to slay that bird.

Example #6: The Bluest Eyes (By Toni Morrison)

Personification, consonance, and simile.

She ran down the street, the green knee socks making her legs look like wild dandelion of stems that had somehow lost their heads. The weight of her remark stunned us.

Example #7: The Week of Diana (By Maya Angelou)

Metaphor, consonance, personification.

“The dark lantern of world sadness has cast its shadow upon the land. We stumble into our misery on leaden feet.”

in just these two lines, Maya Angelou has used a metaphor of the dark lantern, consonance of the /s/ sounds, and personification of misery.

Example #8: The Negro Speaks of River (By Langston Hughes)

Consonance, simile.

“I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”

Example #9: Musée des Beaux Arts (By W. H. Auden)

Personification, consonance.

That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot Where the dogs go on with their doggy W. H. Auden life and the torturer’s horse Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.

Function of Figurative Language

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How To Use Figurative Language To Enhance Your Writing

• What Is Figurative Language?
• Figurative Language Vs. Literary Devices
• Using Figurative Language
• Take The Quiz

In writing, we use a lot of different figures of speech. In your own writing, you have likely used a simile in a sentence such as It was as hot as the sun. Or perhaps you like creating clever puns such as She brought the planks of wood to the board meeting. Both of these popular types of wordplay are examples of figurative language . Not only is figurative language fun, but it can also really spice up your writing if used effectively. 

In this article, we will:

• explain what figurative language is
• give examples of different types of figurative language
• offer tips for using figurative language creatively

You probably use figurative language already, but learning a bit more about it will ensure that your metaphors, similes, puns, idioms, and hyperbole shine like diamonds . Without any further ado, let’s cut to the chase and learn all we can about figurative language.   

What is figurative language ?

Figurative language is language that uses creative wordplay, expressions, and figures of speech to mean something beyond the literal definition of words. 

Figurative language can be described as the opposite of literal language. When we use words literally, their meaning is usually the same as the meaning that appears in the dictionary. For example, the sentence I went to the grocery store literally means that you traveled to a place that sells food. 

When we use words figuratively, on the other hand, they mean something beyond the definitions of the words themselves. Often, we use figurative language to inspire colorful mental images or make our writing and speech more exciting. 

Let’s look at the sentence It was raining cats and dogs . If we read this sentence literally, it says that cats and dogs fell from the sky. If we recognize it as figurative language, we know that the sentence is actually saying that it was raining a lot. As you can see, figurative language requires us to go beyond the literal meanings of words to understand the intent behind them. 

Examples of figurative language

Figurative language includes many different figures of speech and types of wordplay. The following list gives some popular examples of figurative language but is not exhaustive.

A simile is “a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared.” Typically, similes make comparisons using the word like or as .

Example: She ran as fast as lightning. 

2. metaphor

A metaphor is another form of comparison in which something is said to figuratively be something else.

Example: I am a sloth in the morning until I drink my coffee. 

Learning the difference between a metaphor and a simile can be a walk in the park and as easy as pie!

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its elements.

Example: You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

4. hyperbole

A hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration.

Example: The dish exploded into a million pieces.

Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.

Example: I failed my exams and lost my wallet, so it has been a fantastic day so far. 

6. onomatopoeia

An onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound it refers to.

Example: The cymbals crashed, and the drums boomed.

A person is making a pun when they humorously use words with multiple meanings or words with similar sounds to create wordplay.

Example: The article on fishing lures made by secret societies looked interesting, but it turned out to be clique bait.

When they’re not formal and serious, words are perfect for playful linguistic shenanigans, antics, and amusement!

8. personification

Personification is the act of giving human elements to non-human things.

Example: The leaves danced gracefully in the wind.  

9. metonymy

Metonymy is when the name of something is replaced with something related to it.

Example: He loved music from the cradle (birth) to the grave (death).

10. synecdoche

Synecdoche is when a part of something is used to refer to a whole.

Example: She saw a lot of familiar faces at the party.

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Figurative language vs. literary devices

A literary device is an element, like a metaphor, that draws us into a story . Some consider literary devices to be the building blocks of literature. When used correctly and effectively, literary devices give writers a way to infuse their work with detail and hint at larger themes, ideas, and meaning.

Some forms of figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, are considered to be types of literary devices. However, common literary devices may make use of figurative language, literal language, or both to accomplish whatever goal an author has in mind. 

Elevate your writing by getting to know some of the most common types of literary devices.

For example, foreshadowing is a commonly used literary device. When establishing foreshadowing , an author may use actual events to hint at something that will happen later in a story. For example, a heroine may repeatedly see a black cat wandering around before she discovers that the evil sorcerer disguises himself as a black cat.  

Alternatively, a literary device such as symbolism may use figurative language to express meaning to a reader. For example, a group of knights in a story may wear clothing with lions on them, and the author may refer to them as lions in the narrative. In this case, the author is using symbolism; the knights are not literal lions. The author compares them to lions using figurative language in order to emphasize their courage, pride, and ferociousness. 

Often, figurative language and literary devices are used together by writers in order to draw readers in with clever and imaginative use of words, themes, and plots. 

How to use figurative language

Using figurative language in your writing is a great way to catch a reader’s attention and make your text more creative and exciting. However, there are some important tips to keep in mind when using figurative language. 

Arguably the most important part of figurative language is ensuring that your reader understands what you are saying. If you use an expression your reader doesn’t know or make a comparison that your reader doesn’t understand, you have unnecessarily made your writing worse. As a writer, you must always keep your audience in mind. So if you’re unsure who your audience is, it is best to stick to common expressions and make your wordplay easy to understand. 

For example:

❌ Confusing: The pickpocket was a hyena among oryx; it was like shooting fish in a bucket. 

✅ Better: The pickpocket was a wolf among sheep; it was like taking candy from a baby. 

The second example shows how to use figurative language effectively. It relies on common, well-known animals in a simple metaphor and also uses a common expression. Even if a reader hasn’t heard the expression like taking candy from a baby , it is pretty clear from the context that it is referring to easily committing a crime. 

Another thing to keep in mind before using figurative language is the type of writing you are doing. Specifically, are you engaging in formal writing or informal writing? Figurative language is more likely to be used in informal writing. While formal writing does usually allow for figurative language, it is often a lot more difficult to use figurative writing effectively in formal writing. 

In formal writing, lighthearted figurative language such as puns, hyperbole, and whimsical similes will often come across as distracting, unprofessional, and inappropriate. In formal settings, it is best to stick to serious uses of figurative language that don’t detract from the tone or professionalism of the writing. 

❌ Informal language: The senator had to get out while the getting was good because he knew his argument wasn’t going to cut the mustard. 

✅ More formal: The senator had to cut his losses because he knew his argument didn’t hold water. 

Think you’re one smart cookie? Take the quiz!

If you’re confident you’ve got a good grasp on figurative language, try blowing us out of the water, knocking our socks off, and showing us you’re quick as a whip by acing our figurative language quiz .

Give your writing even more of a leg up by learning some rhetorical devices.

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Figurative Language: Why and How You Should Use It

By Zara Altair

Color Your Writing with Figurative Language

22 examples of figurative language, use figurative language wisely by avoiding clichés, figurative language is the spice of writing.

Figurative language means using literary devices, techniques, and figures of speech to heighten sensory response and add meaning, clarity, or impact to your writing.

Figures of speech color your prose, giving a sense of immediacy to readers. They evoke a strong emotional reaction.

Just like a figure in a drawing, figurative language creates an image in your reader’s mind. Figurative language calls on the reader’s senses through sounds, scents, tastes, images, and touch to make an idea accessible.

You probably use figurative language in your everyday speech without thinking twice about it. Here are some examples:

It’s a million degrees outside today.

Alice is busy as a bee .

His smile was a mile wide .

The chair groaned with his weight.

I can help you with your HTML—it’s a piece of cake .

It’s not really a million degrees outside. Alice isn’t a bee. Configuring code is not cake. But that’s how figurative language works. The images (figures) create an immediate impression.

Figurative language has been around as long as people have been telling stories. Over time, writers have come up with many ways to use figurative language. The world is your oyster (see what I did there?) when it comes to choosing figurative ways to express yourself.

When you want your writing to connect with readers and give them an emotional punch, figurative language can create an immediate response. Perk up your writing using figurative elements.

Here’s an introduction to 22 different ways of how to use figurative language.

A simile compares two things that are unlike each other by using “as” or “like” to establish equivalency. You are saying that the two things are similar.

The imagery is what connects the comparison to the thing you describe. The two things are not related in the world, but the image in the simile describes the state of the item.

Simile examples:

She was like a fish out of water at the prom.

He slept like a dog .

Her eyes sparkled like diamonds .

Figuratively, the man is like a sleeping dog, or the eyes are like diamonds. The figurative language connects the two.

2. Metaphor

A metaphor takes figurative language a step further. There is no comparison; the item described is the image of the metaphor even though it is not literally the object. The figure represents the thing described.

Metaphor examples from everyday speech:

The valley is covered in a blanket of snow.

She has a heart of stone .

He’s the black sheep of the family.

Use metaphors in both prose and poetry to create an emotional connection with your reader.

3. Metonymy

Metonymy means “change of name.” As a literary device, one word is used to replace another closely associated word. Use metonymy to avoid repeating the same word. The representative word allows you to vary expressions or to use a word to express a concept.

Examples of metonymy:

Hollywood : the film industry

Press : journalism and news organizations

Academics : school, college, university, studies

Management : administration, leadership

Metonymy helps keep your writing concise.

4. Synecdoche

A synecdoche uses a part of something to represent the whole. Just like metonymy, it keeps you from overusing a particular word. You’ll expand your reader’s understanding of your topic.

Examples of synecdoche:

Green thumb : a talent for raising plants

Stars and stripes : the American flag

Suit : signifying someone who is in business

5. Personification

Personification attributes human qualities to inanimate objects or the representation of an abstract quality in human form. The best way to understand is to look at some examples.

Examples of personification:

Jim heard the last piece of pie calling his name .

The door protested on its rusty hinges.

The headlights winked as the truck drove through the forest.

Personification makes inanimate objects relatable. It is used in advertising to make a product more approachable. Think of Goldfish crackers: the snack that smiles back .

6. Onomatopoeia

With onomatopoeia, the word itself sounds like the sound you’re describing. Just like a visual figure of speech, the sound of the word makes a vivid connection with the reader.

Examples of onomatopoeia:

The steak sizzled on the fire.

The avalanche boomed across the valley.

The bee and the doorbell buzzed at the same time.

Onomatopoeia is fun figurative language, giving your reader a sensory sizzle and making the scene come alive.

7. Oxymoron

You’ve heard it said that opposites attract. Oxymoron is figurative language that connects two opposite feelings. The words are self-contradicting but build sensory response in your reader by enhancing the concept.

Examples of oxymoron :

Managing the conference was controlled chaos .

One job qualification for our team is serious fun .

After the party, Kendra found the kitchen in a fine mess .

If you want your oxymoron to hit home, choose your own original opposites. Here’s one from Andy Warhol: "I am a deeply superficial person."

8. Hyperbole

Hyperbolic figurative language goes over the top as an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, humor, or effect. People use hyperbole often in casual speech.

Examples of hyperbole:

If I hear that one more time, I’m going to die .

After that hike, I am so hungry I could eat a horse .

9. Allusion

An allusion is a brief reference to a person, place, thing, event, or literary/poetic work that the writer assumes the reader knows. Poet T. S. Elliot and novelist James Joyce both wrote using allusions.

Examples of allusion:

Aila’s Achilles’ heel is her squeaky voice when presenting.

Following up with the conference attendees was a Herculean effort .

The cottage by the creek was a perfect Eden .

Be careful using allusions. Match them to your audience. Just because you know something doesn’t mean it is general knowledge, or even knowledge specific to your audience.

An idiom is an expression using two or more words to refer to something, but the words mean something other than the literal meaning of the words used in the idiom.

Idiomatic phrases can be national or regional. Sometimes even groups or families create their own internal idiomatic expressions.

Example of idiom:

Kirk: “If we play our cards right , we may be able to find out when those whales are being released.” Spock: “How will playing cards help?”

(Dialogue between characters Captain James T. Kirk and Spock in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , 1986)

They are not playing cards. Spock, who takes everything literally, doesn’t understand the idiomatic expression.

Be careful when using idioms—they often don’t translate well to non-native speakers (like Spock).

ProWritingAid’s Clichés Report highlights idioms in your writing so you can make sure you’re saying what you really mean.

Some similes and metaphors have become so commonplace that they are now cliché. Use the Clichés Report to find and replace stale words and phrases with fresher ideas.

Ready to freshen up your writing?

11. Imagery Imagery creates pictures (images) with words. But the imagery is not limited to the visual. Imagery can refer to all five senses and internal emotions. Examples of touch, taste, and smell imagery: The rabbit’s fur felt like velvet . Her lips tasted as sweet as sugar . The kids rushed inside because the house smelled like chocolate . Imagery elicits an immediate sensory response in your reader by providing familiar references to help them connect to what you’re saying. Varying the senses you appeal to in your writing makes for a more engaging reader experience. Use ProWritingAid’s Sensory Report to highlight all of the sensory words in your writing. It will also tell you how many of each type of word you have used so you can make sure you’ve got a good balance. 12. Symbolism A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else to evoke additional emotional meaning. A symbol can be a word, object, action, character, or concept. Literary novels often use symbolism to express a theme, like a river representing life. Examples of symbolism: Green traffic light: symbolizes “go” Dollar sign: symbolizes money, wealth, earnings Shopping cart icon: symbolizes online purchase You can use anything to symbolize a concept in writing. Just make sure the symbol is one your audience understands. 13. Consonance Consonance uses consonants in quick repetition. They can appear anywhere in the word—beginning, middle, or end. Consonance not only brings attention to the phrase but makes it easy to remember. Examples of consonance: Fuddy duddy Jay-Z uses consonance in “Brooklyn’s Finest,” combining the similar sounds of S and Z. Peep the style and the way the cops sweat us The number one question is, can the Feds get us? Consonance intensifies the language, building an emotional connection with the reader. 14. Alliteration Alliteration is the use of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close together in a sentence to evoke sensory feelings related to the sound. For example, P and hard C represent excitement, while S represents softness. It isn’t based on the letter but on the sound of the consonant. Examples of alliteration: Tonka Trucks Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers… As a subset of consonance, use alliteration to call attention to an important point and/or make your point memorable. 15. Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words close to each other. Unlike alliteration, where the word starts with a consonant at the beginning, the vowel sound can be inside the word. Examples of assonance: Stranger danger Cock of the walk Eyes on the prize Once again, it’s the sound that’s important—not the letter used. And assonance works in the same way as alliteration to make your statement memorable or call attention to it. Irony is a contradictory statement that expresses a reality different from what appears as truth. It points at a different perspective. In literature, it can be an unforeseen event that changes a character’s expectation or some unanticipated behavior different from what was expected. Verbal irony is an unanticipated response; situational irony is an unexpected outcome. Irony examples: Telling a silent group, “don’t everyone speak at once.” (Verbal irony.) Marriage counsellor divorcing her third husband. (Situational irony.) Burglarized police station. (Situational irony.) Irony also works as a plot device. Hansel and Gretel (oral tradition): the witch burns in her own oven Oedipus Rex, Sophocles: Oedipus searches for the murderer, who is himself 17. Sarcasm Sarcasm is an ironic statement intended to mock. You say something different from what you literally mean. Sarcasm can portray the speaker’s true feelings even though it is veiled in humor. In order for sarcasm to work in writing, you must make sure the context is clear, otherwise the reader will misunderstand. Examples of sarcasm: I’d agree with you, but then I’d be wrong. Ask me if I care. Aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. 18. Litotes Litotes is a literary device that states an affirmative without using an affirmative word, usually with negative terms. Often used as understatement or negation to express a contrary meaning. Examples of litotes: You’re not wrong. His decision was not the worst. Your effort has not gone unnoticed. A pun is a literary device that plays on the sound of words. The words have identical sounds but the meaning is different. Puns are generally intended to be humorous. Examples of common puns: The librarian is a bookkeeper. I need to spend more thyme in the garden. “The road to success is always under construction.” (Lily Tomlin) 20. Anaphora Anaphora is the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences. It is figurative language that's especially effective in speeches. It functions to emphasize words and ideas. Use it to evoke emotion, highlight an idea, and create urgency. Examples of anaphora: “ Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.” (Martin Luther King Jr.) “There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done / Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung / Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game” ( All You Need is Love , Paul McCartney and John Lennon) You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. 21. Tautology In figurative language, tautology is the use of two words or phrases that say the same thing. Used well, it emphasizes a point. But, be careful because tautology can also feel wordy. For example, ProWritingAid will signal tautologies as unnecessary words to keep your writing succinct. Examples of tautology: The morning sunrise is beautiful. “With malice toward none , with charity for all , with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.” (Abraham Lincoln) She was a dark-haired brunette . 22. Understatement Understatement intentionally makes a statement less important than it seems or is. It functions as the opposite of hyperbole. Examples of understatement: “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” ( Catcher in the Rye , J. D. Salinger) It’s not too bad. (When your borrowed jacket is returned with an indelible stain.) It’s O.K. I guess. (Describing an incredible result.) Figurative language colors your writing to call attention to a passage. Images, word use, sounds, and wordplay are all ways to spice up your writing whether it’s an article, speech, fiction, or poetry. Here you have 22 examples as ideas to use when your writing is feeling flat. Match the figurative language to the mood, tone, audience, and intended outcome. You’ll transform the seemingly ordinary into significant writing. Take your writing to the next level: 20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas., this guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers.. Be confident about grammar Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send. Zara Altair Zara Altair writes traditional mysteries set in ancient Italy under Ostrogoths rule in The Argolicus Mysteries. She teaches mystery screenwriters and novelists at Write A Killer Mystery. She creates semantic web content for a select clientele. Get started with ProWritingAid Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via : 75+ Examples of Figurative Language Figurative Language Published on Oct 23, 2021   shares Figurative language makes writing – and even speaking – more expressive and easier to understand. When done well, it lends style to your writing. More resources on figurative language: What is figurative language? The resource covers how figurative language improves writing, dos and don’ts while writing figuratively, and more. Exercises on figurative language (Note that key parts of each figure of speech have been underlined for you to easily follow them and that my comments accompanying examples are in square brackets.) Examples of using different types of figurative language on a given topic When writing on a topic, it’s convenient to first brainstorm and write variety of figures of speech on that topic, and then incorporate them in your piece. This is probably a better way to polish your figurative language. Here are multiple figures of speech on two topics. Give a try yourself first and see how many you can write. 1. Cold weather Fetching grocery in the cold was a death sentence . [Metaphor] The snowstorm left behind a thick blanket of snow in most parts of the state, government declaring emergency , people staying indoors , air traffic grounding , and power failing in some areas . [Metaphor/ Parallelism (absolute phrases)] The predawn snowfall smothered our chances of having an outdoor game. [Personification/ Metaphor] The cold wind pierced my bones. [Personification/ Metaphor] Fetching grocery in the cold was like a death sentence . [Simile] It was a frigid night, freezing blood in my veins . [Hyperbole/ Alliteration] “When will the weather improve?” the old man moaned . [Onomatopoeia] The dog yelped as the gust of cold wind struck his face. [Onomatopoeia] 2. Nervous while waiting for the result My heart skipped few beats while waiting for the result. [Idiom] My heart failed few times while waiting for the result. [Hyperbole/ Alliteration (2)] In the moments before the result was declared, I was an undertrial moments away from the verdict . [Metaphor] While waiting for the result, my heart requested me to take a stroll and stop thinking about the worst. [Personification/ Metaphor] In the moments before the result was declared, I was like an undertrial moments away from the verdict . [Simile] While waiting for the result, my heart pounded like a set of drums in a music event . [Onomatopoeia/ Simile] Examples of each of 8 figurative languages 1. alliteration. The dog sprinted across the field to fetch the ball. The virulent virus has disrupted lives and deflated economies. In these troubled times , travel has come down to a trickle . The iguanas make deep dives in the ocean to feed on marine algae. The shark surfaced to breathe. The slow sloth inched up the tree trunk . The business centre is buzzing with activity. The deafening downpour has resulted in flash floods . More resources on alliteration: More than 150 alliteration examples on 7 topics What is alliteration and how to write one? 2. Hyperbole I felt as abandoned as a used Kleenex . During probation period, I felt like a bug under the microscope . The movie went on for what seemed like  an eternity . The leaping catch by the fielder took my breath away . Your decrepit furniture seems to be from Jurassic era . My new shoes, little bit tight, are killing me. Kids are so overloaded these days. Just look at their bags; they weigh a ton . The food was so delicious that I almost ate my fingers . More resources on hyperbole: More than 100 examples of hyperbole What is hyperbole and how to write one? The scandal proved to be the final nail in the coffin of the mayor. Some of the bank employees have been allegedly working hand in glove with business owners to sanction loans without proper due diligence. I jumped the gun by sending the proposal to the client without first showing it to my manager. I’ve made the request few times in the past, but it has always fallen on deaf ears . The boss cut that arrogant guy to size in no time. I spent two hours cooling my heels in the waiting room while the CFO was busy in a meeting. I was left out in the cold in the annual promotions in the company. The IP for our key technology has been leaked, and many in my team, including the manager, are under a cloud . More resources on idiom: More than 200 idioms with meaning and use What are idioms and why non-natives should learn them? Participate in a short survey If you’re a learner or teacher of English language, you can help improve website’s content for the visitors through a short survey. 4. Metaphor During the moments before the result was declared, I was a tax payer who had just received an audit notice from the IRA : extremely nervous. My loans are a millstone around my neck , keeping me tied to my 9-to-5 job. My night shift is a graveyard : not a soul in sight, complete silence, and an occasional howl from the street dogs. Journalism is literature in hurry . Matthew Arnold The world is a stage , but the play is badly cast. Oscar Wilde Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it . Albert Smith Jonah Lomu, a rampaging bull with the ball , is widely recognized as one of the greatest of the game. [An appositive acting as a metaphor] His fortress of a house was finally breached by the intelligence agencies. [Implied metaphor] More resources on metaphor: More than 100 examples of metaphors Metaphor examples for kids What is metaphor and how to write one? 5. Onomatopoeia Nervous, I babbled my way through the first few minutes of the interview. Finding the sheep at her mercy, the witch cackled before waving her wand. I caught my head on the door and howled in pain. The car screeched to a stop. I was taken aback by the dog’s snarl ; a moment earlier, he seemed so friendly. I was chomping my chicken piece unconcerned by the reaction of others around. Don’t slurp the soup! It’s bad manners. The race car turned the curve and then vroomed on the home stretch. More resources on onomatopoeia: Examples of 140+ onomatopoeic words (with meaning and use) What is onomatopoeia and its common errors? 6. Parallelism Many accidents could be attributed to human errors, but faulty road design , absence of street lights , lack of dividers , and potholes on roads also contribute to such incidents. Source [Noun phrases in parallel] Cheetah hunts impalas and rabbits , lives in coalition and singly , and communicates through variety of sounds . [Verb phrases in parallel] Usain Bolt was quick off the blocks , fast in the middle , and exceptional at the finish . [Adjective phrases in parallel] Located at the end of the street and protected by a sturdy fence , the house has had no occupants in nearly two years. [Past participial phrases in parallel] Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant . Robert Louis Stevenson [Prepositional phrase in parallel] Live in the sunshine , swim the sea , drink the wild air . Ralph Waldo Emerson [Clauses in parallel. Note that you don’t see a subject here because it’s an imperative sentence.] Joe’s dress was better than that of Mac . [Parallelism when comparing] Whether you think you can or you think you can’t , you’re right. Henry Ford [Parallelism with correlative conjunction] More resources on parallelism: More than 80 examples of parallelism How to write parallel sentences that make writing impactful? 7. Personification Covid-19 stalked continent after continent with no remorse. My first novel got crucified . Chocolate frog, a new species of frog found, has been shying away from mankind for time immemorial. The kettle hissed and bellowed steam. Saying they were last polished two weeks back, the shoes begged for a polish. The lock shrieked in pain as I rattled the wrong key in it. The carved pumpkin sat on the table, smiling and observing Halloween preparations. The ball, after being hit hard, sailed over the boundary line and landed in the third tier of the stadium More resources on personification: More than 180 examples of personification What is personification and how to write one step-by-step? Investing in such junk bonds is like carrying water in a sieve . I had grand dreams, but, when faced with reality, they went down, much like how Titanic went down after colliding with the iceberg . The vagabond roamed the streets like a tin can swept by wind . Playing polo is like trying to play golf during an earthquake . Sylvester Stallone The hackers made off with millions of dollars from the bank, taking advantage of their lax security which was as strong as the one provided by our street dog drunk on a liter of beer . Public speaking is as easy for me as putting toothpaste back in tube . The seal couldn’t escape from the shark’s vice-like grip . [An adjective acting as simile] His concern for building a career was no more than the concern of well-fed lions for the next meal . [Similes formed through comparison words other than like and as ] More resources on simile: More than 120 examples of similes Simile examples for kids What is simile and how to write one? Anil is the person behind this website. He writes on most aspects of English Language Skills. More about him here: Figurative language makes your writing come alive! The creative writing tips on this page show you how to use figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, personification, hyperboles, oxymoron, synecdoche and more, to improve your writing skills. When we use a metaphor, we imply a comparison (indirectly, without using the word or ) between an idea or quality and a concrete picture. For example, the abstract idea of comes alive when we pair it with an action picture: (From ) Metaphors can also create a mood: (From , by Alfred Lord Tennyson) A simile sharpens and enhances an idea through direct association or comparison with concrete images, using the word or . Examples: (From , by William Wordsworth) (From , by Lord Byron) Here, we bring ideas and objects to life by treating them as though they were human. This is how one author has infused warmth and personality into commonplace fruit and vegetables: (From , by Charles Dickens) Irony spices up your writing; by implying the opposite of what is actually said, irony creates nuances that intrigue readers and add to their enjoyment. The effect can range from lighthearted humor to biting sarcasm or ridicule: (From , by Jane Austen) (From Paul's Letter to the Corinthians: ) This is an overstatement or deliberate exaggeration, used to create humor or emphasize a point: (From , by Andrew Marvell) An understatement, or litotes, is the opposite of a hyperbole. We use it for irony or emphasis. Examples: (meaning: he was furious); (meaning: it was very good). Here, we juxtapose two opposites for a seeming contradiction or paradox; nevertheless this contrast conveys precisely the meaning we intend, and the unexpected word combination grabs the reader's attention. Examples: An oxymoron can evoke fresh, vigorous images: for example, this description of goldfish in a bowl that (From , by Charles Dickens) Here we use the specific to represent the general (or vice versa); or a part to represent the whole (or vice versa); or a person to represent a class (or vice versa): useful for replacing vague or colorless words with vibrant images. For example, to represent rulers; to represent peasants, as in: (From , by James Shirley) Writing a story? Visit             Writers' Center Eastern Washington University Creative Writing Creative Nonfiction Personification Other linguistic devices, for further study..., figurative language, metaphor & simile, image credits. [ Back to resource home ] [email protected] 509.359.2779 Cheney Campus   JFK Library Learning Commons Stay Connected! inside.ewu.edu/writerscenter Instagram  Facebook Imagery is a writer’s use of descriptive language that draws on the senses to create a “mental picture” that heightens the reader’s understanding of the work. Personification is the linguistic portrayal of non-human objects or beings with distinctly human traits. Onomatopoeia -> Bang! Crack! The lightning struck the shed. Hyperbole -> I was so hungry I could have eaten a horse. Alliteration -> Mei made a marvelous meal. Cliché -> Laughter is the best medicine. Idiom -> He has a real chip on his shoulder. Metonymy -> The pen is mightier than the sword. Paradox -> jumbo shrimp Pun -> Where do you find giant snails? On the ends of giants’ fingers. Synecdoche -> Music is my bread and butter. For more information on figurative language, and for practice with these linguistic tools, see Purdue OWL Metaphor , Purdue OWL Creative Writing , Khan Academy Figurative Language .  Metaphor is a kind of analogy that compares two unrelated subjects by asserting that in the described way, subject A is subject B. www.teachingwithatouchoftwang.blogspot.com , www.marketingforhippies.com , www.tobiasmastgrave.wordpress.com , http://www.mywordwizard.com << Previous: Creative Nonfiction Next: Dialogue >> Last Updated: Jul 23, 2024 11:43 AM URL: https://research.ewu.edu/writers_c_fiction Words With Friends Cheat Word Finder Crossword Top Picks Anagram Solver Word Descrambler Word Unscrambler Scrabble Cheat Unscrambler Scrabble Word Finder Word Scramble Scrabble Go Word Finder Word Solver Jumble Solver Blossom Answer Finder Crossword Solver NYT Spelling Bee Answers Wordscapes Answers Word Cookies Answers Words Of Wonders 4 Pics 1 Word Word Generator Anagramme Expert Apalabrados Trucos Today's NYT Wordle Answer Today's NYT Connections Answers Today's Connections Hints Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers Today's NYT Spelling Bee Answers Today's Contexto Answer Today's NYT Strands Answer Grammar Rules And Examples Misspellings Confusing Words Scrabble Dictionary Words With Friends Dictionary Words Ending In Words By Length Words With Letters Words Start With 5-letter Words With These Letters 5-letter Words Start With 5-letter Words Ending In All Consonant Words Vowel Words Words With Q Without U Username Generator Password Generator Random Word Generator Word Counter Figurative Language: Types and Examples - Literary Devices More content, what is figurative language, personification, other ways to spice up your writing, alliteration, onomatopoeia, using language-education resources, teaching figurative language to elementary and middle school students, figures of speech takeaways, test out your figurative language knowledge with our quick quiz, figuring out figurative language. Sometimes when you write, you want to describe things exactly as they are. That’s perfect for scientific, legal, or academic writing. But other times, you want your writing to be colorful and excite your readers. A great way to do this is through figurative language . When it’s hot outside, you might feel like you’re moving as slow as molasses . You’re not actually molasses, but you feel like it. That’s figurative language! 4th grade or 5th grade is a great time to add figurative language to your writing. Now that you’re comfortable writing entire paragraphs and compositions with themes, you can play around and have fun with descriptive language! There are many types of figurative language, but there are a few very common ones that you need to watch out for if you want to spice up your writing. Figurative language refers to unrealistic literary devices or phrases that mean something different than the literal definitions of the words that make them up. In other words, figurative language is the opposite of literal language . For example: A dog that’s as big as a horse probably isn’t literally the size of a stallion. It just means it’s a really big dog.  We can also say that something is a “ figure of speech .” That means that whatever we just said isn’t literally true - we were embellishing it with creative language. Therefore, a figure of speech is figurative language. Figurative language is a great way to describe an abstract concept that would be hard to write about in concrete terms. Plus, it makes writing and speech more fun! Sometimes, it can be hard to decipher the symbolic meanings in writing. But with practice, you’ll become a figurative language pro! There are about a dozen types of figurative language, but here are 5 very common ones: simile , metaphor , personification , allusion , and hyperbole . Each one functions differently, but they all make clauses more exciting and intense. Common Types of Figurative Language A simile is a simple way to compare two different things. To do this, we use “like” or “as.” This is a very common example of figurative language, and we frequently use this in everyday speech. Here are some examples of similes : Esther and Hannah skip over the puddles like little frogs in a pond . He ate his ice cream cone as quickly as a snake eats a mouse – all in one bite. You can also find similes in famous quotes. For example: “Kate inched over her own thoughts like a measuring worm .” – East of Eden , by John Steinbeck “The water made a sound like kittens lapping .” – The Yearling , by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Metaphors function in the same way as similes, but you leave out the “like” or “as.” With this, you don’t draw attention to the fact that you are making a comparison which makes the writing sound smoother and more poetic. For instance, here are some examples of metaphors : My mother is the Wicked Witch of the West because she’s making me clean my room today. Nadia’s surfboard was a silver seagull, skimming the gold-capped waves . And some famous examples: “All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players; / They have their exits and their entrances; / And one man in his time plays many parts…:” – As You Like It , by William Shakespeare. “The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill of the world.” – Lord of the Flies, William Golding. Metaphor Variations An extended metaphor is exactly like it sounds, it can be used many times. In the examples above, the metaphor only lasts for about a sentence. However, writers can use the same metaphor throughout many lines, an entire poem, or even a book!  Extended metaphors are mainly used in poetry. Emily Dickinson’s “Hope” is the thing with feathers . Throughout this poem, Dickinson compares hope to a resilient bird. This is the first stanza:  “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -” Personification , as the name implies, is about a person or persons. Specifically, it means giving human qualities to something that isn’t human. If you say that rain is dancing on the roof , that’s personification. The raindrops aren’t actually dancing; they’re just falling from the sky. But it looks and sounds like dancing, which humans are capable of doing. These are some other examples of personification : The church bells were hungry children crying for their supper. The road meanders through the wood, curving to greet each tree and flower as an old friend. And some famous quotations: “Chaos is a friend of mine.” – Bob Dylan. “Outside, the night seemed poised on tiptoe, waiting, waiting, holding its breath for the storm.” – Tuck Everlasting , Natalie Babbitt. An allusion refers to something already well-known, such as a work of art, literature, or music. It’s a helpful way to describe your subject without actually stating the characteristics you want it to have. Many English writers allude to the Bible, Shakespeare, or Greek myth. By doing this, the authors evoke memories and associations that people have with these works of art. If a writer relates their character to Solomon, you probably think of the famous king in the Bible. King Solomon was known for his wisdom and good judgment, so this character is probably wise, too. You may have also heard people talk about going on an odyssey. This means they’re going on a long journey, similar to the one that Odysseus goes on in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey . You can often find allusions in daily speech. For instance, people talk about an Achilles’ heel or kryptonite – things that will hurt them or will lead to their downfall. Or people compare a place to the Garden of Eden because it is so beautiful and perfect. Hyperbole is an exaggeration. And not just a little exaggeration – a big, extravagant exaggeration! Hyperbole is very common both in literature and regular speech. In fact, you probably use it frequently without realizing it. You're probably starving if you skipped breakfast and it’s 3 pm. How hungry are you? You might say, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. ” In reality, you probably couldn’t eat a whole horse. But you’re exaggerating to make the point that you’re really, really hungry. Here are some other examples of hyperbole : She was so strong she could move mountains . Studying for this test is killing me! If you’ve seen the movie Titanic , Leonardo DiCaprio says this famous line while standing at the front of the ship: “I’m the king of the world!” He isn’t actually royalty, but he certainly feels like it! Click each card to see if you recognize the device! What type of literary device is Pow ? What type of literary device is peter piper , what type of literary device is lovely lady . These figurative language examples aren’t the only ways to make your writing exciting. There are other types of figurative language, such as puns and idioms . Puns are wordplay, and idioms are non-literal expressions that are familiar to most people. In addition to these and a few others, you can use sound devices . Sound devices are ways to shape phrases so that they sound a certain way. In some cases, this can enhance the meaning of the words or create a specific atmosphere. One of the most common sound devices is alliteration . This is when you repeat the consonant sound at the beginning of a set of words. Two examples of alliteration are:  “lovely lady,” or  “galloping gargoyles.” Tons of books and poems play with this sound device. For example, Margaret Atwood’s picture book Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut uses repeated “p” sounds. And the tongue-twister Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers does the same thing! There are two related sound devices called assonance and consonance . They’re not as well-known, but they’re also useful. Consonance is a little more general than alliteration . It also refers to repeated consonant sounds, but in this case, they can be anywhere in the word. However, the sounds should come right after one another, so the reader catches on. For example: In Peter Piper , we can see there are “k” sounds mixed into the alliterative “p”s. The “k” sounds of pi ck ed , pe ck , and pi ck led , all happen in the middle or end of the words. And together, they form consonance! Another example of consonance is the title of one of Shakespeare’s plays:   A ll ’s We ll that Ends We ll . Here, Shakespeare repeats the “l” sound three times. In Shakespeare’s title, we can find another sound device: assonance . Instead of repeating consonant sounds, assonance repeats vowel sounds. And, like consonance, the repetitions can appear anywhere in the word.    All’s W e ll that E nds W e ll , we hear a repeated “e” sound in well and ends .  This tongue-twister has another example of assonance:  “Sh e sells s ea shells by the s ea shore…”  In this phrase, we have a different repeated “e” sound. (Plus, there’s also the alliteration of “s” and sh”!) A great way to play with sound is through onomatopoeia . This long name refers to words that sound like what they mean. You see these a lot in comic books when one character punches another or shoots a gun for example: Also, many animal sounds are onomatopoeic too such as:  And there are everyday words you might not immediately think of as onomatopoeias , but their sound evokes their meaning—for example: Try adding some of these words to make your writing more fun for your readers. You can find examples of figurative language in tons of places, including in popular culture. Learning by example is an excellent way to improve your writing! So, take a look below for some ideas. If you’re learning about this topic in school and you need a little help, you can also find figurative language resources all over the internet – just do a quick search! Also, ask your teachers and librarians for some advice. And as you read your favorite books or watch TV, listen for examples of figurative language! If you’re teaching figurative language to kids, start with the most straightforward examples, such as similes, metaphors, and hyperbole. Once students have grasped it,  you can teach more difficult concepts, such as allusion, however, always make sure to include examples that the students have heard of because students are most likely to remember specific phrases that they’re familiar with. You can find examples in many different places, but poetry is often an excellent place to start. Famous poets such as Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and Robert Frost use lots of figurative language. Novels and Short Stories You can also pull examples from  novels  or  short stories . If you’re reading a book in class over several weeks, have your students keep track of the figurative language they find with a marker or pencil. In addition, you can have students keep a journal of all the figurative language examples they come across daily. Instruct them to pay attention as they read, listen to music , or listen to conversations . You could even make this a competition so that the student with the most examples at the end of the week wins a prize! Practice Makes Perfect For drilling the definitions of figurative language, use worksheets . You can test students on the different types by having them match the names to definitions. They can then experiment once they are comfortable with how each form is used. Creative Writing Creative writing assignments are also a great way to practice these forms. Students can play with different types of descriptive writing by writing a paragraph or just a few sentences. They can even try their hand at poetry! There are many types of figurative language, but they all have one thing in common: the words you write can mean more than their literal definitions. Some, like simile , metaphor , and allusion , use comparisons to add depth to your words.  Others, like hyperbole and personification , use unrealistic phrases to convey ideas. You can also play with the sounds of the words. Doing this can help create an atmosphere for your reader and shape their interpretation of your writing. The most important thing you can do to learn these forms is pay attention! Listen to how other people use them, and look for examples in your everyday life. Also, remember to have fun with your words when you write! What is allusion? Choose the best answer from the choices below A helpful way to describe your subject without actually stating the characteristics you want it to have. Repeated vowel sounds What is a simile? A way to compare two different things without using "like or as." A simple way to compare two different things using "like or as." What is a hyperbole? A big, extravagant exaggeration! A way to compare two different things without using "like or as." Usually seen in poetry and extended over a couple of stanzas. While literal language is useful for things like scientific writing, figurative language lets you explore your creative side. You can create colorful worlds and exciting characters by adding a metaphor, some personification, or a bit of hyperbole. Just think outside the box ! Speech Therapy Life Science Activities Music Games The Young Writers Glossary Metaphor Examples Personification Examples For Kids Alliteration Examples For Kids Simile Examples Assonance Examples Popular Pages Top Searches External Resources Definitions WordFinderX Letter Solver PRESTO PLANS prestO PLANS ENGLISH TEACHER RESOURCES Sent straight to your inbox CLICK HERE TO ACCESS Sign up to receive 10 ready-to-use ELA resources your students will love!  10 FREE ELA RESOURCES Teaching Students How to Annotate Poetry 8 Ways Teachers Can Celebrate Student Success  Bulletin Board Ideas for Middle & High School English ON THE BLOG teacher favorites an ELA facebook community TEACHERS' LOUNGE join us in the Engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom with my best-selling, full-year bell-ringer set. Each day includes a unique and creative task. Topics include grammar, vocabulary, writing, and figurative language.   Full Year of English  Bell-Ringers (Vol 3) teacher resource Top categories, i'm bonnie from presto plans. I’m a curriculum writer, literacy educator, and all around book lover with a passion for helping English teachers engage their students with creative, high-quality resources. My mission? To make teaching English a whole lot easier for you, teacher friend!  Hello, Teachers!  8 Creative Figurative Language Activities for Review Teaching students how to properly locate, analyze, and evaluate the use of figurative language in a given text has many benefits. Not only will it make students into stronger, more discerning readers, but it will also help students, in turn, be more able to use the literary devices effectively in their own writing. Below are 8 of my favorite ways to teach figurative language in the ELA classroom. 1. Run a Figurative Language Escape Room Classroom escape rooms are interactive, attention-holding, and highly-engaging. They are also a great way to review challenging concepts. Prior to attempting a Figurative Language Escape Room Activity , students will need to have a strong understanding of the most common forms of figurative language. They will then work in small groups to complete puzzles, crack codes, and complete activities all related to figurative language.   Students move around the classroom visiting various stations, and as each of the exercises is properly completed, mystery and code words are revealed and students move closer and closer to escaping.   2. Introduce Famous Figurative Language   3. Examine Close Reading Passages Close reading passages that incorporate figurative language are an excellent way to challenge your students.   With close reading , students will need to consciously slow down to properly identify each of the devices weaved into a text, which can be a tricky skill to master.   Try making this a competition to see which group can find all of the uses of figurative language first. Then, you can crown the winning team as Figurative Language Superstars!   4. Analyze Text Messages   If you want to get a young person’s attention, speak their language! If it has anything to do with cell phones (pictures, text messages, or social media) you are probably on the right track.   I like to have students locate examples of figurative language in pre-written text-message conversations .   After they have that mastered, you might also have students write their own messages that weave figures of speech into the text. 5. Complete Bell-Ringers 6. Locate Figurative Language in Music Lyrics One of the easiest ways of teaching students figurative language is by looking at modern song lyrics.   It’s an easy way to hook them in as you will be connecting content to their interests.   It will also allow them to be more conscious of the words they are listening to in the future and help them to more easily locate figurative language and consider how it contributes to the emotions or content of the song.   I like to use song lyrics as examples of the meanings of figurative language as it tends to “stick” more when students have something modern to relate it to. You can also use song lyrics in figurative language review using an activity called Literary Lyrics  where students properly label examples from modern songs.     7. Practice Writing Using Figurative Language   8. Research Brand Slogans Jingles and slogans used by brands also often incorporate figurative language.   Try giving students a list of slogans and having them label the figurative language used. Then, they can reflect on how they think it is an effective sales tactic or persuasive technique.   Some examples of brands that use figures of speech in their slogans are:   Skittles – Taste the Rainbow = metaphor Kit Kat – Gimme a Break = pun Rice Krispies – Snap, Crackle, Pop= onomatopoeia You could also have students go on the hunt for other slogans that use these devices. Then, they could share their findings with a group or the whole class.   In my experience, explicitly teaching figurative language techniques, providing opportunities for practice, and making time to allow students to incorporate these techniques into their own writing is a worthwhile effort.   Students are not able to effectively evaluate and analyze the use of figurative language without first being able to locate it within a text or use it themselves. I hope you found this helpful! If you’re looking for other practical suggestions and ready-to-use resources for teaching ELA skills and standards, click here. share this post VISIT THE BLOG Snowball writing: collaborative writing activity, 10 ideas to make your teachers’ lounge a positive space. Send students on an online date with a book 7 bell-ringer ideas for middle and high school english. Search the blog for what you are teaching PRIVACY   | CONTACT   | © PRESTO PLANS  | I’m Bonnie, a curriculum writer, literacy educator, and all around book lover on a mission to make English teachers’ lives a whole lot easier!  resources sent to your inbox! 10 FREE ENGLISH TEACHER @PRESTOPLANS FIND ME ON  sent straight to your inbox! 10 days of ELA TEACHER Figurative Language and 8 Most Common Uses in Creative Writing 11+ Past Papers Bundle What is figurative language. A figurative language is a technique used by creative writers to express a meaning that is other than the literal meaning of the expression in order to imply a different idea or thought. When someone says it’s a million degrees outside then it does not mean that it is really a million degrees outside. Instead, the writer is trying to convey the idea that it is uncomfortably hot outside. This is an example of figurative language. Figurative language is used to amplify or exaggerate the writing. In other words, writers use words to create a non-literal meaning to make n important point. It makes writing more impactful. Examples “After spending a day working in the garage, his face was as black as charcoal.” “Karla’s kids were jumping around like monkeys” “He stood on the stage like a lion” Why use figurative language? It is used to better express an idea or to make a point. Some ideas a difficult to communicate as they could be abstract or complex. Figurative language helps readers form mental images of what the author is trying to convey. 8 most common uses of figurative language Personification, onomatopoeia. A simile is a figure of speech expressed by comparing one thing with another thing of a different type to better convey a thought. A simile uses the words “like” and “as” to make the comparison. Example , She went up the stage and stood as brave as a lion. A metaphor like a simile also makes a comparison with another thing but in a more direct way than a simile. Example , The snow in our city is a white blanket. Personification is when you give human-like qualities to something that is non-human, like a thing, object or an animal. In other words, you represent something like a person. Example , The wind howled at me as I rushed for work in the morning and the trees danced at its command. Idioms are phrases that provide figurative, non-literal meaning to the writing. They should not be taken literally. Example , The homework today was a piece of cake . The design of the new website is still up in the air . I had a long day at work and really need to hit the hay now. An allusion is an indirect reference to something. It does not describe the thing it refers to, instead, expects the reader to have enough knowledge to understand what the allusion is referring to. Example The boy on the holiday was acting like a Romeo . Onomatopoeia is a literary device used when you need to mimic a sound. It is a word that looks like the sound it’s trying to express. Example slam, splash, boom, bam, gurgle, mumble etc An oxymoron is a figure of speech with words that contradict each other. Example True lies. Awfully good. A pun is a way of adding humour in your writing by mixing up words with multiple meanings. Example I tried to catch some fog. I mist. A soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. More reading 10 most common literary devices Figurative language & examples Comprehensive list of adjectives for kids KS1, KS2, SATS & 11+ Practice Trending Post : 12 Powerful Discussion Strategies to Engage Students 11 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language Meaningfully Figurative language is easy to make one of the most engaging aspects of an ELA class. By nature, it is playful. Because it can be paired with pretty much any unit, it can be woven in throughout the year to ensure students get the repetition and practice they need. Here are some ideas for teaching figurative language in middle or high school. When to Teach It: Any time! Figurative language is fun to teach with almost any unit. When lesson planning, consider what type of figurative language is the most relevant to the text and the skills students need to develop. With Poetry… For example, build figurative language into your poetry units. Teaching poetry? Try to identify the technique the poet uses most frequently. Think, what literary device packs the most power? Then, as students practice literary analysis, make sure that figurative language is part of their response. This lesson will work with any poem of your choice. With Shakespeare… While most of my literature units only focus on a few literary devices, teaching figurative language with Shakespeare’s plays is different. They are so rich in a wide range of poetic devices that we spend more time studying how they reflect his craft. Try beginning a  Romeo and Juliet  unit by   introducing figurative language . Then, before finding examples from the play, ask students to look for them in a text that is more familiar, like  The Lion King . With this scaffolding, students are more prepared to notice and analyze figurative language in the play. With Short Stories… Throw in a literary terms with each short story  students read and analyze. Reading “The Gift of the Magi”? Study irony. While reading “The Lottery,” dig deep by analyzing the symbolism of the ritual, the people’s names, and the objects involved. Additionally, “The Scarlet Ibis” provides opportunities for discussion of many similes and metaphors. With Novels… Novels are the perfect opportunity to focus on more complex figurative language. They generally contain multiple examples of a device. For instance,  To Kill a Mockingbird is full of allusions and idioms. What’s more, novels provide the chance to study figurative language that develops over the course of an entire work. Consider:  Lord of the Flies and  Animal Farm  both are perfect for studying allegory. With Creative Writing… Don’t forget to build figurative language into writing units. It can be a powerful way to frame an essay, but even more so, students generally love learning to use literary devices in creative writing. In particular, this lesson  has been enjoyable for students because it allows them to respond to high-interest nonfiction texts through figurative language, color, and abstract thinking. How to Hook Students: Sadly, even literary terms can be boring if all students do is identify examples and practice with worksheets. Try adding some divergent thinking and movement when teaching figurative language, like this. Analyze figurative language in movies… Students love seeing the application of what they are learning in popular culture. Youtube is full of videos that will engage students. Play one like this , and have a meaningful discussion about how the literary devices add to the viewers’ experiences. Discuss figurative language in songs… Students will find this clip and many others like it engaging. So, watch them dance in their seats and sing out loud as they reflect on how song writers embed figurative language in popular music. Ask students: What would this song be like without the similes? How does the power of this poem rest in its figurative language? Write figurative language to complement art… Art is visually appealing, which makes it an excellent writing hook. Try asking students to write a short response to a piece of artwork using a specific type of figurative language. For example, maybe they think Van Gogh’s brush strokes look like tufts on a blanket or scales on a lizard (similes). Or, perhaps they think their favorite surrealist’s work is  just a little crazy (understatement). Alternatively, students responses could be a narrative to accompany the artwork instead of a commentary on the artist’s style. Act it out… Put students in pairs or small groups. Then, assign them one type of figurative language, and ask them to write a script that uses that device at least ten times. Students can record their skits and play them for the class or perform their skits live. The repetition generally makes these skits entertaining and memorable. Watch Flocabulary clips… Flocabulary has some high-interest figurative language clips students love. Here is one for similes and metaphors . They also have one for  hyperboles  and personification , and this one is for figurative language in general. Instead of just showing students the clip and moving on, have them write down examples or explanations from the clips that they haven’t thought of before. Play games… Games can bring energy and social learning benefits to the classroom. Figurative language lends itself well to game play, if your classroom culture calls for such. Try Figurative Language Truth or Dare   for a basic level game. Want to add more terms and challenge advanced students? Play Get Schooled ! Teaching figurative language can and should be fun and memorable. Begin by hooking students, make sure to sprinkle it in frequently throughout the year, and add some divergent thinking to push students beyond simple identification. Interested in reading more about figurative language? In this post , Language Arts Classroom writes about 10 poems and figurative language to teach with each. USING PICTURE BOOKS AS MENTOR TEXTS 11 ways to use color-coding strategies in the classroom, short story unit ideas, related resource:. This scaffolded literary analysis activity works with any poem or song and helps students reflect on how figurative language impacts the text and the reader overall. Get the latest in your inbox! Lit Circles Lesson Plans Lesson plans , writing, 7 ideas for teaching figurative language in secondary ela. Teaching figurative language can be super engaging. I love weaving it into the school year and reminding students that English can be fun . Below are 7 activities that you can use any time in the school year to teach figurative language in your secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use direct instruction first Probably the easiest way to teach figurative language is to just jump right in teaching the terms explicitly. Strengthen student writing with old school notetaking and definition reviews, and of course, practice activities. Sometimes it’s best just to start with the basics, especially if you know your students don’t know the terms or are in serious need of a refresher.  If you’d like a premade resource of presentations and activities, you can find one here in my shop. It includes an informative Google Slides presentation, CLOZE notetaking worksheet, and practice activities like a fun color by code. 2. Practice spotting in the wild A great way to help students grasp the concept of figurative language and make connections is to find examples “in the wild”. As a quick example, song lyrics are full of figurative language. Honestly, I think this is a much more effective tool than just poetry. Grab my free figurative language song review activity below. It’s a fun option and includes a list of school-appropriate suggestions.  3. Find the worst examples Alternatively you can send your students on a hunt for the worst examples they can find. Trust me, there are some goodies. “ Laughter is like a beautiful bubble from the rosebud of baby-hood ” definitely caught my eye. It’s from Grenville Kleiser’s Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases and is full of poorly aged examples of figurative language. There’s a few examples from the book here . Of course you can also find modern examples, and students might have an extended assignment where they try to find the most or the worst examples to share with the class. Or you can have a class contest to come up with the worst examples. It’s a fun way to practice and play with figurative language.  4. Use strong mentor texts from YA novels Another way to use modern examples is to use mentor texts from YA novels. Students can choose from options you’ve preselected, novels read in class, or their personal selection. You might even consider this activity as a way to touch back to figurative language definitions later in the year. As you read a new novel, have students jot down interesting similes and metaphors to review. This Book Riot article provides some great examples to give you a strong starting point. 5. Create poster sets My favorite classroom decorations are student made. It gives them ownership of their class space and is an opportunity to build class community. And, it’s a review opportunity. Students get to pull their creative and artistic side into their work and create posters with definitions and examples of figurative language. You can take any of the previous activities and have them visualize the phrase, and make something awesome to add to your walls.  6. Use children’s picture books If you need a simpler activity to spot examples, try children’s books. The examples are usually more obvious and explicit, so students may be able to follow a little better. This is also a good way to differentiate your instruction. Don’t toss the idea if you think this is too simple – beef it up by having students write their own children’s story. Even better, have students read their stories to elementary students. The Reading Mama has a nice list of children’s books as does The Butterfly Teacher (find it here ) that include figurative language examples.   7. Use short stories (like The Pedestrian or Marigolds) Using short stories keeps the work in manageable chunks and still allows students to practice finding figurative language examples. Rather than using longer works, you may find more success giving students shorter stories. Shorts are also a good way to quickly review figurative language throughout the year, or to use as sub plans. My short story activities for Marigolds by Eugenia Collier or The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury are great resources to get you started. If you want to save some time, check out my full mini-unit bundle that will give you access to a complete set of lessons that will help you teach, practice, and assess your students’ knowledge of figurative language. It  includes ideas from above (such as song lyric task cards), but also extends that creativity into one of my favorite projects-  my extended metaphor creative writing assignment. (Seriously, I get the most beautiful work from this project!) Click here to check it out. It’s the best bang for your buck if you’re looking for a full unit to really dig deep into understanding figurative language.  Figurative language is a great “hook” for students, and there are so many fun ways to incorporate the playfulness of language. What are your best loved activities for teaching figurative language? Have you tried any of these in your class? Let me know in the comments below or over on Facebook and Instagram what activities your students like the best! Happy teaching!  You might also enjoy... Get the list. Looking for the BEST books to add to your ELA curriculum, classroom library, or let’s be real, your bedside table? Get my teacher-curated, student-approved list of 100 YA novels to add to your classroom by subscribing to my email list below! Samantha in Secondary 2024 Site Design By Laine Sutherland Designs Policies & Procedures 438 IMAGES Examples of Figurative Language: Guide to 12 Common Types (2022) Figurative Language Anchor Chart How to Use Figurative Language in Writing by Angie's Apples Figurative Language and 8 Most Common Uses in Creative Writing The Best Figurative Language Examples Ideas › Athens Mutual Student Corner 10 Different Types of Figurative Language (With Examples) COMMENTS Figurative Language Dictionary definition of figurative language: According to the dictionary, figurative language is simply any language that contains or uses figures of speech. This definition would mean that figurative language includes the use of both tropes and schemes. Much more common real world use of figurative language: However, when people (including ... Writing 101: What Is Figurative Language? Learn About 10 Types of It's tempting to think that direct language is the easiest for us to understand, but sometimes we respond better to more creative wording. Writers and poets use figurative language to build imagery and give words more power. Simile, metaphor and a host of other non-literal methods of expression help make foreign concepts familiar and graspable. Figurative Language Personification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or animal is given human-like qualities or characteristics. This technique is mostly used in poetry or descriptive writing to create vivid imagery. Here are some examples of personification: The wind whispered through the trees. How to Use Figurative Language in Your Writing How to Use Figurative Language in Your Writing. In Emily Dickinson's "Hope Is a Thing With Feathers," the poet famously compares hope to an endlessly singing bird that "perches in the soul.". This is an example of figurative language—a category that includes literary devices like similes, metaphors, and hyperbole—which you can use ... 10 Different Types of Figurative Language (With Examples) Types of Figurative Language. 1. Similes. Similes use the words "as" or "like" to explicitly highlight the similarities between two seemingly different things. You're sweet like candy. 2. Metaphors. Compared to similes, metaphors are implicit comparisons because they don't use "as" or "like.". Daniel is the light of my life. 7 Figurative Language Examples, Definitions, and Types A tool like Fictionary helps you turn your draft into an interesting story readers love. So, with the right language and a strong narrative foundation, your writing can truly shine. Figurative language examples are really helpful for authors looking for inspiration: metaphors, similes, hyperbole, personification, allusion, and more. Figurative Language Figurative Language Definition. Figurative language uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful. Figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, and allusions go beyond the literal meanings of the words to give readers new insights. On the other hand, alliterations, imageries, or onomatopoeias are figurative devices ... How To Use Figurative Language To Enhance Your Writing Learn how to use figurative language to make your writing the cream of the crop, the top of the heap, and the pick of the litter—with plenty of examples. Figurative Language in Literature: Definition & Examples Figurative Language and Imagery. People often use the term imagery interchangeably with figurative language, but these concepts are not the same.. Imagery is a literary device that allows the author to create pictures in readers' minds so they can better imagine the situation, characters, emotions, and settings of the narrative.Imagery can be created using literal or figurative language. Figurative Language Creative writers often use figurative language by equating, comparing, or associating words with disparate meanings. ... Figurative language makes a piece of writing more effective by making readers look at the world through the eyes of the author. It heightens the senses and adds emphasis, expression, and depth to writing. What Is Figurative Language? How to Use It In Your Writing Figurative language means using literary devices, techniques, and figures of speech to heighten sensory response and add meaning, clarity, or impact to your writing. Figures of speech color your prose, giving a sense of immediacy to readers. They evoke a strong emotional reaction. Just like a figure in a drawing, figurative language creates an ... Figurative Language Examples: Guide to 9 Common Types Go beyond literal meanings with figurative language. Discover the different types of figurative language and how to liven up your writing with examples. 20 Types of Figures of Speech, With Definitions and Examples Some figures of speech, like metaphor, simile, and metonymy, are found in everyday language. Others, like antithesis, circumlocution, and puns take more practice to implement in writing. Below are some common figures of speech with examples, so you can recognize them and use them in your writing. Give your writing extra polish. 75+ Examples of Figurative Language Examples of using different types of figurative language on a given topic. When writing on a topic, it's convenient to first brainstorm and write variety of figures of speech on that topic, and then incorporate them in your piece. This is probably a better way to polish your figurative language. Here are multiple figures of speech on two ... Figurative Language: Use These 5 Common Types Figurative language is a type of communication that does not use a word's strict or realistic meaning. Common in comparisons and exaggerations, figurative language is usually used to add creative flourish to written or spoken language or explain a complicated idea. Basically, figurative language is anytime you stretch the actual meaning of ... Figurative Language: How to Improve Writing Skills, with Examples of Creative Writing Tips on Use of Figurative Language: Examples of Metaphors. When we use a metaphor, we imply a comparison (indirectly, without using the word as or like) between an idea or quality and a concrete picture. For example, the abstract idea of lost years comes alive when we pair it with an action picture: the years the swarming ... Research Guides: Creative Writing: Figurative Language Figurative Language. Figurative language is a broad term that encompasses a host of ways to write creatively. Figurative use of language is the use of words or phrases that depart from literal meaning to achieve fresh, image-driven, and heightened meaning. Figurative Language: Types and Examples Plus, it makes writing and speech more fun! Sometimes, it can be hard to decipher the symbolic meanings in writing. But with practice, you'll become a figurative language pro! There are about a dozen types of figurative language, but here are 5 very common ones: simile, metaphor, personification, allusion, and hyperbole. 8 Creative Figurative Language Activities for Review 1. Run a Figurative Language Escape Room. Classroom escape rooms are interactive, attention-holding, and highly-engaging. They are also a great way to review challenging concepts. Prior to attempting a Figurative Language Escape Room Activity, students will need to have a strong understanding of the most common forms of figurative language. Figurative Language and 8 Most Common Uses in Creative Writing Figurative language is used to amplify or exaggerate the writing. In other words, writers use words to create a non-literal meaning to make n important point. It makes writing more impactful. Examples. "After spending a day working in the garage, his face was as black as charcoal.". "Karla's kids were jumping around like monkeys". PDF Using Figurative Language Step 3: READ your chosen fairy tale and complete the information about the story. Writing Extension: On a separate sheet of paper, choose a scene from the story and rewrite it using at least two examples of onomatopoeia, alliteration, similes, metaphors, and hyperbole. 11 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language Meaningfully Don't forget to build figurative language into writing units. It can be a powerful way to frame an essay, but even more so, students generally love learning to use literary devices in creative writing. ... students generally love learning to use literary devices in creative writing. In particular, this lesson has been enjoyable for students ... 7 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language in Secondary ELA 1. Use direct instruction first. Probably the easiest way to teach figurative language is to just jump right in teaching the terms explicitly. Strengthen student writing with old school notetaking and definition reviews, and of course, practice activities. Sometimes it's best just to start with the basics, especially if you know your students ... Fine-tuning now available for GPT-4o GPT-4o fine-tuning is available today to all developers on all paid usage tiers (opens in a new window).. To get started, visit the fine-tuning dashboard (opens in a new window), click create, and select gpt-4o-2024-08-06 from the base model drop-down. 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