Figurative Language - Terms and Definitions

* uses like or as to compare

• simile

• metaphor

• idiom

*uses was or is to compare

• metaphor

• simile

• idiom

giving human or 'person' qualities to non-human animals, places, things, or ideas

• personification

• allusion

• alliteration

using words to express sounds *comic book action words

• onomatopoeia

• alliteration

• personification

over exaggerating an instance, or tale to seem more, worse, or bigger than actuality

• hyperbole

• analogy

• idiom

using two words that are complete opposites of one another to describe

• oxymoron

• onomatopoeia

• symbolism

an expression used in speech or writing that is not meant to be taken literally

• idiom

• analogy

• metaphor

referencing or mentioning another story, song...in the midst of something else

• allusion

• assonance

• analogy

use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word * tongue twisters

• alliteration

• analogy

• allusion

a humorous play on words

• pun

• personification

• euphemism