Figure of Speech

A figure of speech is a creative use of language to generate an effect

Personification

Personification attributes human nature or human qualities to abstract or inanimate objects.
For example, we often use phrases like the howling wind, dancing leaves, time flies etc. Some examples of personification in a sentence are:
The opportunity knocked at his door
The plants in her house silently begged to be watered
Lightning danced across the sky
The wind howled in the night.

Metaphor

A metaphor is the direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding.

Example: He was a lion.
Some examples of the usage of metaphors in a sentence are as follows:
It is raining cats and dogs
He is the star of our class
Life is a highway.
Her eyes were diamonds.

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things that are different from each other but have similar qualities. These are generally formed through the usage of the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.
Some examples of similes in a sentence include:
He is as brave as a lion
Her expression was as cold as ice
Swim like a fish
As light as a feather

Alliteration

Alliteration is a sentence that consists of a series of words that have the same consonant sound at the beginning.
Some popular examples of alliteration in a sentence include:
She sells sea shells on the seashore
A good cook could cook as many cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies
All Adam ate in August was apples and almonds
Barry bought a book to bring to the backyard barbecue

Onomatopoeia

This is a figure of speech that is used to express a sound. To be more precise, it involves the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the action or object referred to i.e. hiss, clap etc.
Some examples of onomatopoeia include:
The buzzing bee flew over my head
The stone hit the water with a splash
The boulder hit the ground with a flump.
Leaves rustle in the wind and are whipped into the air.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole is a figure of speech that consists of an exaggeration. It is the usage of exaggerated terms in order to emphasize or heighten the effect of something.
Some examples of using hyperboles in a sentence include:
I have told you a million times to not touch my stuff!
She has got a pea-sized brain
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
She’s as old as the hills.

Irony

Irony or sarcasm is a figure of speech in which the usage of words conveys the opposite of their literal meaning. These are often used in a humorous manner. Some examples of irony include:
Your hands are as clean as mud
The dinner you served was as hot as ice
Coming home to a big mess and saying, “it’s great to be back”
Telling a rude customer to “have a nice day”

Anaphora

It is a repetition of a word or phrase at the start of several sentences of clauses.
Some of the examples of anaphora are as follows:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “I Have a Dream” Speech
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities
“Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.”
“Get busy living or get busy dying.”

Apostrophe

It addresses a subject that is not present in the work. In this case, the object is absent or inanimate.
Here are some examples of apostrophes.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are
Welcome, O life!
Alarm clock, please don’t fail me.
Seven, you are my lucky number!

Pun

Puns are among the most frequently used figures of speech in daily conversation. They may be great conversation starters since they make you sound clever and occasionally even humorous.
Here are a few instances of puns in speech:
Denial is a river in Egypt (referring to The Nile using the word Denial).
Her cat is near the computer to keep an eye on the mouse.
No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationery.
Everyone thinks my runny nose is funny, but it’s