What are the figures of speech?
A figure of speech is a word, or a phrase that differs from ordinary words used in sentences helps in improving the effectiveness of the meanings of any sentences or specific words that shows more concern than the normal words.
The figure of speech itself tells us that it is a speech of figures, which means to express the way of speaking in a figurative language consisting of a single word or a phrase. It may be a metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, or else. It is mostly used to enhance the meanings of the sentence to express something poetry or a way of language that suggests the imagery view or visual pictures.
The figure of speech is used to function as a literary device that is used to express the language in an effective manner.
The Importance of Figure of Speech in sentences-
- The figure of speech improves the beauty and the meaning of the writing statements.
- It makes the sentence deep and fills the reader with surprise.
- It brings life to the author’s ideas.
- The figure of speech expresses the author’s intent and also his way of perseverance and thought.
- It also adds quality to the writings of the writer and makes it enjoyable whoever reads it.
Types of Figure Of Speech
The figure of speech includes many literary devices and other forms of figurative languages, and some are covered here in the list given below,
- Alliteration:
The alliteration is a figure of speech which is a series of the same letters or a syllable, with a repetition of a sound at the beginning of a few words.
Example,
- Take the next turn to go to the town.
- Never trouble the trouble till trouble troubles you.
- Antithesis
Antithesis is the contrast or striking opposition of words used in a sentence to maintain the emphasis.
Examples,
- Man proposes, and God disposes.
- No pain, No gain.
- Anticlimax
The anticlimax figure of speech is the opposite of the climax, and it implies the humorous inclination from higher to the lower point.
Examples,
- I will do my best for God, for Country, and You.
- A man is so various that he seemed to be.
- Apostrophe
An apostrophe is used to highlight the idea or any important thing or conversation said by some person.
Examples,
- He always used to say, “Never mess with me.”
- “Mother’s love is always greater than other’s love.”
- Circumlocution
It is used to express some ideas or facts in a twisty manner, rather than saying directly.
Examples,
- A tool used for cutting things like hair, cloth, and papers- Scissors.
- An electronic cupboard with a series of drawers to put your food in to make it cool- Refrigerator
- Climax
It is a figure of speech used to express a series of ideas that are arranged to increase importance.
Examples,
- What a person with a lot of energy he is!
- How noble it was!
- Epigram
An epigram is a figure of speech that is used to express the point in brief. It is a combination of more than a single word.
Examples,
- The fools start running where the good people wait there.
- Sometimes, silence is more expensive than words.
- Euphemism
With the help of euphemism, we can easily speak about the acceptable terms for anything, whether a man, event, or thing that is considered unpleasant.
Examples,
- He is telling us a fictional story. (an imagination)
- I decided to let you here in the house. (not taking with us)
- Exclamation
It is used for expressing strong feelings or sudden emotions.
Examples,
- How wonderful the view is!
- Hush! We can play again!
- Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a statement where we try to exaggerate our point while explaining like an overstatement.
Examples,
- M.S. Dhoni’s stumpings are faster than eye blinkings.
- The speed of this bike is faster than the wind.
- Irony
In a Figure of speech named Irony, the meaning of any word differs from the real meaning of itself.
Examples,
- The kid of a rich person has a lack of money.
- The dairy owner doesn’t like to drink milk.
- Litotes
The Litotes is a kind of figure of speech that is opposite from Hyperbole.
Examples,
- She does not cook badly.
- We are not losers.
- Metaphor
A metaphor is a kind of figure of speech used to compare two different things without using comparing words’ like’ and ‘as.’ It implies with the simile.
Examples,
- He is a shining star.
- She looks princess in this dress.
- Metonymy
The metonymy is used for changing the name for things or else while saying something.
Examples,
- The pen is mightier than the sword.
- From the cradle to the grave means from childhood to death.
- Onomatopoeia
A word-formation that describes or represents the sound of animals or any echoes in a sentence is onomatopoeia, a figure of speech.
Examples,
- The birds are chirping and the wind howling early in the morning.
- Boom! The cracker exploded in front of me.
- Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a kind of figure of speech in which two words in a phrase that differs from each other are used to connect two ideas. It is used for creating a contradictory effect.
Examples,
- Alone together.
- True lies.
- Paradox
A figure of speech named paradox is used when something has to be self-contradictory, but actually, it tells the truth.
Examples,
- I don’t have to spend money to save it.
- Things get worst in my life before they get better.
- Personification
This figure of speech reveals human characteristics to something which is actually not a human.
Examples,
- He heard the wind whistling.
- The stone starts jumping on the water surface.
- Pun
This figure of speech contains ‘play’ of words with various meanings. It is used to create humor in a sentence by this word.
Examples,
- A bicycle can’t stand without a stand because of it’s two-tired.
- Polar bears vote at the North Poll.
- Simile
A simile is a figure of speech used to compare two different or unlike things. It is compared with such words “as, like, so.”
Examples,
- The tiger looks like a cat.
- The water is as cool as ice.
- Synecdoche
This figure of speech is used for understanding one part from the whole part or vice versa.
Examples,
- All hands at work.
- India beat Scotland at cricket.
- Tautology
A tautology is a figure of speech that means repeating the same fact or idea in two different words.
Examples,
- The teacher is explaining and telling the details to form the book.
- With malice towards none, with charity for all.
- Transferred Epithets
Epithets mean a word with certain qualifying objectives, and transferred epithets mean transferring the objectives from any person to something.
Examples,
- Sleepless night.
- Merciless fighter.
- Understatement
An understatement is a figure of speech used to express fewer emotions for any words than expected reactions. It shows the effects of the figure of speech called Irony.
Examples,
- I heard she failed this year again, but it is alright.
- The hurricane brought a couple of rain showers with it.
