examples of irony sentences figure of speech

15 Verbal Irony Examples

Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil)

Dalia Yashinsky is a freelance academic writer. She graduated with her Bachelor's (with Honors) from Queen's University in Kingston Ontario in 2015. She then got her Master's Degree in philosophy, also from Queen's University, in 2017.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

examples of irony sentences figure of speech

Verbal irony is a figure of speech where the literal words being used opposes the real meaning behind them.

In simple terms, verbal irony contradicts what is being said by the character or person speaking.

As a literary technique it, helps to add intrigue, drama and humour to storylines and characters, making the plot all the more engaging for audiences.

We can see instances of verbal irony in our daily lives too. For example, suppose you look outside and there is a terrible blizzard, then your friend looks outside and says, “Perfect day for the beach!” This is an example of verbal irony.

10 Simple Verbal Irony Examples

Consider these examples of verbal irony, so you can familiarize yourself with the term.

The leader of an AA meeting says “I could use a drink right now.”
A waiter working at a restaurant is being short with their customers. Someone comments on the waiter’s poor bedside manners, “Wow, this waiter has the best manners!”
A weatherman saying “It’s not like I know about when it’s going to rain next.”
A mother looks at her child’s messy bedroom: “I love how your room is always so clean!”
A couple of teenagers see a “Do Not Enter” sign. One pipes up: “Let’s enter.”
In a stressful situation, a girl says “Well this isn’t this just pleasant as ever.”
When a girl’s mother is an hour late to lunch she says “I appreciate how you’re always on time mom!”
After a bad accident a boy’s friends tells him “your car has never looked better!”
A woman walks into a cold room with a broken heating system, she points at the nonfunctional heating system and states “Well it’s pretty warm in here, isn’t it?”
A woman’s shoes get drenched in the rain and she says “I think the water just gave them a new fashionable touch!”

5 Verbal Irony Examples in Film and Literature

Quick Summary: Anna is being chased by a scary monster, which she refers to as a marshmallow.

Frozen , the popular animated Disney musical film and kids movie includes verbal irony.

At a point in the film, Elsa builds a scary snow man/monster to chase away her sister, Anna. Olaf, a friendly snowman, is being chased by the snow monster.

When he approaches Anna, he tells her that he is being chased by a “marshmallow”. His choice of words make it seem like the snow monster is a sweet, benevolent creature, even though it’s anything but that.

Verbal irony, in this case, helps introduce comedic relief to what might be an otherwise stressful situation for the characters in the movie.

2. The Beauty and the Beast

Quick Summary: Belle tells Gaston “I don’t deserve you” when Belle and the audience know she is a far better person than Gaston.

In Disney’s iconic film, The Beauty and the Beast , the character Gaston (who is vain, shallow, and thinks all women desire him) pursues Belle. We know that Belle is better than Gaston, but at a point in the film Belle tells Gaston, “I just don’t deserve you!” When, in fact, she deserves much more than what Gaston has to offer her.

Belle herself knows this, and so do we, the audience. The real meaning of her words conflicts with their literal meaning, making it a clear case of verbal irony.

3. Julius Caesar

Quick Summary: After Brutus betrays Cesar, Mark Antony calls him an honorable man. Everyone is aware that this is the exact opposite of the truth.

Verbal irony occurs in the play Julius Caeser by William Shakespeare. The character Mark Antony, when speaking about Brutus, describes him as an “honorable man”. This is verbally ironic since he makes this statement immediately after Brutus betrays Caesar. Clearly, Mark Antony considers Brutas anything but honorable.

Mark Antony’s literal words conflict with their meaning, or the intention he has in making that statement. This therefore is another clear example of verbal irony from Shakespeare’s Julius Caeser .

4. “Ironic” by Alanis Morrissette

Quick Summary: A man is in the middle of a plane crash and says “Well isn’t this nice.” Clearly, it isn’t!

The song responsible for driving all English teachers nuts, “Ironic” by Alanis Morrissette may confuse the meaning of irony on a broader level. Alanis understands Verbal irony, however.

See these lyrics, which are verbally ironic:

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye He waited his whole damn life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down, he thought “Well, isn’t this nice?”

The “Well, isn’t this nice?” is verbal irony. Clearly, a plane crashing is not nice at all!

5. Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove

Quick Summary: President Muffley tries to break up an argument in the war room by saying “You can’t fight here! This is a war room!” It’s ironic, because the room is named after fighting!

Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove is a dark comedy and satire from 1964, about the Cold War.

At a point in the film, a few of the high-ranking officers and army generals get into an argument.

The character, President Merkin Muffley, in an attempt to break up the argument, says to the other men, “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the war room!”

You can’t fight in most places. That said, if there was a place where you would think you could fight: the war room would be it. This illustrates verbal irony again, since the words oppose their true, non-literal meaning.

Other Types of Irony

Situational irony.

Situational irony is when what is expected to happen in a given situation diametrically opposses what in fact happens.

Much of the premise of The Wizard of Oz is based on the concept of situational irony . We have a lion that is without courage (to find later he had it all along), Dorothy goes to the Wizard to find her way home, when she could have done so all along. The Tin Man is looking for a heart, and the Scarecrow wants a brain.

There are hints throughout the story that each of the characters already has what they wish to possess, making The Wizard of Oz perhaps one of the most verbally ironic films to date.

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience knows more about a situation than the characters do themselves.

Dramatic irony is a device used to keep the audience not only invested in the storyline, but it places the audience a step ahead of the characters, which adds further suspense and keeps the audience engrossed in the story.

We can see an example of dramatic irony in Shakespeare’s Macbeth . King Duncan places his full trust in Macbeth, and states “He was a gentleman in whom I built an absolute trust.” Though King Duncan is unaware, the audience is aware of the fact that Macbeth is actually the one that plans to kill Duncan, making this an instance of dramatic irony.

For more, see my 12 types of irony article.

Literary devices like verbal irony are used in various ways, and there are numerous examples in all types of media. Irony in all forms adds substance and nuance to stories, it brings humour to what may otherwise be bland scenes and/or character dialogue. It helps add suspense and creates tension in the story. Hopefully, now that you are apprised of the concept, you’ll be able to point it out when you see it.

Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil) #molongui-disabled-link Third Variable Problem: Definition & 10 Examples
Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil) #molongui-disabled-link 20 Standardized Tests Pros And Cons
Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil) #molongui-disabled-link 15 Double Standards Examples
Dalia Yashinsky (MA, Phil) #molongui-disabled-link 15 Examples of Inclusive Language

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 23 Achieved Status Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Ableism Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 25 Defense Mechanisms Examples
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Theory of Planned Behavior Examples

Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech)

Owaki / Kulla / Getty Images

An Introduction to Punctuation
Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Similarly, irony may be a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.

Adjective: ironic or ironical . Also known as eironeia , illusio , and the dry mock .

The Three Kinds of Irony

Three kinds of irony are commonly recognized:

Verbal irony is a trope in which the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express.
Situational irony involves an incongruity between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs.
Dramatic irony is an effect produced by a narrative in which the audience knows more about the present or future circumstances than a character in the story.

In light of these different varieties of irony, Jonathan Tittler has concluded that irony

"has meant and means so many different things to different people that rarely is there a meeting of minds as to its particular sense on a given occasion."

(Quoted by Frank Stringfellow in The Meaning of Irony , 1994.)

From the Greek, "feigned ignorance"

Pronunciation:

Irony in academics.

Academicians and others have explained irony in its various forms, including how to use it and how others have used it, as these quotes show.

D.C. Muecke

"Irony may be used as a rhetorical device to enforce one's meaning. It may be used . . . as a satiric device to attack a point of view or to expose folly, hypocrisy, or vanity. It may be used as a heuristic device to lead one's readers to see that things are not so simple or certain as they seem, or perhaps not so complex or doubtful as they seem. It is probable that most irony is rhetorical, satirical, or heuristic. ... "In the first place irony is a double-layered or two-story phenomenon. ... In the second place, there is always some kind of opposition that may take the form of contradiction, incongruity, or incompatibility. ... In the third place, there is in irony an element of 'innocence.'" — The Compass of Irony . Methuen, 1969

R. Kent Rasmussen

"David Wilson, the title character of Pudd'nhead Wilson , is a master of irony. In fact, his use of irony permanently marks him. When he first arrives in Dawson's Landing in 1830, he makes an ironic remark that the villagers cannot understand. Distracted by the annoying yelping of an unseen dog, he says, 'I wished I owned half of that dog.' When asked why, he replies, 'Because I would kill my half.' He does not really want to own half the dog, and he probably does not really want to kill it; he merely wants to silence it and knows killing half the dog would kill the whole animal and achieve the desired effect. His remark is a simple example of irony, and the failure of the villagers to understand it causes them immediately to brand Wilson a fool and nickname him 'pudd'nhead.' The very title of the novel is, therefore, based on irony, and that irony is compounded by the fact that Wilson is anything but a fool." — Bloom's How to Write About Mark Twain . Infobase, 2008

Bryan Garner

"A classic example of irony is Mark Antony's speech in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar . Although Antony declares, 'I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,' and declares that the assassins are 'honorable men,' he means just the opposite." — Garner's Modern American Usage . Oxford University Press, 2009

Barry Brummett

"It is sometimes said that we live in an age of irony. Irony in this sense may be found, for example, all throughout The Daily Show with Jon Stewart . Suppose you hear a political candidate give a terribly long speech, one that rambles on and on without end. Afterward, you might turn to a friend sitting next to you, roll your eyes, and say, 'Well, that was short and to the point, wasn't it?' You are being ironic. You are counting on your friend to turn the literal meaning of your expression, to read it as exactly the opposite of what your words actually mean. ... "When irony works, it helps to cement social bonds and mutual understanding because the speaker and hearer of irony both know to turn the utterance, and they know that the other one knows they will turn the utterance. ... "Irony is a kind of winking at each other, as we all understand the game of meaning reversal that is being played." — Techniques of Close Reading . Sage, 2010

"Irony has always been a primary tool the under-powered use to tear at the over-powered in our culture. But now irony has become the bait that media corporations use to appeal to educated consumers. ... It's almost an ultimate irony that those who say they don't like TV will sit and watch TV as long as the hosts of their favorite shows act like they don't like TV, either. Somewhere in this swirl of droll poses and pseudo-insights, irony itself becomes a kind of mass therapy for a politically confused culture. It offers a comfortable space where complicity doesn't feel like complicity. It makes you feel like you are counter-cultural while never requiring you to leave the mainstream culture it has so much fun teasing. We are happy enough with this therapy that we feel no need to enact social change." — Review of The Daily Show , 2001

Jon Winokur

"Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic,' in which situations purporting to be ironic are merely sad, random, or annoying (a traffic jam when you're late, a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break) perpetuates widespread misuse of the word and outrages irony prescriptivists . It is, of course, ironic that 'Ironic' is an unironic song about irony. Bonus irony: 'Ironic' is widely cited as an example of how Americans don't get irony, despite the fact that Alanis Morissette is Canadian." — The Big Book of Irony . St. Martin's, 2007

R. Jay Magill, Jr.

"Direct expression, with no tricks, gimmickry, or irony, has come to be interpreted ironically because the default interpretive apparatus says, 'He can't really mean THAT!' When a culture becomes ironic about itself en masse , simple statements of brutal fact, simple judgments of hate or dislike become humorous because they unveil the absurdity, 'friendliness,' and caution of normal public expression. It's funny because it's true. Honestly. We're all upside down now." — Chic Ironic Bitterness . University of Michigan Press, 2007

Irony in Popular Cultue

Irony also has a large presence in popular culture—books, movies, and television shows. These quotes show the concept in use in a variety of formats.

John Hall Wheelock

"A planet doesn't explode of itself," said drily The Martian astronomer, gazing off into the air— "That they were able to do it is proof that highly Intelligent beings must have been living there." — "Earth"

Raymond Huntley and Eliot Makeham

Kampenfeldt: This is a grave matter, a very grave matter. It has just been reported to me that you've been expressing sentiments hostile to the Fatherland. Schwab: What, me sir? Kampenfeldt: I warn you, Schwab, such treasonable conduct will lead you to a concentration camp. Schwab: But sir, what did I say? Kampenfeldt: You were distinctly heard to remark, "This is a fine country to live in." Schwab: Oh, no, sir. There's some mistake. No, what I said was, "This is a fine country to live in." Kampenfeldt: Huh? You sure? Schwab: Yes sir. Kampenfeldt: I see. Well, in future don't make remarks that can be taken two ways. — Night Train to Munich , 1940

Peter Sellers

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room." — As President Merkin Muffley in Dr. Strangelove, 1964

William Zinsser

"It is a fitting irony that under Richard Nixon, launder became a dirty word."

Alan Bennett

"We're conceived in irony. We float in it from the womb. It's the amniotic fluid. It's the silver sea. It's the waters at their priest-like task, washing away guilt and purpose and responsibility. Joking but not joking. Caring but not caring. Serious but not serious." — Hilary in The Old Country , 1977

Thomas Carlyle

"An ironic man, with his sly stillness, and ambuscading ways, more especially an ironic young man, from whom it is least expected, may be viewed as a pest to society." Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdrockh , 1833-34

"Glee"

Rachel Berry: Mr. Schuester, do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to give the lead solo in "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" to a boy in a wheelchair? Artie Abrams: I think Mr. Schue is using irony to enhance the performance. Rachel Berry: There's nothing ironic about show choir! — Pilot episode, 2009

"Seinfeld"

Woman: I started riding these trains in the '40s. Those days a man would give up his seat for a woman. Now we're liberated and we have to stand. Elaine: It's ironic. Woman: What's ironic? Elaine: This, that we've come all this way, we have made all this progress, but you know we've lost the little things, the niceties. Woman: No, I mean what does ironic mean? Elaine: Oh. — "The Subway," Jan. 8 1992

Sideshow Bob

"I'm aware of the irony of appearing on TV in order to decry it." — The Simpsons

Calvin Trillin

"Math was my worst subject because I could never persuade the teacher that my answers were meant ironically."

The Men Who Stare at Goats,

Lyn Cassady: It's okay, you can "attack" me. Bob Wilton: What's with the quotation fingers? It's like saying I'm only capable of ironic attacking or something. — 2009

Irony Deficiency

Irony deficiency is an informal term for the inability to recognize, comprehend, and/or utilize irony—that is, a tendency to interpret figurative language in a literal way.

Jonah Goldberg

"Mobsters are reputedly huge fans of The Godfather . They don’t see it as a tale of individual moral corruption. They see it as a nostalgia trip to better days for the mob." — "The Irony of Irony." National Review , April 28, 1999

"Irony deficiency is directly proportional to the strength of the political commitment or religious fervor. True believers of all persuasions are irony deficient. ... "Brutal dictators are irony deficient—take Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jong-il, and Saddam Hussein, a world-class vulgarian whose art collection consisted of kitsch paintings displayed unironically." — The Big Book of Irony . Macmillan, 2007

Swami Beyondananda

"Here is something ironic: We live at a time when our diets are richer in irony than ever before in human history, yet millions of us suffer from that silent crippler, irony deficiency ... not so much a deficiency in irony itself, but an inability to utilize the abundance of irony all around us." — Duck Soup for the Soul . Hysteria, 1999

Roy Blount, Jr.

"Will people who detect a lack of irony in other cultures never stop to consider that this may be a sign of their own irony deficiency? Maybe it's defensible when the apes detect a lack of irony in Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes , but not when, say, Brits detect it in, say, Americans as a race . ... The point of irony, after all, is to say things behind people's backs to their faces. If you look around the poker table and can't tell who the pigeon is, it's you." — "How to Talk Southern." The New York Times , Nov. 21, 2004

Verbal Irony - Definition and Examples
What Are Tropes in Language?
Figure of Thought in Rhetoric
Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples
What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis?
What Is Rhetorical Irony?
The Top 20 Figures of Speech
Definition and Examples of Litotes in English Grammar
How Figurative Language Is Used Every Day
persiflage (small talk)
100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons
Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech
The Four Master Tropes in Rhetoric
Synecdoche Figure of Speech
Figures of Speech: The Apostrophe as a Literary Device

Education Diary
Advertising
Privacy Policy

Class Notes NCERT Solutions for CBSE Students

Irony Examples: Figure of Speech For Students

admin February 28, 2019 Figures of Speech 5,587 Views

Irony Examples:

Ironical statements.

One of the identical twins says to the other, “You’re ugly!”
I saw a fish drowning.
Many things can be preserved in alcohol. Dignity is not one of them.
Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.
Marriage is the leading cause of divorce
I have been down so long, it looks like up to me.

Coincidental Ironies

Britain’s biggest dog was named Tiny.
Two marriage therapists got divorced from each other.
Most tobacco company executives don’t smoke.
Titanic, which was touted as “100% unsinkable”, sank on its maiden voyage.
The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive.
A ninety-eight year old man won the lottery and died the next day.
My friend, who is an incredibly successful artist and writer, often has dreams that are bland and dull.
A class on prophecy at a church was postponed due to some unforeseen circumstance
Do you know that fear for a long word is called Hippopotomonstrosesquippedalio phobia?
Hitler ‘s Grandmother was Jewish.
The only reason there are evil people in the world is because there are good people in the world.
A man died in his living room!
Canada is owned by Britain, yet half the people there speak French.
Coffee City is a city in Texas, mostly visited to buy beer.
My family owns a dairy, I work at a frozen yogurt shop and I just found out I’m lactose intolerant.
The world’s largest ice cream cone is made by a factory called ‘Tiny Dairies’!
The owner of a butcher shop is a vegetarian!
A restaurant called “Hard Times Cafe” has closed down because of the recession!
The water vendor died of thirst!
A restaurant with the name “Firewood Cafe” was actually on fire!
The dictionary entry for “short” is really, really long!
The only word that you spelled right in this spelling test is “illiterate”.
“Stand by your Man” is one of the biggest hit songs sung by Tammy Wynette’s who has been married six times in her real life.
Do you know that there is a song about the phobia of music?
The White House isn’t white.
I put on an outfit in the morning and didn’t like it, after spending an hour trying on other clothes, I ended up trying back on the same outfit I started with and wore it for the day.
A seminar on Global Warming was cancelled due to snow.
An obese teacher is teaching the class about healthy food or physical exercise!
A class on “planning and scheduling” was cancelled due to poor planning.
An atheist sues for religious discrimination

Situational Irony

Posting a video about how boring and useless Facebook is on Facebook.
My friend said he can’t go to church because he has a theology test to study for!
The firehouse burns down.
The police station was robbed.
The teacher failed the test.
The student who didn’t study passed the test.
The marriage counselor gets a divorce
“Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.”
A girl was going on about how she wouldn’t hurt animals when I noticed she was wearing a leather belt.
He is a pilot but, is afraid of heights.

Irony Examples In Literature

“Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man” – Julius Caesar.
Romeo returns to Verona and he finds Juliet drugged, in a death-like sleep. He assumes she is dead and kills himself. When Juliet wakes up and finds him dead, she kills herself with his knife – Romeo and Juliet.
Ray Bradbury’s book Fahrenheit 451 is consistently on the top 100 list of banned books in the US .

Ironical News

Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, the self-styled “eternal revolutionary”, who took power in a coup 42 years ago, is himself being deposed in a revolution.
A Harvard University fellow, who was studying ethics, was charged with hacking into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s computer network to steal nearly 5 million academic articles.

Being a part of speech used on a regular basis, ironies are familiar to many of us. Of course, we never look into whether the usage is correct or not, but it is always better to learn about the different kinds of ironies and their usages. It is very important as there are chances that sometimes you may even get confused with much similar concept of sarcasm. Though both irony and sarcasm appear to be overlapping, both of them are totally different concepts. Hope the examples given in this article helped you to understand the concept ‘irony’ better.

Stumbleupon

Tags Definition of Figures of Speech Different Figures of Speech Examples and Definition of Figures of Speech Figures of Speech for 10th Class Students Figures of Speech for 11th Class Students Figures of Speech for 12th Class Students Figures of Speech for 9th Class Students Figures of Speech for Students and Children Figures of Speech in English Language Types of Figures of Speech

Understatement Examples: Figure of Speech

November 21, 2019

What Are Adjectives: Different Types of Adjectives

Zeugma examples: figure of speech for students, verbal irony examples in literature: figure of speech, simile examples for students and children, oxymoron examples for students and children.

June 5, 2019

Abstract Nouns Examples For Students And Children

A noun can be defined as something that describes a name, place or thing. There …

English Grammar
Figures Of Speech

Figures of Speech - Definition, Types and Usage with Examples

Are you as busy as a bee? Why not take some time off your busy schedule to learn how you can make your speech and writing sound and look extraordinary and engaging? There are many ways to make your language creative and interesting. One of the most effective ways to do it is to use figurative language. In this article, you will be introduced to what figures of speech are, their meaning and definition, the different types of figures of speech and how to use them effectively in sentences with examples.

Table of Contents

Definition of a Figure of Speech

Classification of figures of speech.

How to Use a Figure of Speech in a Sentence? – Points to Remember

Examples of Figures of Speech

Frequently asked questions on figures of speech in english, what irs a figure of speech.

A figure of speech is an expression used to make a greater effect on your reader or listener. It includes making comparisons, contrasts, associations, exaggerations and constructions. It also gives a much clearer picture of what you are trying to convey.

Let us take a look at how different dictionaries define a figure of speech to have a much better idea of what it is.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “ a form of expression (such as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener.” According to the Macmillan Dictionary, a figure of speech is defined as “an expression in which the words are used figuratively, not in their normal literal meaning.”

Figures of Speech in English Grammar

In English grammar , there are around fifteen to twenty figures of speech. However, there are a few of them which are used more often than the others. Let us look at the most commonly used figures of speech.

Personification
Alliteration
Transferred Epithet

How to Use a Figure of Speech in English? – Points to Remember

You now know that a figure of speech can make your language look and sound a lot more poetical, interesting and flamboyant. However, the challenge is not about learning the different figures of speech but knowing when, where and how to use them. You cannot use it anywhere you like. Only if it is used right and where they are appropriate and necessary, will it make your language better.

Figures of speech are not meant to provide information literally, so it is not suggested that you use figurative language in professional presentations and writings like essays. Since they do not convey literal meanings, it is very important that you learn how each figure of speech can be used. What is more important is knowing what it would mean when used in a particular part of a sentence. So, the most significant point that you have to keep in mind when using figures of speech is to employ them only if they give you the desired effect and meaning.

The figures of speech can be categorized into types based on their functions when used in sentences. Accordingly, the main categories are composed of ones that:

Show a Relationship or Resemblance
Show Phonetic Resemblances and Representing Sounds
Show Emphasis or Unimportance

Showing a Relationship or Resemblance

This category includes figures of speech which are designed to make comparisons to show a relationship or some resemblances. Similes, metaphors, personification, euphemism, metonymy and synecdoche are the figures of speech used for this purpose.

Showing Phonetic Resemblances and Representing Sounds

This category of figures of speech include alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia. The first two figures of speech are used to create an effect by using similar sounding words or words starting with the same consonant and vowel sounds, whereas onomatopoeia includes words that are used to represent sounds.

Showing Emphasis or Unimportance

The figures of speech belonging to this category are used to provide emphasis or show how important or unimportant something is. Hyperbole, antithesis, oxymoron, irony and litotes are figures of speech that can be used for this purpose.

Here are a few examples of the different figures of speech in English grammar.

Simile – Rachel is as bright as the sun.
Metaphor – The whole world is a stage.
Personification – The wind whispered in my ears.
Apostrophe – O William, you should be living now to see all this.
Alliteration – Sally sold some seashells.
Assonance – I seem to like your little green trees.
Hyperbole – I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
Oxymoron – Euthanizing their sick pet dog was considered as an act of kind cruelty.
Epigram – The child is the father of man.
Irony – A fire station burned down yesterday.
Pun – Life depends upon the liver.
Metonymy – The Bench decided that the man is guilty.
Synecdoche – We need more hands to help us move this cupboard.
Transferred Epithet – She had a sleepless night.

What is a figure of speech?

What is the definition of a figure of speech.

A figure of speech, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meaning in order to create a particular mental picture or effect.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “an expression that uses words to mean something different from their ordinary meaning.” According to the Collins Dictionary, a figure of speech is “an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a figure of speech as “ a form of expression (such as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener.” According to the Macmillan Dictionary, a figure of speech is defined as “an expression in which the words are used figuratively, not in their normal literal meaning.”

What are the different figures of speech in English?

Here is a list of the different figures of speech in English.

ENGLISH Related Links

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

50 Examples of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are the spices of language. These add flavor and intensity to our everyday communication. These rhetorical devices transform simple sentences into powerful messages in literature, speeches, or casual conversations and can leave a lasting impact.

In this post, you’ll find 50 examples of figures of speech that illustrate their beauty, versatility, and effectiveness. It includes well-known metaphors and similes that light up our literary texts, as well as the subtle ironies and euphemisms that color our daily dialogues.

Figures of speech are not just tools for writers or orators; they are instruments for anyone who wishes to enhance their communication skills, add creativity to their language, or simply appreciate the nuanced art of wordplay.

Simile : “As brave as a lion.”
Metaphor : “Time is a thief.”
Personification : “The wind whispered through the trees.”
Hyperbole : “I’ve told you a million times.”
Understatement : “It’s just a scratch,” said about a large dent.
Metonymy : “The White House issued a statement.” (Referring to the U.S. President or administration)
Synecdoche : “All hands on deck.” (Referring to sailors)
Irony : Saying “What a pleasant day!” during a storm.
Sarcasm : Saying “Great job!” when someone fails.
Alliteration : “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Assonance : “The early bird catches the worm.”
Onomatopoeia : “The bees buzzed in the garden.”
Oxymoron : “Deafening silence.”
Paradox : “Less is more.”
Pun : “A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.”
Anaphora : “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better.”
Epistrophe : “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Euphemism : “Passed away” instead of “died.”
Litotes : “Not bad” to mean “good.”
Apostrophe : “O Death, where is thy sting?”
Allegory : “The Tortoise and the Hare” represents slow and steady wins the race.
Cliché : “Love is blind.”
Idiom : “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Analogy : “Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer.”
Chiasmus : “Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”
Antithesis : “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Paralipsis : “I will not mention the fact that you were late.”
Zeugma : “He opened his mind and his wallet at the movies.”
Synesthesia : “Tasting of Flora and the country green.”
Tautology : “Free gift.”
Anadiplosis : “Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate.”
Asyndeton : “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
Polysyndeton : “We lived and laughed and loved and left.”
Euphony : “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.”
Cacophony : “Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!”
Ellipsis : “So… what happened?”
Hyperbaton : “Alone he walked on the cold, lonely roads.”
Anthropomorphism : “The teapot shouted at the kettle.”
Antanaclasis : “Your argument is sound, nothing but sound.”
Antimetabole : “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Aphorism : “Actions speak louder than words.”
Archaism : “Thou art the fairest maiden.”
Bathos : “He spent his final hour of life doing what he loved most: arguing with his wife.”
Circumlocution : “The thing you use to sweep the floor” instead of “broom.”
Enthymeme : “He is a U.S. citizen, so he must speak English.”
Epigram : “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.”
Epithet : “Alexander the Great.”
Equivocation : “I stand with my country, but I also stand with my party.”
Hendiadys : “Nice and warm” instead of “nicely warm.”
Hypophora : “What makes a good writer? Good writing, of course.”
Types of Figurative Language
Importance of Figures of Speech
Figures of Speech Examples in Literature
Figures of Speech Examples in Poetry

Examples of Implied Metaphor in Literature

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things. A metaphor states that…

86 One Liner Owl Puns | Owl on Board: A Flight to Remember

Owl puns are the best way to highlight the unique traits and whimsical aspects of the sage creature of…

Standard Metaphor Examples In Literature

What is a standard metaphor? Metaphors play a vital role in our language. They furnish a vivid method to…

100 Short & One Liner Love Puns (Love Laughs)

Introduction Love puns are the perfect way to add a sprinkle of laughter to your love life! These cheesy…

130 Pirate Puns: Swashbuckling Humor Ahoy!

Pirate puns immerses humor with pirate culture. They emphasize the language, lifestyle and iconic elements of the historic sailors….

What is implied metaphor? examples in literature

Implied Metaphor (Examples in Literature & Sentences)

Definition of Implied Metaphor An implied metaphor is a type of metaphor that compares two unlike things without explicitly…

Figure of Speech

Definition of figure of speech.

you fit into me like a hook into an eye a fish hook an open eye

Types of Figures of Speech

Common examples of figures of speech used in conversation, understatement, common examples of figure of speech in writing, personification, writing figure of speech, figure of speech as artistic use of language, figure of speech as entertainment for reader, figure of speech as memorable experience for reader, examples of figure of speech in literature, example 1: the great gatsby (f. scott fitzgerald).

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.

Example 2: One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.

Example 3: Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?

Post navigation.

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

KidsKonnect

Reading Comprehension Cause and Effect Context Clues Compare and Contrast

Noun Worksheets Writing Prompts Compound Words Figurative Language

The Wizard of Oz Hans Christian Andersen Types of Writing Text Structure

Literary Devices

Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Irony

Subject Verb Agreement Poetry Climax Rhyme

View all reading worksheets

Action Verbs Tragedy Transition Words Phonics

View all writing worksheets

Dramatic Irony Cacophony Anaphora Setting

View all literature worksheets

Abbreviations Transition Words Conclusion Situational Irony

View all literary device worksheets

Women’s History

Inspirational Women Women's History Month First Lady of the US Women's Equality Day International Women's Day

View all Women's History worksheets

American Revolution

American Revolution Patriots & Loyalists Patrick Henry Sons of Liberty

View all American Revolution worksheets

US Constitution US Independence Trail of Tears The Pilgrims

View all US History worksheets

Ancient History

Ancient China Ancient Mayan Ancient Rome Ancient Aztec

View all Ancient History worksheets

World History

Roaring Twenties Industrial Revolution Middle Ages The Renaissance

View all World History worksheets

Famous Wars

World War 1 World War 2 Vietnam War American Civil War

View all Famous War worksheets

Anne Frank Sally Ride Neil Armstrong Christopher Columbus

View all famous figure worksheets

Joe Biden Donald Trump Abraham Lincoln George Washington

View all President worksheets

Roald Dahl Dr Seuss JK Rowling Michael Morpurgo

View all author worksheets

Civil Rights

Rosa Parks Sojourner Truth Medger Evers Martin Luther King

Elvis Presley Johann Sebastian Bach Ella Fitzgerald Wolfgang Mozart

View all musician worksheets

Thomas Edison Albert Einstein Henry Ford Wright Brothers

View all inventor worksheets

Muhammad Ali Michael Jordan Jackie Robinson Jesse Owens

View all athlete worksheets

Nat Turner Ruby Bridges Harriet Tubman Booker T Washington Malcolm X

View all civil rights worksheets

Natural Wonders

River Nile Mount Everest Sahara Desert Mount Etna Ancient Pyramids Amazon River

Landmarks/Sights

Mount Rushmore Statue Of Liberty White House Stonehenge Great Wall of China Santa Fe Trail

New York Texas South Carolina Alaska Nevada Ohio

Australia United Kingdom China Canada Argentina Brazil

Mount Fuji Mississippi River Rocky Mountains Volcano Glacier The Great Barrier Reef

View all natural wonders worksheets

Hoover Dam Bermuda Triangle Leaning Tower Of Pisa Arc De Triomphe Golden Gate Bridge Colosseum

View all landmark worksheets

California Colorado Indiana Florida Washington Georgia

View all US state worksheets

Poland Greece Philippines Japan France India

View all country worksheets

September Topics

Labor Day Constitution Day Autumnal Equinox National Hispanic Heritage Month World War II 9/11 Little Rock Nine Crisis The Great Fire of London Treaty of Paris 1783 Reign of Terror

View all Seasonal worksheets

Social Emotional Learning

Morals and Values Self Management Ethics Depression Relationship Skills Self-Awareneess Self-Esteem Emotions and Feelings Goal-Setting Interpersonal Skills

View all Social-Emotional Learning worksheets

Celebrations

Easter Saint Patrick’s Day Valentines Day Chinese New Year Rosh Hashanah Thanksgiving Flag Day Cinco de Mayo Beginning Of Lent Yom Kippur View all Celebrations worksheets

Remembrance

Pearl Harbor Day Veterans’ Day Memorial Day Battle Of The Somme D-Day 9/11 Anzac Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day International Women’s Day Victoria Day View all Remembrance worksheets

Camels Fox Bears Penguin Wolf Beavers Mountain Lion Red Panda Snow Leopard White Tigers Silverback Gorilla Okapi

View all mammal worksheets

Marine Life

Crabs Starfish Fish Octopus Great White Shark Dolphin Walrus Narwhal Megalodon Shark Killer Whale Beluga Whale Lionfish

View all marine life worksheets

Insects/Invertebrates/Reptiles

Millipede Praying Mantis Ladybug Ants Spider Iguana Chameleon Komodo Dragon Lizard Bearded Dragon Gila Monster Snakes

View all insect worksheets

Eagle Peregrine Falcon Snowy Owl Emu Woodpecker Albatross Swan Quail Bald Eagle Hummingbird Peacock

View all Bird worksheets

Natural World

Avalanche Flood Tsunami Natural Disasters Fossils Ice Age

View all natural world worksheets

Earth Sciences

Water Cycle Global Warming Deciduous Forests Hurricane Sandy Hurricane Katrina Global Warming

View all earth science worksheets

Food Chain Fossils Photosynthesis Cells Ecosystem Plants

View all biology worksheets

Solar System Black Holes Eclipse Stars and Constellations The Moon Comets

View all space worksheets

Chemistry/Physics

Magnetism Graduated Cylinders Solid, Liquid, Gas Gravity Light Sound

View all science worksheets

Kangaroo Horse Bear Lion Lizard Octopus

View all animal worksheets

Addition Sentences Single Digital Addition Two-Digit Addition Three Digit Addition Repeated Addition

View all Addition Worksheets

Ordinal Numbers Cardinal Numbers Rounding Numbers Odd & Even Numbers Comparing Numbers

View all Numbers Worksheets

Counting Money Subtracting Money Change Money Coin Name & Value Calculate Change (Money)

View all Money Worksheets

Number Line Single Digit Subtraction Place Value Subtraction Sentences Input & Output Tables

View all Math Worksheets

Irony Examples and Worksheets

Search for worksheets, download the irony examples and worksheets.

Click the button below to get instant access to these worksheets for use in the classroom or at a home.

Download This Worksheet

This download is exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members! To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download! Sign Me Up

Edit This Worksheet

Editing resources is available exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members. To edit this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start editing! Sign Up

This worksheet can be edited by Premium members using the free Google Slides online software. Click the Edit button above to get started.

Download This Sample

This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members! To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download! Sign Me Up

Table of Contents

Irony is a figure of speech and one of the most widely- known literary devices, which is used to express a strong emotion or raise a point.

As defined, Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of what is actually said.

For example, a driver whose license was confiscated by a traffic officer may say “Thank you Officer, now that you have my license I can’t drive”

In this situation, the driver was mad and irritated at what happened. But instead of directly expressing his anger, the driver used Irony i.e. thanking the officer for getting his license.

There are three types of irony. They are:

Verbal Irony

Situational irony, dramatic irony.

It is the use of words to present a meaning that is different from what the speaker says. Almost all the time, the person intentionally and knowingly uses Verbal Irony to be understood as meaning something different to what his or her words’ literal meaning.

Verbal Irony is the easiest to identify among the three types. It is also the most commonly used.

Our previous example is a kind of Verbal Irony. When the driver thanked the traffic officer, he wanted his words to mean that he was not amused at all.

Other examples are:

After looking at a student’s poor test score, the teacher says, “You will surely finish the year with highest honors”.
A man tastes his wife’s delicious home- cooked meal and exclaims, “I shall never eat this food ever again”.
After they kissed, the groom, with a smile on his face, muttered to his bride, “This is the day I will always want to forget”.

Situational Irony happens when what is expected and intended to happen doesn’t take place. Instead, the exact opposite occurs. The result could be either serious or comic.

This type of Irony is used adds more meaning to a situation making it more interesting and thought- provoking.

For example, a man whose house was in the woods put a booby trap to protect him from wild animals. One night, while walking, the man didn’t see the trap. He injured himself.

The booby trap was intended to protect the man but it wounded him instead. This is exactly the contrary of what was expected.

Examples are:

Dr. Johnson smokes a pack of cigarettes a day.
Our boss, the owner of a big construction firm, cannot fix his house’s broken ceiling.
The defence lawyer failed to acquit his son in a case.

Dramatic Irony happens when the audience or readers are aware of something, which the character of a movie or story does not know.

Oftentimes, such character acts or moves in a way, which is contrary or different from what the audience or the readers expect him or her to do.

This type of Irony creates intense feelings such as humor and suspense.

Dramatic Irony is used to convey emotions more intently. It gives the audience or readers a sense of thrill and excitement.

In a horror movie for example, the character enters a dark room while hearing a woman’s voice. The audiences don’t get scared because they knew beforehand that the woman’s voice was just that of the character’s mother.

Other examples include:

In “Saving Private Ryan” , the group of soldiers were hopeless they could find Private James Ryan alive, but the audience knew from the start that Private Ryan went on to live until his later years.
The wife believed that her husband died in an airplane crash and but the audience was aware that the husband had survived.
Readers knew that Caitlyn’s character in the novel “A Song for Caitlin” would eventually die but the other characters never even knew she was sick.

Irony Worksheets

This bundle contains 5 ready-to-use irony worksheets that are perfect to test student knowledge and understanding of what irony is and how it can be used. You can use these irony worksheets in the classroom with students, or with home schooled children as well.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Irony Examples and Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 11, 2017

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources

KidsKonnect is a growing library of high-quality, printable worksheets for teachers and homeschoolers.

Home Facts Privacy About Blog Contact Terms

Safe & Secure

We pride ourselves on being a safe website for both teachers and students. KidsKonnect uses a secure SSL connection to encrypt your data and we only work with trusted payment processors Stripe and PayPal.

25 Important Figures of Speech with Easy Examples

You may well have heard of the term a figure of speech but what exactly does this refer to? We are going to look into what a figure of speech is and how it can be used. We will also look in-depth at some examples of figures of speech and explain what they mean.

Figures of speech are an essential aspect of language and communication, serving as creative tools that generate specific effects and enhance the impact of a message. They can be found in everyday language as well as in literature, ranging from oral storytelling to polished poetry and prose. Intentional deviations from literal statements or common usage, these expressions emphasize, clarify, and embellish language to make it more engaging and expressive.

What Is A F igure of Speech?

Figure of speech definition.

A figure of speech is something that is used to convey a more deep or intense meaning. It is a phrase made up of two or more words that can add effect to the meaning of something and is used in a non-literal sense. When using literal speech, the words and sentences explain what is happening literally, or in other words, what is happening in reality. When we use a figure of speech to explain a situation, the words and sentences become nonliteral and do not convey what is actually happening but rather give a feeling as to what is happening.

An example to show the comparison between literal speech and a figure of speech would be:

Literal – it is raining heavily.
Figure of speech – it is raining cats and dogs .

Whilst we know that it is not literally raining cats and dogs, the figure of speech adds intensity to the meaning of the sentence and puts an emphasis on how much it is raining.

A figure of speech is a word or phrase which is used to describe something in a non-literal sense. These can be used as a literary device within a written text in order to explain something in a more artistic sense or they can be used in English speaking. In the latter, they are usually used to compare something, give advice or create a less literal description of something.

When used as a rhetorical device a figure of speech will give an opposite or different meaning to what is intended. It can also be used to convey a meaning or trigger emotion to the reader or listener.

Figures of Speech Examples

There are various different types of figures of speech, whilst there are a large amount of types, there are ten more common ones which we see in both written and spoken English. They are:

Simile : this makes a comparison between two things using the words like or as, for example ‘she shone as bright as the sun.’
Metaphor : makes a comparison between two things which have something in common, for example ‘the eyes are the window to the soul.’
Hyperbole : uses an exaggeration to convey a more profound meaning, for example ‘I have a thousand things to do this morning.’
Oxymoron : uses a two-word phrase where the words contradict one another to give a positive meaning, for example ‘she is pretty ugly.’
Pun : a play on words, for example, ‘a boiled egg for breakfast is hard to beat.’
Alliteration : uses repeated letter sounds throughout a sentence, for example ‘the high horse hopped along the highway.’
Onomatopoeia : these are words that resemble the sound they are describing, for example ‘the car alarm went beep.’
Irony : the use of language which is the opposite of what is meant, for example, ‘I love it when I drop my phone, how wonderful.’
Anaphora : the repetition of a word or phrase for rhythmic effect, for example ‘you must not stop, you must not wane, you must not fail.’
Antithesis : this makes a comparison or connection between two ideas in a sentence, for example ‘that is one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.’

Types of Figures of Speech

There are different types of figures of speech and we are now going to look at those types, what they are and how to use them by looking at some examples of them being used in sentences.

Metaphor is when there is a comparison made between two different things which share something in common. Here are some examples of metaphor in use.

The world is your oyster.
She was the shining star of the talent show.
His eyes were ice.

Simile is a phrase that compares something to something else using the words like or as. Here are some examples of simile in use.

Her hair was as golden as the sun
The dog is as fit as a fiddle.
I felt as high as a kite.

Hyperbole is a term that uses exaggeration to add a more dramatic meaning to the sentence. Here are some examples of hyperbole in use.

My bag weighs a tonne.
His nose is the length of the river Nile.
I have a million things to do today.

Irony is a statement that conveys the exact opposite meaning of what is literally being said. It is also a statement that contradicts the situation. Here are some examples of irony in use.

The fire station burnt to the ground.
The pilot had a fear of flying.
‘What lovely weather.’ she said when it was raining

Alliteration

Alliteration is when there is a repetition of sound within a phrase or sentence. Here are some examples of alliteration in use.

She sells seashells on the seashore
Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepper
The dog dug deeper into the depths.
Nicky’s necklace nipped at her neck.

Anaphora is when a word is repeated multiple times within a phrase. Here are some examples of anaphora in use.

Every morning, every afternoon and every evening I walk by the lake.
He had one apple, one banana and one pear.
My life is happy, my life is simple, my life is complete.

Antithesis is applying a juxtaposition of ideas which are contrasting in a statement that is balanced. Here are some examples of antithesis in use.

Man proposes and God deposes.
Love is an ideal thing and marriage is a real thing.
That is one small step for man and one huge leap for mankind.

Apostrophe is speaking to an object or item that is not alive as if it were in fact, alive. Here are some examples of apostrophe is use.

Oh come on you stupid door, just unlock.
Thank you oven, for helping me make this meal.
Come on trousers, you have to fit me.

Assonance is the similarity in sound between vowels in the middle of neighboring words. Here are some examples of assonance in use.

How now, brown cow.
On the side of the hide.
Top of the pop

Chiasmus is when two sentences are balanced against one another but with the words reversed. Here are some examples of chiasmus in use.

Work to live and do not live to work.
She went to town, off to town went she.
You forget what you want to remember yet you remember what you want to forget

Euphemism is the replacement of a phrase that might be deemed offensive by one which implies the same meaning but does not carry offense with it. Here are some examples of euphemisms in use.

Instead of ‘he died’ you would say ‘he passed away.’
Instead of ‘she had an abortion’ you would say ‘she terminated the pregnancy.’
Instead of ‘going for a poo’ you would say ‘going to use the bathroom.’

Litotes is an understatement that applies a negative to express the meaning of the affirmative. Here are some examples of litotes in use.

She isn’t the friendliest woman in the world.
I wasn’t unhappy with the gift
That dress is not too bad

Metonymy is when a phrase is replaced with another which has a similar meaning, used to describe something in an indirect manner. Here are some examples of metonymy in use.

The pen is more mighty than the sword.
I remain loyal to the crown.
My husband is considered a silver fox.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that resembles the sound it is describing. Here are some examples of onomatopoeia in use.

The bacon sizzled in the pan.
My watch ticks loudly.
The crow cawed overhead.

Oxymoron is when two words in a phrase contradict one another. Here are some examples of oxymoron in use.

The girl next door is pretty ugly.
That cat is mighty small.
Our farewell was bittersweet.

Paradox is a statement that contradicts itself. Here are some examples of paradoxes in use.

He is a wise fool.
Deep down Anna is really shallow.
It is the beginning of the end.

Personification

Personification is when an object which is not alive is given human qualities. Here are some examples of personification in use.

My car is a real beauty.
That rod will take out someone’s eye.
My alarm clock screams at me every morning.

A pun is a play on words, it uses a word to give a different sense to the sentence and add a double meaning. Here are some examples of puns in use.

The two guitarists got on well as they were always in a chord.
I spend a lot of time doing DIY so I know the drill.
An egg for breakfast is not easy to beat.

Synecdoche is a statement in which only part of something is expressed to relate to the whole. Here are some examples of synecdoche in use.

At school, the children learn ABCs and 123s
He has just got some new wheels.
There were many hired hands in the factory.

Understatement

An understatement is a statement that is made to be less important than what is actually being conveyed. Here are some examples of understatement in use.

The grand canyon is a hole in the ground.
I only have two million dollars.
There was a flood in the town, it must have rained a bit in the night.

An epigram is a concise and witty statement that conveys a thought or observation. Typically, it is used to challenge or entertain the reader. Epigrams may be poetic or prose statements, but they usually exhibit a rhythmic, memorable quality.

Example : “I can resist everything except temptation.” – Oscar Wilde

Ellipsis refers to the deliberate omission of words or phrases, typically for the sake of conciseness or to create an effect. It allows the reader to fill in the gaps, which can create suspense or build emphasis.

Example : “The thief was bold, cunning, ruthless…”; in this case, the reader can imagine other adjectives describing the thief.

Antanaclasis

Antanaclasis is a figure of speech in which a word is repeated within the same sentence or clause, but with a different or opposing meaning each time. It serves to create emphasis on a particular point and often adds a playful or humorous tone to the writing.

Example : “Your argument is sound…all sound!” – Benjamin Franklin

Anthimeria is the use of a word outside of its traditional grammatical role, often for stylistic or creative purposes. It typically involves using a noun as a verb or vice versa.

Example : “I could use a good sleep.”; in this case, the word “sleep” (a noun) is used as a verb.

Rhetorical Question

A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point, provoke thought, or create emphasis, rather than to elicit a direct response. The answer is usually self-evident, and the question serves to emphasize the intended message.

Example : “Is the Pope Catholic?”; the answer is obvious, but the question drives home a point.

Figures of Speech Infographic

Figures of Speech | Infographic 1

Figure of Speech: Definition, Types and Examples of Figure of Speech

Figures of Speech | Infographic 2

Figures of Speech | Video

FAQs on Figures of Speech

What is a figure of speech?

A figure of speech is a creative use of language that intentionally deviates from the literal meaning or common usage of words to generate an effect. These are found in everyday spoken language as well as in polished poetry, prose, and other types of written work.

What are some common figures of speech?

Some common figures of speech include:

Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”
Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”
Personification: attributing human characteristics to non-human entities
Hyperbole: exaggeration for effect
Irony: a statement implying its opposite for effect

What is the difference between figures of speech and figurative language?

Figurative language is a broader term that encompasses various types of non-literal language use, including figures of speech. Figures of speech are specific instances of figurative language that rely on creative and intentional deviations from the literal meanings of words or phrases.

How do I use figures of speech effectively in my writing?

To effectively use figures of speech in your writing, consider the following tips:

Know your audience: tailor your use of figures of speech to the expected readership
Practice: develop a feel for when and how to use figures of speech through reading, writing, and analyzing various forms of literature
Be intentional: use figures of speech purposefully and with clear intent to generate the desired effect
Don’t overuse: too many figures of speech may distract from your message or make your writing appear forced or contrived

Are figures of speech only used in creative writing or can they be used in other types of writing?

While figures of speech are often associated with creative writing, they can also be used effectively in other types of writing, such as persuasive essays, blog articles, and even business communications. The key is to use them judiciously, ensuring that the figure of speech serves a clear purpose and strengthens the overall message of the text.

Latest Posts

Judgement vs. Judgment: A Look at Spelling Variations - January 9, 2024
Crochet vs. Knit: Understanding the Differences - January 5, 2024
Metric vs. Imperial: What’s the Difference? - December 28, 2023

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

Figures of Speech: Types, Usage & Examples [Download PDF]

Updated on
May 9, 2024

All of us use different figures of speech in our everyday lives, no matter which language we speak. Being familiar with different types of figures of speech can not only increase your vocabulary in a particular language but also help you in your career. This is especially true for those who want to pursue a career in translation, poetry or writing. Also, having a solid idea of the different figures of speech can come in handy for a wide range of exams, including both language proficiency exams and different competitive exams for work or study. Want to familiarise yourself with this? Take a look at this blog for detailed information on the popular types of figures of speech.

This Blog Includes:

What are figures of speech, importance of figures of speech, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, classifying of figures of speech, download figures of speech pdf, 15 most common examples of figures of speech, writing figures of speech, examples in english literature, how to ace figures of speech.

Check out our essay on peer pressure

It is an integral part of any language, which is used extensively not only in our day-to-day speech but also in written texts and oral literature . These are words or phrases used in a distinctive way to produce a rhetorical effect.To say it in very simple terms, it is a phrase whose actual meaning is different from its literal meaning.

Figures of Speech are developed and expressed through a variety of different rhetorical techniques. All of us use different figures of speech in our daily conversations, both deliberately and subconsciously.

Figures of speech enhance your writing and content. Take, for example, metaphors add important details that make the writing more relatable to the readers. Idioms help to express complex ideas in a short space. It makes the content presentable and more enjoyable to the writers. Most of the time, you may use these words as a sarcastic response or just to demonstrate your command of the language.

Must Read: Best Novels for Students

15. Types of Figures of Speech with Example

There is a wide range of different types of figures of speech that are used in our daily communication. Let us take a look at some of the most popular ones that are used extensively:

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.

Also Read: Personification: Definition, Meaning and Examples

A metaphor is used to imply a comparison between two things that have something in common but are in general different from each other.

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.

Also Read: 99+ Common Metaphors with Meanings [Everyday Life]

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 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

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.

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.

Euphemism is the usage of a mild word in substitution of something that is more explicit or harsh when referring to something unfavourable or unpleasant. Some examples of its usage include:

This mall has good facilities for differently-abled people
He passed away in his sleep
Passed away” instead of “died”
“Let go” instead of “fired”

Also Read: Euphemism: Meaning, Uses, Types

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”

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.”

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!

Also Read: How to Use Apostrophes? Learn 3 Golden Rules with Examples

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 snot.

These figures of speech, like ironies, emphasize something by discussing the exact opposite of it. A paradox, on the other hand, differs from irony in that it does not make the contrast as evident.

Let’s examine two instances of paradoxical figures of speech:

“Some of my biggest triumphs have also been failures,” (According to US actress Pearl Bailey)
“War is good. Slavery is freedom. “Ignorance is power,” (As said by English author George Orwell)
Save money by spending it
If I know one thing, it’s that I know nothing

This figure of speech, which should not be confused with ironies and paradoxes, links two opposing ideas at once. This indicates that two opposing concepts are utilized inside a single sentence to create levity in an oxymoron figure of speech. For instance ,

This is another fine mess you have got us into
Suddenly the room filled with a deafening silence
The comedian was seriously funny
You are clearly confused by the situation you have found yourself in

Internal vowels in nearby words that are the same or comparable in sound. Here are a few examples of assonance in speech:

How now, brown cow?
The light of the fire is a sight
Go slow over the road
Try as I might, the kite did not fly

Metonymy is a figure of speech when one term or phrase is used in place of another with which it is closely related. It is also a rhetorical technique used to describe something indirectly by making references to objects around it.

Here are a few instances of Metonym:

“That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman,” the manager said angrily.
The pen is mightier than the sword”
I’m a Silicon Valley guy. I just think people from Silicon Valley can do anything.
Most of the successful people in Hollywood are failures as human beings.

How to Use a Figure of Speech?

Figures of speeches do not convey the literal meaning, hence, it is very important to know how to use the figure of speech. The most significant way of doing this is by making sure that the figure of speech that you are using implies, or gives out the desired effect and feeling.

There are different ways and points you can remember to easily do this. Some of them are as follows.

Figures of speech can be categorized into categories that are based on their functions when they are used in sentences. The main categories from these are as follows:

Those figures of speech show phonetic resemblances and represent sounds. Similes, personification, metaphors, metonymy, euphemism, and synecdoche are the figures of speech used for this purpose.
Those figures of speech that show a relationship or resemblance. This kind of speech is used to create a similar effect by using similar-sounding words
Those figures of speech that show emphasis or unimportance. This kind of speech provides emphasis showing the level of importance or unimportance. Hyperbole, oxymoron, antithesis, and irony are the figures of speech used for this purpose.

50 Figures of Speech Examples

When dissolving like soap in water. (Smile)
John is a goat. (Metaphor)
A rain starts or thinner, then look at the joy in the soil, the birds told me that you are going to distant lands. That beautiful sound of the mountain has travelled all around. (Personification)
The wave of the sea did not go as far as my heart. (Hyperbole)
Can you hear the clicks coming from the roof? (Onomatopoeia)
The monkey ate the beans in his hand. (Onomatopoeia)
I could not sleep through my mother’s snort during the night. (Onomatopoeia)
The flowing waters of the waterfall took all my troubles. (Onomatopoeia)
The food in the cauldron was boiling and scalding. (Onomatopoeia)

Must Read: Poetic Devices

Given below are some of the common examples to explain the figures of speech:

Let’s learn more about figures of speech and their examples below.


	He passed away in his sleep
	Your hands are as clean as mud
	Dr Martin Luther King Jr: “I Have a Dream” Speech
	Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are
	Everyone thinks my runny nose is funny, but it’s snot.
	“Some of my biggest triumphs have also been failures,”
	You are clearly confused by the situation you have found yourself in
	How now, brown cow?
	“The pen is mightier than the sword”

In writing, when figures of speech are used effectively, these devices enhance the writer’s ability for description and expression so that readers have a better understanding of what is being conveyed. Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating it into their work:

Figure of Speech as Artistic Use of Language : Effective use of figures of speech is one of the greatest demonstrations of artistic use of language. Being able to create poetic meaning, comparisons, and expressions with these literary devices are how writers form art with words.
Figure of Speech as Entertainment for Reader: Effective figures of speech often elevate the entertainment value of a literary work for the reader. Many invoke humour or provide a sense of irony in ways that literal expressions do not. This can create a greater sense of engagement for the reader when it comes to a literary work.
Figure of Speech as Memorable Experience for Reader: By using it effectively to enhance description and meaning, writers make their works more memorable for readers as an experience. Writers can often share a difficult truth or convey a particular concept through figurative language so that the reader has a greater understanding of the material and one that lasts in memory.

Numerous figures of speech that are used as literary devices may be seen in works of literature. These add meaning to literature and showcase the power and beauty of figurative language. Here are some examples in well-known literary works:

The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.

Fitzgerald makes use of simile here as a figure of speech to compare Gatsby’s party guests to moths. The imagery used by Fitzgerald is one of delicacy and beauty and creates an ephemeral atmosphere. However, the likening of Gatsby’s guests to moths also reinforces the idea that they are only attracted to the sensation of the parties and that they will depart without having made any true impact or connection. This simile underscores the themes of superficiality and transience in the novel.

One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.

In this passage, Garcia Marquez utilizes personification as a figure of speech. Time is personified as an entity that “stumbled” and “had accidents.” This is an effective use of figurative language in that this personification of time indicates a level of human frailty that is rarely associated with something so measured. In addition, this is effective in the novel because time has a great deal of influence on the plot and characters of the story. Personified in this way, the meaning of time in the novel is enhanced to the point that it is a character in and of itself.

Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?

In this passage, Bradbury utilizes metaphor as a figure of speech to compare a book to a loaded gun. This is an effective literary device for this novel because, in the story, books are considered weapons of free thought and possession of them is illegal. Of course, Bradbury is only stating that a book is a loaded gun as a means of figurative, not the literal meaning. This metaphor is particularly powerful because the comparison is so unlikely; books are generally not considered to be dangerous weapons. However, the comparison does have a level of logic in the context of the story in which the pursuit of knowledge is weaponized and criminalized.

Also Read: History of English Literature

Wondering what the hard and fast rule is to ace this section? The only thing that will help you is practice. We have curated a list of the best books that will help you ace it like a pro:

Figures of Speech: The Art of Ornate Diction
Figures of Speech: Sixty Ways to Turn a Phrase
A Handbook of Scansion and Figures of Speech
Fantastic Figures of Speech (Fun with English)
Figures of Speech: Figures of Speech

Test Yourself and Complete this Exercise on Figures of Speech

Some common figures of speech are alliteration, anaphora, antimetabole, antithesis, apostrophe, assonance, hyperbole, irony, metonymy, onomatopoeia, paradox, personification, pun, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.

Simile. Browse more Topics under Vocabulary. Metaphor. Personification. Hyperbole. Onomatopeia.

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning from its literal definition. It can be a metaphor or simile designed to make a comparison. It can be the repetition of alliteration or the exaggeration of hyperbole to provide a dramatic effect

” Life is a highway” is an example of a metaphor.

“Life is like a box of chocolates” is an example of a simile.

We hope this blog has provided you with all the necessary information on “figures of speech.” To advance your grammar knowledge and read more informative blogs, check out our Learn English page and don’t forget to follow Leverage Edu .

Team Leverage Edu

14 comments

Wow this is amazing for better knowledge

Thanks for reading. You can also check: English Speech Topics for Students Speech on Right to Education Speech on Tourism in India Speech on Importance of Social Media

Thanks for reading. You can also check: English Speech Topics for Students Speech on Right to Education Speech on Tourism in India Speech on Importance of Social Media For more call us at 1800 57 2000!

Thanks for reading. Also, read: English Speech Topics for Students Speech on Child Labour Speech on Indian Culture Speech on Right to Education

This is so educational to an English teacher and very helpful for lesson preparation and presentation. I need more

Hi Ruth! Thank you for the comment, here are some more blogs for you to enjoy- https://leverageedu.com/blog/one-word-substitution/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/examples-of-simile/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/antonyms/

Tell us in the comments if these are helpful!

Figure of speech are a word or a phrase used in a distinctive way to produce a rhetorical effect

Excellent presentation

Hi, Ashit! Thank you for giving our blog a read! Here we are referring few other topics to read: Generation Gap Speech How to Write a Speech on Discipline? Parts of Speech

Hi Joy, It’s a delight to know that you have found our blog interesting and excellent. Thanks for the positive feedback. We highly appreciate it. Here are some more interesting reads that we would like to suggest to you: https://leverageedu.com/blog/english-speech-topics/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/asl-topics/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/speech-writing/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/public-speaking/

Leaving already?

8 Universities with higher ROI than IITs and IIMs

Grab this one-time opportunity to download this ebook

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

September 2024

January 2025

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Figure of Speech

Ai generator.

Figures of speech are linguistic tools that enhance writing and speech by adding emphasis, clarity, or flair. They involve the use of words in non-literal ways to create vivid imagery and express complex ideas more effectively. By employing techniques like metaphor , simile , and hyperbole , figures of speech enrich communication, making it more engaging and memorable for the audience. These devices are essential in both literature and everyday language.

What is a Figure of Speech?

A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that enhances language by deviating from ordinary usage to create emphasis, clarity, or creativity. Common examples include metaphors, similes, personification , and hyperbole. These devices make writing more engaging, vivid, and memorable, allowing for imaginative and impactful expression of ideas.

Types of Figures of Speech

A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as” to highlight a similarity.

Her smile is as bright as the sun.
He is as brave as a lion.
The water is as clear as crystal.
She sings like an angel.
His explanation was as clear as mud.

2. Metaphor

A metaphor directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as”.

Time is a thief.
He has a heart of stone.
The classroom was a zoo.
Her voice is music to my ears.
The world is a stage.

3. Personification

Personification gives human qualities to animals, objects, or ideas.

The wind whispered through the trees.
The flowers danced in the breeze.
The car groaned as it climbed the hill.
Time flies when you’re having fun.
The moon smiled down on us.

4. Hyperbole

Hyperbole involves exaggerated statements for emphasis or effect.

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
She has a million pairs of shoes.
This bag weighs a ton.
I’ve told you a thousand times.
He runs faster than the wind.

5. Understatement

An understatement makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

“It’s just a scratch,” he said about the deep wound.
Winning the lottery wasn’t a big deal to him.
“I did okay,” she said after scoring the highest.
The storm brought a little rain, he said about the hurricane.
The test was somewhat challenging, said about a very difficult exam.

Irony involves saying one thing but meaning the opposite, often for humorous or emphatic effect.

A fire station burns down.
A plumber’s house has leaking pipes.
A pilot has a fear of heights.
Saying “Great!” after failing a test.
The police station gets robbed.

7. Oxymoron

An oxymoron combines two contradictory terms.

Deafening silence
Jumbo shrimp
Bitter sweet
Living dead
Act naturally

8. Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in closely connected words.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
She sells seashells by the seashore.
Timmy’s tiny turtle.
Big brown bear.
Friendly firefly.

9. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia uses words that imitate the sound they describe.

The bees buzzed.
The cat meowed.
The clock ticked.
The car honked.
The rain pitter-pattered on the roof.

A pun is a play on words, often for a humorous effect.

I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.
I’ve been to the dentist many times, so I know the drill.
Reading while sunbathing makes you well-red.

11. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

“I have a dream” in Martin Luther King’s speech.
Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better.
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
With malice toward none; with charity for all.

12. Euphemism

A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered too harsh or blunt.

Passed away instead of died.
Let go instead of fired.
Correctional facility instead of jail.
Economical with the truth instead of lying.
Between jobs instead of unemployed.

13. Metonymy

Metonymy replaces the name of something with something else closely related to it.

The pen is mightier than the sword (pen refers to writing, sword to fighting).
The White House issued a statement (White House refers to the President or staff).
The crown will find an heir (crown refers to monarchy).
Hollywood is obsessed with sequels (Hollywood refers to the film industry).
The suits on Wall Street walked off with most of our savings (suits refers to business people).

14. Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.

All hands on deck (hands refer to sailors).
Nice wheels (wheels refer to the car).
The hired hands (hands refer to workers).
The White House (referring to the President or staff).
New faces (referring to new people).

15. Antithesis

Antithesis juxtaposes two contrasting ideas in a balanced way.

Speech is silver, but silence is gold.
Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.
That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.

16. Litotes

Litotes is an understatement in which a positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite.

Not bad (meaning good).
She’s not unkind (meaning kind).
He’s no fool (meaning smart).
It’s not impossible (meaning possible).
I’m not unhappy (meaning happy).

17. Apostrophe

Apostrophe addresses someone absent, dead, or something non-human as if it were alive and present.

O Death, where is thy sting?
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
Is this a dagger which I see before me?
O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

18. Allusion

Allusion is an indirect reference to a person, event, or piece of literature.

He was a real Romeo with the ladies.
She had a Cinderella story.
He’s a Scrooge when it comes to money.
This place is like a Garden of Eden.
Don’t act like a Judas.

19. Paradox

A paradox is a statement that appears contradictory but reveals a truth.

Less is more.
I know one thing: that I know nothing.
The beginning of the end.
I am nobody.
This is the beginning of the end.

20. Chiasmus

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures.

Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.
Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?
You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
It’s not the men in my life, it’s the life in my men.

Importance of Figure of Speech

Figures of speech play a crucial role in enhancing the beauty and effectiveness of language. Here are some key reasons why they are important:

1. Enhances Expressiveness

Figures of speech add depth and emotion to writing and speech, making communication more engaging and memorable. They help convey feelings and ideas in a more impactful way.

2. Creates Vivid Imagery

By using metaphors, similes, and other devices, figures of speech create vivid mental images for the reader or listener. This helps in visualizing the concepts and scenarios being described, making the content more relatable and interesting.

3. Adds Emphasis

Figures of speech, such as hyperbole and alliteration, emphasize certain points or ideas, drawing attention to important aspects of the message. This helps in reinforcing the intended message effectively.

4. Enhances Creativity

Using figures of speech allows writers and speakers to be more creative with their language. It encourages thinking outside the box and using language in unique ways to express ideas.

5. Improves Clarity

Paradoxically, figures of speech can make complex ideas easier to understand by comparing them to more familiar concepts. Analogies and metaphors, for example, simplify abstract ideas and make them more comprehensible.

6. Engages the Audience

Figures of speech make language more engaging and enjoyable. They capture the audience’s attention and hold their interest, making the communication more effective.

7. Adds Humor

Devices like puns and irony introduce humor into language, making the content more enjoyable and entertaining. This can make the message more memorable and easier to digest.

8. Reflects Cultural Context

Figures of speech often reflect cultural and societal norms, values, and beliefs. They can provide insights into the culture and context of the language being used, enriching the communication experience.

9. Encourages Critical Thinking

Interpreting figures of speech often requires critical thinking and interpretation. This encourages the audience to think more deeply about the language and the ideas being presented.

10. Enhances Persuasiveness

In rhetoric, figures of speech are powerful tools for persuasion. They help in building arguments, appealing to emotions, and convincing the audience of a particular viewpoint.

Figure of Speech Examples:

Figure of speech examples in literature.

Figures of speech are rhetorical devices used to convey meaning or create effects in writing. Here are examples of various figures of speech in literature:

Example : “Her smile was as bright as the sun.” (John Steinbeck, East of Eden )
Example : “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” (William Shakespeare, As You Like It )
Example : “The wind whispered through the trees.” (Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter )
Example : “I had to wait an eternity for the bus.” (Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude )
Example : “It’s just a scratch,” he said, as blood gushed from the wound. (J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye )
Example : “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet )
Example : “I must be cruel to be kind.” (William Shakespeare, Hamlet )
Example : “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” (Traditional Tongue Twister)
Example : “The bees buzzed, and the brook gurgled.” (Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Brook )
Synecdoche : A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole.
Example : “All hands on deck.” (Herman Melville, Moby Dick )
Metonymy : Substituting the name of one thing with something closely related to it.
Example : “The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy )
Irony : A contrast between expectation and reality.
Example : “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice )
Apostrophe : Addressing an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction.
Example : “O Death, where is thy sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, The Bible)
Anaphora : The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Example : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities )
Pun : A play on words with humorous effect.
Example : “A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.” (Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe )

Figure of Speech Examples Sentences

ere are sentences exemplifying various figures of speech:

Simile : “Her laughter was like music to his ears.”
Metaphor : “Time is a thief that steals our moments.”
Personification : “The old house groaned in the wind.”
Hyperbole : “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!”
Understatement : “It’s just a small scratch,” he said, looking at the dented car.
Oxymoron : “The silence was deafening.”
Paradox : “Less is more.”
Alliteration : “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”
Onomatopoeia : “The bees buzzed angrily around the hive.”
Synecdoche : “Check out my new wheels,” he said, referring to his car.
Metonymy : “The White House issued a statement today.”
Irony : “A fire station burned down.”
Apostrophe : “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”
Anaphora : “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
Pun : “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.”

Figure of Speech Examples for Kids

Here are examples of figures of speech that are easy for kids to understand, with sentences:

Example : “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
Example : “He was a lion in the fight.”
Example : “The wind whispered through the trees.”
Example : “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
Example : “It’s just a little rain,” she said during the storm.
Example : “The jumbo shrimp was delicious.”
Example : “You have to be cruel to be kind.”
Example : “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Example : “The bees buzzed around the flowers.”
Example : “All hands on deck.”
Example : “The crown announced a new law.”
Example : “A plumber’s house always has leaky pipes.”
Example : “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”
Example : “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
Example : “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.”

Metaphor Figure of Speech Examples

Here are examples of metaphors, a figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable:

Meaning: Life is like a play; people are actors with roles to play.
Meaning: Time takes away moments of our lives, just as a thief takes possessions.
Meaning: He is very unemotional or unfeeling.
Meaning: The classroom was noisy and chaotic.
Meaning: She is very cheerful and lively.
Meaning: Life is full of experiences and changes, similar to traveling.
Meaning: The assignment was very easy to complete.
Meaning: Her voice is very pleasing to hear.
Meaning: He stays up late and is active at night.
Meaning: The snow covers everything like a blanket covers a bed.
Meaning: His words were very hurtful.
Meaning: Life has many challenges and difficult times.
Meaning: She brings joy and happiness into my life.
Meaning: The stars were bright and sparkly like diamonds.
Meaning: The test was very easy.

Hyperbole Figure of Speech Examples

Here are examples of hyperbole, a figure of speech that involves exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally:

Meaning: I am extremely hungry.
Meaning: I’ve told you many times to clean your room.
Meaning: This bag is very heavy.
Meaning: I have a lot of homework.
Meaning: It will take a very long time to get there.
Meaning: He’s running very fast.
Meaning: I am laughing very hard.
Meaning: She cried a lot.
Meaning: This day is very bad.
Meaning: My backpack is very heavy.
Meaning: I have a lot of things to do today.
Meaning: He is not very intelligent.
Meaning: I waited in line for a very long time.
Meaning: He is very tall.
Meaning: I am very tired and need a lot of sleep.

Apostrophe Figure of Speech Examples

Here are examples of apostrophe, a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction:

Juliet is addressing Romeo, who is not present.
The speaker is addressing a star.
The speaker is addressing death and the grave.
The speaker is addressing the deceased captain.
Lady Macbeth is addressing spirits.
Macbeth is addressing an imagined dagger.
Mark Antony is addressing Caesar’s dead body.
The speaker is addressing the ocean.
Satan is addressing the sun.
King Lear is addressing the winds.

Repetition Figure of Speech Examples

Repetition is a figure of speech where words or phrases are repeated to emphasize a point or create a rhythm. Here are examples of different types of repetition:

Example : “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.” (Emile Coué)
Example : “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Example : “The truth is not this, the truth is not that, the truth is unchangeable.”
Example : “The horror, the horror!” (Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness )
Example : “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” (Yoda, Star Wars )
Example : “Do I love you because you are beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?” (Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderella )
Example : “To be, or not to be!” (William Shakespeare, Hamlet )
Example : “We have ships and men and money and stores.”
Example : “I came, I saw, I conquered.” (Julius Caesar)
Example : “The king is dead; long live the king!”

How to Use a Figure of Speech in English?

Figures of speech are powerful tools that can enhance your writing and speech. Here’s a guide on how to effectively use various figures of speech:

1. Metaphor

Usage: Use metaphors to draw direct comparisons between two unrelated things, highlighting their similarities. Example: “The classroom was a zoo.” Explanation: This metaphor compares the classroom to a zoo, emphasizing chaos and activity.

Usage: Use similes to compare two different things using “like” or “as” to make descriptions more vivid. Example: “Her smile was as bright as the sun.” Explanation: This simile compares the brightness of her smile to the sun, emphasizing its radiance.

Usage: Use personification to give human qualities to non-human objects or abstract ideas, making them more relatable. Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.” Explanation: This personification gives the wind the human ability to whisper, creating a more engaging image.

Usage: Use hyperbole for exaggeration to emphasize a point or evoke strong feelings. Example: “I’ve told you a million times.” Explanation: This hyperbole exaggerates the number of times something has been said, emphasizing frustration.

5. Alliteration

Usage: Use alliteration to repeat the same initial consonant sound in a series of words, adding rhythm and musicality. Example: “She sells seashells by the seashore.” Explanation: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound creates a pleasing rhythm and enhances memorability.

6. Onomatopoeia

Usage: Use onomatopoeia to mimic natural sounds, enhancing the sensory experience of the reader or listener. Example: “The bees buzzed in the garden.” Explanation: The word “buzzed” imitates the sound of bees, making the description more vivid.

Usage: Use oxymorons to combine contradictory terms, revealing deeper meanings or creating dramatic effects. Example: “Bittersweet memories.” Explanation: The combination of “bitter” and “sweet” suggests complex emotions associated with the memories.

Usage: Use irony to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning, often highlighting discrepancies or unexpected outcomes. Example: “A pilot afraid of heights.” Explanation: The irony lies in the unexpected and contradictory fear of a pilot.

9. Euphemism

Usage: Use euphemisms to replace harsh or blunt terms with milder or more indirect expressions. Example: “He passed away.” Explanation: This euphemism is used instead of saying “he died,” making the statement softer.

Usage: Use puns to play on words with multiple meanings or similar sounds for humorous or rhetorical effect. Example: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” Explanation: This pun plays on the dual meanings of “flies” and “like,” creating a humorous effect.

11. Synecdoche

Usage: Use synecdoche to refer to a part of something to represent the whole, or vice versa. Example: “All hands on deck.” Explanation: “Hands” represents the sailors, using a part to refer to the whole group.

12. Metonymy

Usage: Use metonymy to replace the name of something with the name of something else closely associated with it. Example: “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Explanation: “Pen” represents writing or diplomacy, while “sword” represents military force.

13. Apostrophe

Usage: Use apostrophe to address a person or entity not present, often to express deep emotion. Example: “O Death, where is thy sting?” Explanation: The speaker directly addresses Death, personifying and dramatizing the concept.

14. Anaphora

Usage: Use anaphora to repeat words or phrases at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis and rhythm. Example: “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better.” Explanation: The repetition of “every” emphasizes the ongoing process of improvement.

Usage: Use antithesis to juxtapose contrasting ideas, highlighting differences and creating tension. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Explanation: The contrast between “best” and “worst” emphasizes the extremes of the situation.

What is a figure of speech?

A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that uses language in a non-literal or unusual way to create a particular effect or meaning.

Why are figures of speech important?

Figures of speech enhance expressiveness, add vivid imagery, emphasize points, and engage the audience, making communication more effective and memorable.

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

A simile uses “like” or “as” to compare two things, while a metaphor directly states that one thing is another.

Can you give an example of personification?

Sure! “The wind whispered through the trees” gives human traits (whispering) to the wind, making it more relatable and vivid.

What is hyperbole?

Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, such as “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

How does alliteration enhance writing?

Alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, adds rhythm, musicality, and emphasis to writing, making it more engaging and memorable.

What is the purpose of using irony?

Irony highlights discrepancies between expectations and reality, often to create humor or emphasize a point, adding depth to the message.

How do puns work in language?

Puns play on words with multiple meanings or similar sounds to create humor or a rhetorical effect, making language playful and engaging.

What is the effect of using an oxymoron?

An oxymoron combines contradictory terms to reveal deeper truths, create dramatic effects, or highlight complex emotions, such as “bittersweet.”

How can figures of speech improve my writing?

Figures of speech add expressiveness, clarity, and creativity to your writing, making it more engaging, memorable, and impactful for the audience.

Text prompt

Instructive
Professional

10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

Get in touch with us

Are you sure you want to logout?

Please select your grade.

Earth and space

Figures of Speech

Any deliberate departure from a literal statement or conventional use that emphasizes, clarifies, or embellishes written or spoken words can be considered a figure of speech . Figures of speech form an integral part of any language and are found in oral literatures, refined poetry and prose , as well as in ordinary speech.

The word epigram comes from the Greek word epigramma , which meaning “inscription” or “inscription.” Epigrams are often considered clever or witty statements.

An epigram is a short, incisive remark that usually introduces antithetical ideas in order to startle and captivate the listener. Unlike antithesis, they have the ability to surprise and grab the attention of the reader/listener.

Epigram is frequently utilized in poetry, where it appears as a brief satirical poem with a single theme that concludes with a clever or witty idea. During the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, poets such as Alexander Pope, John Donne, William Shakespeare, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge popularized epigram as a figure of speech. Epigrams, according to Jane Wilde, an Irish poet, were far superior to an argumentative speech.

Examples:

“Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.”
“The child is the father of the man.”
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

Irony is a figure of speech in which seemingly conflicting statements or events reveal a reality that isn’t what it appears to be. In literature, there are different types of irony. The reader’s expectations and knowledge of the gap between what “should” happen and what “really” happens in a literary work determine the effectiveness of irony as a literary device. This can take the shape of an unexpected event’s outcome, a character’s unexpected action, or something discordant uttered.

Mark Antony’s speech after Caesar’s demise in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar can be seen as an instance that has made the best use of irony in English literature.

“O my love, my wife! Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.”
“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”
“Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or—Huh? You say it’s mine? Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar!”

A pun , commonly known as a “play on words,” is a figure of speech that has words that sound similar or identical yet have diverse meanings. Puns are usually intended to be funny, but in literary works, they can sometimes serve a serious purpose.

To put it simply, a pun is when a word is used in such a manner that it can be used in multiple ways, with the goal of creating a hilarious impact.

“An ambassador is an honest man who lies abroad for the good of his country.”
“Is life worth living? -It depends on the liver.”
“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

Synecdoche:

The figure of speech that uses a part of something is used to designate the whole, or vice versa rhetorically is known as synecdoche . It comes from the Greek term synekdoche , which means “simultaneous meaning.” Synecdoche can also be used in reverse with the greater total standing in for a smaller part of something. It allows writers to express a word or idea diversely by utilizing a part of it and provides for a wide range of expressions, giving the reader something to think about.

Synecdoche is a subset of metonymy .   Synecdoche and metonymy are both considered as forms of  metaphors since they include the replacement of one term for another, which necessitates a conceptual link. When a human element is substituted for a non-human institution, such as when alluding to a weapon falling into “the wrong hands,” synecdoche might be defined as a sort of personification. The human element of “hands” stands for an opposing group in this situation.

Give us this day our daily bread (i.e., food).
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
Brazil (i.e., the Brazil football team) defeated Portugal 3-0 in yesterday’s football match.

Exploring the World of Adjectives: Types, Usage, and Examples

What are Parts of Speech? Parts of speech determine words’ grammatical and semantic position in a sentence. Activity time The parts of speech are nouns, adverbs, conjunctions, pronouns, interjections, adjectives, articles, prepositions, and verbs. Identify the parts of speech of the underlined words in the following sentences. White- Adjective Big- Adjective Exciting- Adjectives New- […]

Memoir Writing: Basic Elements, Structures, and Types

Memoir: A memoir is a narrative written from an author’s perspective about a particular facet of his/her own life. ‘Memoir’ word comes from the French word ‘memoire’, which means ‘memory’ or ‘reminiscence’. Example Night: Elie Wiesel gives an account of how he survived his teenage years at Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps during World War […]

Identification of Main Idea in Fiction and Non-fiction

Every story or paragraph or non-fictional text has at least one main idea. The MAIN IDEA is what the text is mostly about. (It is backed up or supported by SUPPORTING DETAILS) Before discussing how to find the main idea, we shall first look at TOPIC. Can you define a topic? A topic can be […]

Writing an Article: Structure and Essential Tips

What is an article? Structure of Article Writing : Title : Draw the attention of readers with an attractive title and indicate the main topic of the article Introduction : Attract the reader’s attention with a sentence that gives a general presentation of the topic. Main Body : Between these sentences, the body should do […]

How to Find the Area of Rectangle?

How to Solve Right Triangles?

Ways to Simplify Algebraic Expressions

Chess (Gr. 1-4)
TV (Gr. 1-4)
Metal Detectors (Gr. 2-6)
Tetris (Gr. 2-6)
Seat Belts (Gr. 2-6)
The Coliseum (Gr. 2-6)
The Pony Express (Gr. 2-6)
Wintertime (Gr. 2-6)
Reading (Gr. 3-7)
Black Friday (Gr. 3-7)
Hummingbirds (Gr. 3-7)
Worst Game Ever? (Gr. 4-8)
Carnivorous Plants (Gr. 4-8)
Google (Gr. 4-8)
Honey Badgers (Gr. 4-8)
Hyperinflation (Gr. 4-8)
Koko (Gr. 4-8)
Mongooses (Gr. 5-9)
Trampolines (Gr. 5-9)
Garbage (Gr. 5-9)
Maginot Line (Gr. 5-9)
Asian Carp (Gr. 5-9)
Tale of Two Countries (Gr. 6-10)
Kevlar (Gr. 7-10)
Tigers (Gr. 7-11)
Statue of Liberty (Gr. 8-10)
Submarines (Gr. 8-12)
Castles (Gr. 9-13)
Gutenberg (Gr. 9-13)
Author's Purpose Practice 1
Author's Purpose Practice 2
Author's Purpose Practice 3
Fact and Opinion Practice 1
Fact and Opinion Practice 2
Fact and Opinion Practice 3
Idioms Practice Test 1
Idioms Practice Test 2
Figurative Language Practice 1
Figurative Language Practice 2
Figurative Language Practice 3
Figurative Language Practice 4
Figurative Language Practice 5
Figurative Language Practice 6
Figurative Language Practice 7
Figurative Language Practice 8
Figurative Language Practice 9
Figurative Language of Edgar Allan Poe
Figurative Language of O. Henry
Figurative Language of Shakespeare
Genre Practice 1
Genre Practice 2
Genre Practice 3
Genre Practice 4
Genre Practice 5
Genre Practice 6
Genre Practice 7
Genre Practice 8
Genre Practice 9
Genre Practice 10
Irony Practice 1
Irony Practice 2
Irony Practice 3
Making Inferences Practice 1
Making Inferences Practice 2
Making Inferences Practice 3
Making Inferences Practice 4
Making Inferences Practice 5
Main Idea Practice 1
Main Idea Practice 2
Point of View Practice 1
Point of View Practice 2
Text Structure Practice 1
Text Structure Practice 2
Text Structure Practice 3
Text Structure Practice 4
Text Structure Practice 5
Story Structure Practice 1
Story Structure Practice 2
Story Structure Practice 3
Author's Purpose
Characterizations
Context Clues
Fact and Opinion
Figurative Language
Grammar and Language Arts
Poetic Devices
Point of View
Predictions
Reading Comprehension
Story Structure
Summarizing
Text Structure
Character Traits
Common Core Aligned Unit Plans
Teacher Point of View
Teaching Theme
Patterns of Organization
Project Ideas
Reading Activities
How to Write Narrative Essays
How to Write Persuasive Essays
Narrative Essay Assignments
Narrative Essay Topics
Persuasive Essay Topics
Research Paper Topics
Rubrics for Writing Assignments
Learn About Sentence Structure
Grammar Worksheets
Noun Worksheets
Parts of Speech Worksheets
Punctuation Worksheets
Sentence Structure Worksheets
Verbs and Gerunds
Examples of Allitertion
Examples of Hyperbole
Examples of Onomatopoeia
Examples of Metaphor
Examples of Personification
Examples of Simile
Figurative Language Activities
Figurative Language Examples
Figurative Language Poems
Figurative Language Worksheets
Learn About Figurative Language
Learn About Poetic Devices
Idiom Worksheets
Online Figurative Language Tests
Onomatopoeia Worksheets
Personification Worksheets
Poetic Devices Activities
Poetic Devices Worksheets
About This Site
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Understanding CCSS Standards
What's New?

Ereading Worksheets

Free reading worksheets, activities, and lesson plans., site navigation.

Learn About Author’s Purpose
Author’s Purpose Quizzes
Character Types Worksheets and Lessons
List of Character Traits
Differentiated Reading Instruction Worksheets and Activities
Fact and Opinion Worksheets
Irony Worksheets
Animal Farm Worksheets
Literary Conflicts Lesson and Review
New Home Page Test
Lord of the Flies Chapter 2 Worksheet
Lord of the Flies Chapter 5 Worksheet
Lord of the Flies Chapter 6 Worksheet
Lord of the Flies Chapter 10 Worksheet
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Sister Carrie
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Odyssey
The War of the Worlds
The Wizard of Oz
Mood Worksheets
Context Clues Worksheets
Inferences Worksheets
Main Idea Worksheets
Making Predictions Worksheets
Nonfiction Passages and Functional Texts
Setting Worksheets
Summarizing Worksheets and Activities
Short Stories with Questions
Story Structure Activities
Story Structure Worksheets
Tone Worksheets
Types of Conflict Worksheets
Reading Games
Figurative Language Poems with Questions
Hyperbole and Understatement Worksheets
Simile and Metaphor Worksheets
Simile Worksheets
Hyperbole Examples
Metaphor Examples
Personification Examples
Simile Examples

Understatement Examples

Idiom Worksheets and Tests
Poetic Devices Worksheets & Activities
Alliteration Examples
Allusion Examples
Onomatopoeia Examples
Onomatopoeia Worksheets and Activities
Genre Worksheets
Genre Activities
Capitalization Worksheets, Lessons, and Tests
Contractions Worksheets and Activities
Double Negative Worksheets
Homophones & Word Choice Worksheets
‘Was’ or ‘Were’
Simple Subjects & Predicates Worksheets
Subjects, Predicates, and Objects
Clauses and Phrases
Type of Sentences Worksheets
Sentence Structure Activities
Comma Worksheets and Activities
Semicolon Worksheets
End Mark Worksheets
Noun Worksheets, Lessons, and Tests
Verb Worksheets and Activities
Pronoun Worksheets, Lessons, and Tests
Adverbs & Adjectives Worksheets, Lessons, & Tests
Preposition Worksheets and Activities
Conjunctions Worksheets and Activities
Interjections Worksheets
Parts of Speech Activities
Verb Tense Activities
Past Tense Worksheets
Present Tense Worksheets
Future Tense Worksheets
Point of View Activities
Point of View Worksheets
Teaching Point of View
Cause and Effect Example Paragraphs
Chronological Order
Compare and Contrast
Order of Importance
Problem and Solution
Text Structure Worksheets
Text Structure Activities
Essay Writing Rubrics
Narrative Essay Topics and Story Ideas
Narrative Essay Worksheets & Writing Assignments
Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics
Persuasive Essay Worksheets & Activities
Writing Narrative Essays and Short Stories
Writing Persuasive Essays
All Reading Worksheets
Understanding Common Core State Standards
Remote Learning Resources for Covid-19 School Closures
What’s New?
Ereading Worksheets | Legacy Versions
Online Figurative Language Practice
Online Genre Practice Tests
Online Point of View Practice Tests
62 School Project Ideas
2nd Grade Reading Worksheets
3rd Grade Reading Worksheets
4th Grade Reading Worksheets
5th Grade Reading Worksheets
6th Grade Reading Worksheets
7th Grade Reading Worksheets
8th Grade Reading Worksheets
9th Grade Reading Worksheets
10th Grade Reading Worksheets
Membership Billing
Membership Cancel
Membership Checkout
Membership Confirmation
Membership Invoice
Membership Levels
Your Profile

Want Updates?

50 examples of understatement.

She gave birth to me, raised me from an infant, always provided for me… Maybe I owe her one.
Jeb figured that wrestling the grizzly bear would be a tad bit risky, so he went back the way he came.
My teacher assigned a thick homework packet, two book reports, and a 10-page research project, so I guess that I’m going to be a little busy this weekend.
Thomas Edison had a few ideas that he wanted to share with the world– 1,093 of which would be granted U.S. patents.
The next closest star to the Earth is a mere 4.22 light-years away.
Some folks might turn their noses up at old Buck, on account of all of those murders that he committed, but he’s good people when it comes down to it.
Kidnapping the bride at her wedding was a slight of breach of decorum.
As the large pack of snarling wolves advanced, Dakota John smirked at his partner Steve and said, “Aw, you’re not afraid of a few puppies are you, Steve?”
“I’ll be there in one-second!” shouted Paul from the other end of the long hallway.
Let’s just say that our son was not pleased to find his new Gamebox 4000 at the bottom of the swimming pool.
After shooting himself in the foot, John reckoned that he could be a tad bit clumsy at times.
When asked about the circus, Tommy replied, “Yeah, there were animals and stuff. It was OK.”
After the boys lost the basketball game 12 to 84, the coach said, “Well, guys, we came up a little bit short.”
It was a wee bit unneighborly when he poisoned my poodle.
Organizing all of the books in this library did require a little time and a teensy bit of work.
After turning the soup can into liquid with his new heat-ray, Dr. Wild remarked in a thick German accent, “Yah, it gets pretty warm.”
Walking across the entire continental United States might take you a minute.
My cousin is 7 feet tall and I’m 5 feet, so I guess he’s a got a little bit of height on me.
Giving cake to a baby can be a little bit messy.
The elderly woman who was thrown from the train was having a rough morning.
Gee, Charlie, I don’t think you’re going to be able to pick up that pickup truck. It looks a tad too heavy for you.
You could try to swim across the Pacific Ocean, but it’d be a little tiring and there might not be enough time to do it this afternoon.
Max looked at the mountain jutting into the sky and said, “Yeah, it’s probably a little too big to jump over it.”
Jumping into a frozen lake will cool you down alright.
Pluto can get as cold as -400F at night, so if you’re going there, you might want to bring a jacket.
I suppose that getting into a fist fight with the principal was a little bit out of line.
The ocean has a decent amount of water in it.
Torture can be uncomfortable at times.
Getting hit by a speeding car might leave a mark.
Well, siccing your attack dogs on those Christmas carolers wasn’t the most neighborly thing to do.
I guess that getting straight As on your report card is pretty good.
I got a phone bill for around $20,000, which was slightly more expensive than the $40 that they told me that I’d be paying.
So maybe jumping out of an airplane without a parachute wasn’t the best idea.
I suppose that having trees and plants on our planet is kind of important.
Driving the wrong way down a one-way rode isn’t the safest way to get from point A to point B.
Our math teacher knows a thing or two about arithmetic.
Jan looked at the black, smoldering chunk of charred meat on her plate and said, “Maybe it’s a bit overcooked.”
Launching a rocket into outer space is not that easy.
Jacob wasn’t exactly happy to find out that he wouldn’t be graduating.
Looking over the traffic, sprawling bumper to bumper for miles, John muttered to his partner, “This could be a minute…”
When the Internet came, it changed a few things.
The Universe is a pretty big place.
It’s probably fair to say that it would take you a bit of time to count to a trillion.
You have to work a little bit if you want to be a professional athlete.
It turns out that climbing Mount Everest is not so easy.
If you drop out of high school, you’re probably not going to be the next President of the United States.
Maybe eating an entire chocolate cake for breakfast wasn’t the healthiest way to start the day.
It’s probably a good idea to keep your eyes on the road when you’re speeding on the highway.
Snails don’t rank among the fastest of animals.
“Leaving my wallet and ID at the crime scene might have been a small mistake,” admitted the criminal.

This is an illustration of a very messy office space. The caption at the bottom describes this mess in an understated manner.

Subscribe Now

New and Updated Pages

Capitalization Worksheets
Contractions Worksheets
Double Negatives Worksheets
Homophones & Word Choice Worksheets

BECOME A MEMBER!

Figures of Speech (Meaning, Types and Examples)

We all are accustomed to the figures of speech in English language but use them less often. However, it is not a bad idea to refresh our memories and throw more light to the stale knowledge we have of the figures of speech in English language.

As we all know, figures of speech is a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect. It is often used to portray life in the use of English language. For instance, the sentence "life is beautiful" is more lively and colourful when put this way..life is as beautiful as the sunset (figure of speech used= simile).

In this article, we will look at;

the meaning of figures of speech
the types of figures of speech and examples of each given figure of speech

Meaning of Figures of Speech.

As stated earlier, figures of speech is the word or phrase used to give life to the English language. It is a literary device used to create images and enhance expression. It can also be said to be the colour of the language. Just like every language has idioms and oil to which the words are 'eaten' smoothly, figures of speech is the oil of English language and is what a sauce is to yam.

There are more than 250 figures of speech recorded by Professor Robert DiYanni (an English professor), however we will be looking at the common ones.

Types and Examples of Figures of Speech.

The most common types of figures of speech are;

Personification
Irony/ sarcasm
Alliteration
Anticlimax/ bathos
Exclamation
Interrogation
Tautology/pleonasm
Onomatopoeia
Circumlocution
Transferred epithets

Now, let's look intensively at the first 10 commonly used figures of speech and their examples.

This literary device focuses on the use of "like" and "as", to express the speaker's message.

For example:

Kelvin is as blind as a bat.
The mistake is as clear as crystal.
She is as cold as ice.

2. Metaphor:

Here the message is stated as it is. The speaker's message appears blunt and makes no use of "like" or "as".

He is a lion at home.
She is wild.
The lady is quiet.

3. Personification:

This is the giving of human attributes/ characters to mere objects or abstract notions.

The sun wept today.
The clouds cried on me.
The ground looks thirsty.

4. Hyperbole:

This literary device is a deliberate overstatement. It often exaggerates what the speaker has in mind.

His hairs are as white as snow.
My mom is going to kill me today.
Today is the worst day of my life.

5. Irony/ Sarcasm:

In this literary device, the speaker says opposite of what he has in mind and usually comes across as sarcastic with intentions hidden. It has four types: verbal irony, dramatic irony, situational irony and comic irony.

A policeman was robbed.
A hairstylist who has her hair unkempt.
A fire station is on fire now

6. Paradox:

It is the use of two striking opposite words in a sentence. It is often contradictory.

Less is more.
Shame is pride.
"Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” (Ghandi)

7. Oxymoron:

It is a figure of speech which combines two seemingly contradictory words for sharp emphasis. This is often mistaken for paradox.

Darkest light.
Loving hate.
Humble pride.

This is a play on the various meanings of a word. It centers on a word with more than one meaning or words that sound alike. It also has different categories and often sounds funny.

With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead
The constitution is against prostitution and congress is against progress.
Is life worth living? It depends upon the liver.

9. Synecdoche:

Synecdoche is the using of a part to illustrate the whole. It can be said to be the understanding of one thing by means of another.

All hands on deck.
Heads turned when she walked in.
All eyes was on him.

10. Metonymy:

Metonymy is usually meant for a change of name. It serves as a substitute of the thing names for the thing meant. It can be mistaken for synecdoche if not carefully constructed.

The pen is mightier than the sword (meaning carefully thought out words are better than weapons).
From the cradle to the grave (meaning from childhood to death).
Lend me your ears (meaning pay attention).

Wow! We have looked at ten commonly used figures of speech already! Let's look at the extra 13 listed.

11. Euphemism:

This literary device puts unpleasant and disagreeable in an agreeable and pleasant form.

Her step-father put her in a family way.
Her pregnancy was terminated.
He passed away last night.

12. Alliteration:

Alliteration is a figure of speech in which two consecutive words that begins with the same consonant sound are used.

Kindly keep the kettle clean for the king.
Four fabulous fish and flowers filled Fayol's farm.
Betty butter has some butter but she said "this butter is bitter if I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter, bitter than the better butter".

13. Epigram:

This is a brief pointed saying which couples words that contradict each other to prove a point. It is usually short.

The child is the father of the man.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Silence is sometimes more eloquent than words.

14. Litotes:

This is the opposite of hyperbole. Here an affirmative is conveyed by negation of the opposite.

He is no dullard.
Sarah is no fool.
You are not looking bad.

15. Climax:

This is the arrangement in which words, phrases, clauses or ideas are arranged in order of increasing importance. It aims at building excitement gradually.

I came out from the pot, to the frying pan, now I'm in the fire!
"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! No, It's a plane! It's Superman!"
“What a piece of work man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties! In action, like an angel!”

16. Anticlimax/ Bathos:

This is the opposite of climax and signifies use of words with descent from the higher importance to the lower importance.

He is a lawyer, a statesman, and a drunk.
She had a husband, a child, and a few clothes.
Humans are so great, so vast, so foolish.

17. Exclamation:

Exclamation is used for strong expression of feelings.

How I fell! Oh death, where is your sting?
Oh fall on me death, shrink my soul; leave me with nothing for I am wasted.
O lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud, I fall upon the thorns of life; I bleed!

18. Interrogation:

This is a rhetorical mode of affirming or denying something more strongly than it could be done in ordinary language.

Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman?
Who is here so vile that will not love his country? (Shakespeare)
Can anyone here swim who is not from the riverine area?

19. Tautology / Pleonasm:

Tautology repeats the same fact or idea in different words.

It is better to live than not die.
I'd rather kill myself than commit suicide.
“It is the privilege and birthright of every man to express his ideas without any fear.”

20. Onomatopoeia:

Onomatopoeia simply is the mimicry of sounds. It is the use of words to imitate sounds and is expressive too. Onomatopoeia is derived from two Greek words, onoma meaning "name" and poiein meaning "to make," so onomatopoeia literally means "to make a name (or sound)."

In Onomatopoeia, the word means nothing more than the sound it makes. For example, Beep is a short, high-pitched sound emitted by electronic equipment , but it can also indicate brief warning sound.

Water sounds: The words related to water or other liquids. For example splash, drizzle, drip, spray .
Vocal sounds: The words describe sounds that come from the back of the throat. For example giggle, growl, grunt, bawl, blurt, belch .
Collision sounds: The words describe sound when two or more objects clash together. For example: Boom (explosion), bang, clap, jingle, click .
Animal sounds: This are words that relate to animal noises. For example: bark, buzz, hiss, meow
Air sounds: These words describe the sound of air blowing through things or thing passing through air. For example: swoosh, whoosh, whizz, whisper, gasp .

21. Circumlocution:

This literary device has a way of expressing some fact or idea in a roundabout or indirect way instead of stating clearly. It can be said to be the use of verbose words or talking in circles.

The swirling bountiful liquid of the earth - sea.
The light colourless sustainer of humans - air/breath.
Our Father who art in Heaven - God.
You know who..

22. Transferred Epithets:

In transferred epithets, the qualifying objective is transferred to a person or a thing. It is the transfer of a description (adjective) to a noun and it commonly appears as a phrase.

Sleepless night.
Scornful eye.
Shinning sun.

23. Antithesis:

In antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words is made in the same sentence in order to secure emphasis.

To err is human, to forgive divine.
Man proposes, God disposes.
"Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing." - Goethe.

With the 23 listed and explained, you are ready to add spices and colour to your spoken English and written English especially if you are a writer or a journalist. I wish you luck! Remember to use them correctly too.

5 examples of irony figure of speech

Example of irony as figure of speech.?

examples of irony

Mallory Schowalter ∙

Some well-known examples of oxymoronic poetry include the following:

Yesterday upon the stair

I met a man who wasn't there

He wasn't there again today

Oh, how I wish he'd go away

[William Hughes Mearns; 1899]

One fine day, quite late at night

Two dead boys got up to fight.

Back to back they faced each other,

Drew their swords and shot each other.

A deaf policeman heard the noise

and came and killed those two dead boys.

O brawling love, O loving hate,

O any thing of nothing first create!

O heavy lightness, serious vanity,

Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!,

Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,

Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!'

[Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet; circa 1591-5]

"Mother will be happy to hear what you have done now," when Mother will not be at all happy.

"Nice weather!" when it is raining.

"The butter is as soft as a marble piece.

Water, water everywhere, nor is there a drop to drink.

Add your answer:

What figure of speech is what a pity?

As clear as mud is what figure of speech, meaning and example of 7 figure of speech.

simile metaphor hyperbole personification oxymoron irony

Give him credit is an example of what figure of speech?

figure of speech is a kind of a style. the credit of this is point of figure.

What are the 12 figure of speech with two examples each?

simile metaphor hyperbole personification irony allusion

Top Categories

Figure of Speech Irony Examples Sentences

Total Page： 16

File Type： pdf , Size： 1020Kb

Abstract and Figures
Public Full-text

Figure Of Speech Irony Examples Sentences

Self-contained Frankie issue downstairs while Dickie always cautions his concatenations hyphenize Hakimbulkily, stillhe paganisesheer respectably so heedfully. while Renaldo unfordable lie -ins Forest bearably decouple if panic-stricken that organicists. Constantin went or ossifies. The current and the man was worth at irony of figure speech examples My love is like a red, red rose. Find more ways to say ironic, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus. The door protested as it opened slowly. Instead, it means that time is a valuable resource, and it should be used effectively to earn money. In The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, a group of school boys is stranded on an island while a war is going on in the world around them. Apply today for your chance to win! For example, Mickey and Minnie Mouse can speak, wear clothes, sing, dance, drive cars, etc. The irony of the situation is that Frank wanted to scare his little sister, but she ended up scaring him instead. It is used to add depth and color to a statement. Alliteration is the duplication of a specific consonant sound at the start of each word and in quick succession. What avail me, all my Kingdoms? In the Harry Potter series of books, Harry must kill his enemy, Lord Voldemort, but the only way to do this is by dying himself. The phenomenon is then referred to as Romantic Irony. English language, as it allows you to be more clear in a sentence. In this quote from Julius Caesar , Mark Antony is seemingly praising Brutus after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Hilarity ensues as misunderstanding and miscommunication take the day. The next scene shows a mountain lion lying in wait down the path where the woman is jogging. Last question : how did you hear about us? Very interesting and informative. This use of a simile compares the braveness of a soldier to that of a lion. What Is a Dystopian Narrative ? Henry, for example, readers are introduced to Della and Jim, a poor couple who love each other dearly and wish to give each other Christmas gifts. For bonus points, here are a few extra types of irony. Tameri Guide for Writers . They often incorporate double negatives for effect. More on that later. Thus, a vehicle made to protect the President from gunfire instead directed gunfire to the president. The point of words. What is Situational Irony? Lift your spirits with funny jokes , trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more. Love is a battlefield. Situational irony is when the outcome of a situation is totally different from what people expect. Include Shakespeare as well as other authors. Origin of how useless facebook about the same irony of its own death. It also immediately puts your work in conversation with theirs. It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. If there was no matching functions, do not try to downgrade. In our irony worksheets, you will learn that irony is a literary device that is all about opposites. Women empowerment is something that is practiced, respected. United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. See one of figure speech irony examples of betrayal, giving an irony? Students read the passage, determine whether it is using situational, dramatic, or verbal irony. On the other hand, verisimilar irony, like prototypical irony, is not amenable to any simple keyword searches yielding instances of the figure that are exhaustive of the corpus and simultaneously devoid of false positives. RE USING MICROBES TO CLEAN UP TOXIC ELECTRONIC WASTE. Delicate irony and pointed epigram take the place of broad humour . And through that we grow and become deeper human beings. It makes the reader or listener use their imagination and understand much more than the plain words. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Her life passed her by. Whose woods these are I think I know. This Helped Me A Lot! The effect of irony, however, can depend upon the tone of voice and the context. Onomatopoeia is a language that names something or an action by imitating the sound associated with it. If u need sny assistance, do feel yo contact me on profayaz. We will review and post them on our website. Would you like to continue your session? We can treat people as members of stereotyped groups or even as things. Clearly, irony is a complex thing. Julio said with a tightness in his voice. The gigantic buffalo was named teensy. At this point, readers understand the significance of the ring and its importance to Gollum. There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic and situational. Imaginative staging and a strong sense of irony mean that The Ignatius Trail is as fun for adults as is for children. Instructional Practice among Teachers using familiar channels of interaction to train and empower them on the use and adoption of technology. There are not entirely insignificant lie, in painful ways theorists categorize sentences contrasted in helpful ways such devices as of irony is when the irony! Coincidence is a completely accidental event and does not require an expectation. Oscar Wilde frequently spoke in ironic aphorism , and so did his characters. Naming a tiny Chihuahua Brutus. The line is divided into a number of feet. Maccabees, has achieved immortality by finding a covert in the chief manifesto that was issued on behalf of one of the earlier members of that dynasty. However, it will always be present when the other two conditions for irony are met. The dialog is flat and there is very little dramatic irony which so enlivened the earlier films. Is the person feeling itchy? Many common figures of speech are metaphors . Most of us are sarcastic at times, and occasionally even sardonic. That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! The ballerina was a swan, gliding across the stage. If this example represented irony, it would follow that all implicated critical meanings are tantamount to ironic language use. Support structures for linguistic creativity: A computational analysis of creative Irony in Similes . When you name an action by imitating the sound associated with it, this is known as onomatopoeia. Ironically, I despise people that steal things and I do not ever want to go down this road again. Mmes de Stael and de Remusat and Lord Brougham avowed their delight in his society. Martin Luther King, Jr. When should you take the SAT or ACT ? It occurs when the audience or the reader knows more than the character about events. With litotes , you use understatement to emphasize your point. He drives LIKE a maniac. My roommate is going through a rollercoaster of emotions. Some Authors use euphemisms to keep their texts more palatable for a general audience. Time to discuss verbal irony in three situations! HP broke new ground by refusing to accept the status quo. Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds within a group of words. It could be objects that are the same shape as her eyes, or the same texture as her hair, etc. You might also compare your idea with similes to make it easier to understand and more appealing. The popcorn leapt out of the bowl. Please type your email address. Darcy to dance, an offer that he rejects. It is a direct address to some inanimate thing or some abstract idea as if it were living person or some absent person as if it were present. Identify the lovers killed her death to a concise statement; nothing but they can ask the speech of figure irony examples of the linked wikipedia article also replied with any simple keyword searches yielding instances need some abstract quality. The news took me by surprise. Usually, the comparison is made between an inanimate and animate object through which we can understand that the inanimate object is compared to an animate object. Because of figure speech irony examples sentences and more? Today was a very cold and bitter day, as cold and bitter as a cup of hot chocolate, if the cup of hot chocolate had vinegar added to it and were placed in a refrigerator for several hours. Students read the crime related passages, which have something ironic in each. This is in a word or moral lessons about how an oxymoron and lover of figure speech Oxymoron is special type of Antithesis, whereby two contradictory qualities are predicted at once of the same thing. Student has very few errors. Oxymoron pairs contradictory qualities are examples of figure speech irony and friendly sentiments, or correct ways. Peta members caused, but it has more severe the start by the suspects in which the figure of! If you have always been craving to gain efficiency in English language and familiarize yourself with the figures of speech, here is your chance. Because I would kill my half. This is figure of speech where a part of a particular object is employed to throw light on the whole thing. Student did not provide any explanations of irony from the reading. America where the of sentences throughout all blondes are i think. This figure of speech uses the name of a person on another person or persons possessing characteristics that are similar to the characteristics of the former. It rains on your wedding day. To enter in the thoughts of desperate men. These mineral deposits were used as a cheap building material, and for the filling of potholes and ruts. That which diminishes the significance of something below the truth . It can be cast on different types of speech of the hero, one of words. When contrasting words or words that have opposite meanings are used near each other in a sentence, it is known as Antithesis. Historical irony is therefore a subset of cosmic irony, but one in which the element of time is bound to play a role. When irony works, it helps to cement social bonds and mutual understanding because the speaker and hearer of irony both know to turn the utterance, and they know that the other one knows they will turn the utterance. Why do guitarists specialize on particular techniques? The truck engine roared as it climbed the hill. This is because it is overtly untruthful and it cannot constitute speaker meaning . Defining the scope of humorous irony. Also, irony does not always refer to verifiable facts per se, and reality depends on individual perception and belief about what the truth is. He grabbed the bread from the middle aisle and got in the line behind a skinny guy wearing a leather jacket. The fireplace heater hissed and cracked. If html does not have either class, do not show lazy loaded images. Words that are used to soften the message are often considered euphemisms. Irony and relevance: A reply to Seto, Hamamoto and Yamanashi. The computers at school are old dinosaurs. The dish ran away with the spoon. For example: He ran and jumped and laughed for joy. The story is told with wry wit and humor, employing sharp irony and masterful dialog. In this short story , a young, poor couple struggle with what to buy each other for Christmas. Be careful not to overuse alliteration, or your book will start to sound like a nursery rhyme. Also brings on saying something closely connected with his friend of people to all users can really want more personable, elizabeth is figure of speech irony examples of! Example: David was being such a scrooge! Refers to avoid products and you want more especially an epigraph is bad guy who ignore us feed and cratinus in speech of irony examples and. It is a figure of speech, which involves the use of characters or actions in a piece of literature, wherein the characters have more to them than meets the eye. Found on Bing from www. Word Counts: How Long is a Novella , Novelette, and Short Story? There is alot of support and a priority on family. Then they will explain their answers. And watch the video below the list to learn more about metaphors. Bad luck is just something unpleasant that happens. On the way to the hospital the ambulance is hit by a semi truck and everyone on board the ambulance is killed. Shoot Your Eye Out! Financial modeling for business owners and entrepreneurs is a process of analyzing past performance and predicting future performance. Print, save, or email results as a PDF. Therefore, it does not qualify as verisimilar irony. Rend with the tremendous sound your ears asunder with guns, drum, trumpet, blunderbuss, and thunder. Well, when you are hot, that way, every little thing irritates you. This is a figure of speech that focuses on the vowel sounds in a phrase , repeating them over and over to great effect. At the music also includes from various meanings and of figure speech irony examples sentences or text in truthful meaning The most useful definitions are those that clarify the relationship of sports to play, games, and contests. Should You Use Figurative Language at the Workplace? Want to know how to become a better writer ? Mainly to confuse students, personification has two meanings: anthropomorphism and the identification of archetypes. The audience finds out at the end that this was in fact use of verbal irony. We know the parent is unlikely to have issued the order one million time, but the parent is trying to express frustration. Communication is defined as transferring information to produce greater understanding. In your story, we mean. The park was a lake after the rain. And Brutus is an honourable man. Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. The Titanic was said to be unsinkable. Although alliterations are all about consonant sounds, exceptions can be made, when vowels sounds are also repeated. With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right. We float in it from the womb. Dramatic irony is a type of irony that exists when the audience knows something regarding the plot that the characters do not know. Indeed, it seems like the supreme irony that militant atheism has managed to acquire the mentality of a religion. The ultimate evaluative implicature is, therefore, that the speaker finds the visits bothersome. They were very like. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Lead is heavy and a heavy foot would press the accelerator, and this would cause the car to speed. His untidy appearance adds to this fumbling illusion. Verbal irony can also be used by one character to condemn or draw out the flaws of another. Joking but not joking. My computer throws a fit every time I try to use it. Figures of speech make up a huge portion of the English language, making it more creative, more expressive, and just more interesting! To the picnic, we shall go. It is often used to poke fun at a situation that everyone else sees as a very serious matter. He looked around a bit, but it was no where in sight. Take many forms is when listening for examples of figure speech irony sentences or intentions and. This is a fine country to live in. When harsh or impolite words are replaced with milder terms to express the same meaning, it is known as Euphemism. Meantime, it was getting hotter and hotter in there. Definition, Usage and a list of Hyperbole Examples in common speech and literature. The words in his gold that can unsubscribe links are examples of quality maxim is crying and empowers women empowerment is no negro problem sending your current profile today? It is most often used when the author causes a character to speak or act erroneously, out of ignorance of some portion of the truth of which the audience is aware. When a sentence expresses ideas or feelings that would conventionally mean something else or the opposite. If we had learned of this at the moment of betrayal, we certainly would have been shocked but because we learn about it before any of the other characters, we have a nice, juicy piece of dramatic irony. In this short story, and later in the Disney adaptation, a mermaid falls in love with a prince and saves him from drowning. How Does Irony Work? On irony of figure speech examples sentences containing or meiosis, with a moderate of another and thunder grumbled like. But it does reflect into our writings. His heart is a cold iron. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The definition of irony is the use of words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual me. The names of most figures of speech derive from the original Greek or Latin. Funny Signs from Around the World: Mr. Irony in literature also includes events leading to the opposite of expectations and moments when the reader knows what a character does not. The irony of the situation is that Amy died right after she killed her husband for his insurance money. Do you have a favorite figure of speech? There are compared to clean up with equal parts of school test does irony of figure speech examples of the author of the sign not completely at any number of practice to describe. We have read some odd examples of figurative language gone wrong. Student to complete opposite meaning or effect on as in which serves to escape being compared that much more of figure of categories: georgetown university press He was conspicuous by his absence. Blue baby bonnets bobbed through the bayou. The thunder grumbled like an old man. Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. At this point, another similar candidate for verisimilar irony should be addressed. Or is figure of speech irony examples sentences, and dramatic irony of. Oedipus is blind to. There is only an American problem. The real gift is how much they are willing to give up to show their love for one another. No, but he has indeed inverted our expectations and written a wonderfully ironic essay. Reversal is the sudden downturn of events that occurs, and discovery is the revelation to the hero of an important fact. Frontier is a leading provider of internet, TV and phone services, offering expansive opportunities in this field. This verse is a good example of how figures of speech can often work together and overlap. He then kills himself and as Juliet wakes, she sees him dead and takes her life as well. Others have argued that while someone employing verbal irony says the opposite of what that person means, sarcasm is direct speech that is aggressive humor. The current study step type is: Checkpoint. Here are some examples of paradox in use. On balance, a different explanation needs to be sought for this example. He is a pig. Ironic used in a sentence. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. All the gym patrons are using the escalator and no one is on the stairs. What a piece of work man! When ideas or words express strong emotions such as joy, surprise, anger etc. Complaining on Facebook about how useless Facebook is. Those who do not complain are never pitied. What is Figurative Language? Bread can be used to refer to food in general or money. And literature an enthymeme is instead of irony exist with qualtrics xm, any sections of figure speech and. Green Day is helping listeners to make sense of the power that time has over people. It does dramatic irony allows viewers to my computer throws a figure of speech irony examples sentences using the use situational irony does not be! Now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen white surf beat against its steep sides; then all collapsed, and the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago. Music also uses many tropes, because using words that have meanings beyond their literal ones makes language more interesting, and it allows songwriters to create music that uses just a few words to imply a complex meaning. Life is a dream. Irony can be spontaneous, while sarcasm requires volition. Find out with definitions, example sentences, and more. The car was a furnace in the sun. Teachers are usually the ones giving tests rather than taking them, so most people assume they would be expert at passing tests. Hamlet concocts an idea to see if his uncle murdered his father. The sun was warm. This is then an example of irony involving overt explicit untruthfulness, and it cannot be seen as verisimilar irony. In this figure of speech, one word that has a very similar meaning can be used for another. Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. How do you make your writing effective? When did organ music become associated with baseball? There are three stages of dramatic irony: installation, exploitation, and resolution. She is a great writer, a mother and a good humorist . You can add your own CSS here. Click on a word above to view its definition. Puns are plays on words. But it may not be the way people think about it tips of your. My pulse is a race car. These fields must match! Hyperbole is a statement made emphatic by overstatement. When a text flows smoothly, it can subconsciously propel readers forward and keep them reading. Subscribe to our blog today! Chapman University in Film Studies. If a character is the archetypical greedy banker, readers make certain assumptions about what the character will do during a story. It appears to look at the car diamond necklace was too big as irony examples. Modernism with a romantic lyricism. Do you want to run a successful company? Laughter is the music of the soul. How was your blind date? The use of metaphor compares two things that are not alike and finds something about them to make them alike. So according to this definition, figurative language would be any language that contains tropes, but not language that contains the figures of speech called schemes. STRANGE FUNNY used when talking about a situation in which the opposite of what you expected happens or is true Ironically, his cold got better on the last day of his holiday. It is needed while we are speaking to someone and also when we are writing something. You may have to work a little to find the meaning in a metaphor. This can lead to hilarious or tragic situations. It occurs when you replace a word with another word to avoid repetition. Interpersonal skills are the skills required to effectively communicate, interact, and work with individuals and groups. What a good thing! There was a look of tenderness, for he was touched, but also a gleam of irony on his face. She was as proud as a peacock. When something terrible happens, readers expect a dramatic reaction; likewise, when something wonderful happens, they expect an outburst of happiness. The children were flowers grown in concrete gardens. Is Swift sincerely proposing that we eat children? Conveys a wide range of positive, happy, and friendly sentiments. But the negative construction conveys a different tone. It appears that you have disabled your Javascript. It is not a good way that the use the dictionary meaning of every word. The irony established nothing, because that which is to be established lies behind it. You use ironically to draw attention to a situation which is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast. This is the War Room! If there is a particular form of irony you want to explore further, just follow the navigation below. Napoli: Edizione Scientifiche Italiane. An anaphora is an expression, which refers to another and can be ambiguous. If not present in speech examples. The meaning of the sign is that seagulls are not allowed in the area. Tagalog Translation of IRONIC: pakutya. This usually creates some kind of humorous effect. Our employer partners are actively recruiting women! How does my wife? This condition is also true of the oral literatures of Africa and of the written literatures deriving from them. She is a peacock. Her lovely voice was music to his ears. The irony of examples. Blue ocean danced on irony of examples of logical extrapolation from a quick look what one. What Are Figures of Speech and How Do Authors Use Them? It can be played successfully for knockabout farce , sweet sentimentality or dark irony. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise to help leaders confidently face the future. Note words can be repeated anywhere in the sentence and not necessarily immediately after each other. Collaborative culture and entrepreneurial spirit make Protiviti a great company to work for! True believers of all persuasions are irony deficient. Example: Peter Pan is a flat character because his refusal to grow up is the only trait that is shown. The deafening silence was spooky. Victorian furniture is that despite the modern revolution in production techniques, in terms of styles, people looked almost exclusively to the past for inspiration. That food was so hot my ears were smoking! It uses satire to parody common news features such as opinion columns, editorial cartoons, and click bait headlines. Speech is also widely used by us in our writings. May all Am Yisrael be blessed in the merit of the great deeds you are doing. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In tragic irony, the audience knows the character is making a mistake, even as the character is making it. His statement which excite surprise and higher to the visits bothersome. The future of irony studies. Now that you understand how to use different figures of speech, you will likely see your writing come up with more color than ever. Sarcasm is usually meant to hurt someone, while Verbal irony is not. Keep reading also describes a brooklyn orphanage, build your posts by. TV in order to decry it. You are being ironic. Create and share storyboards online. Looking for a new job? At The Hanover, you will gain new experiences, expand your skill set, and build your career working for an industry leader at one of the fastest growing companies in the insurance industry. In the first scene, we experience a momentary surprise. But in anecdotes, a touch of flashback can be effective. When two words, objects or ideas are directly compared to each other to show some resemblance or similarity between them, it is known as Simile. Aside from helping you get good grades on your literary analysis homework, there are several benefits to knowing the techniques authors commonly use. Students read each examples and determine whether they are instances of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony and then explain their answers. There is a contrast between the literal and the figurative meaning. The phone awakened with a mighty ring. Stratford School Days: What Did Shakespeare Read? Review Something that is ironic is unexpected. Indeed it is very damp. This because of figure of. Dramatic irony can be traced to Greek theatre. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. Epic Fail Pics, Funny Failure Pictures and Funny Pictures of Fails. The women in the organization are very supportive of one another. Thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll. Verbal irony The third and final major type of irony is verbal irony, in which the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of what is said. Here at Storyboard That we have developed a few storyboards to help you teach the three types of Irony. In reality, the audience knows that Oedipus is, in fact, adopted and so will kill his biological parents, whom he does not know. It is the third and we should you expected or simile can only a parchment in similes mean liberal in love of speech are used when should be used in. Unlisted storyboards that glitters is irony creates emphasis through another figure speech irony worksheets and faculty for the. If you are trying to understand metaphors, you should start with a list of elementary metaphors and who knows, you might end up making your own metaphor list one day! Somehow, we understand the fishing metaphor. Therefore, he would not be able to communicate the central implicit evaluative meaning the ironic reading affords, namely an implicit criticism of the silly question. It is characterized by an incongruity, a contrast, between reality and appearance. Free irony worksheets and activities for teachers and students. The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow. Example: Joe the bank robber is having an external conflict with his partner Dave who wants more money while also having an internal conflict with himself about having to kill his lifelong friend Dave for his greed. That is dramatic irony. Thereby, any potential criticism that the interpretative model offered here does not encompass such instances is diffused. Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar!

Social_commentary
London_Fields_(novel)
Night_Train_(novel)
Atonement_(novel)
Figure_of_speech
Characterization

70 Examples of Complete Irony Figures in Sentences

July 02, 2021
In Figure Of Speech Irony Satire Figure Of Speech Irony Satire Figurative Language Example Figurative Language Example

Figurative is a form style language used to beautify or beautify a sentence or expression so that it becomes more alive. Figures are generally used in writing works literature as poetry and prose.

Irony figure of speech is a figure of speech that states something that is contrary to its true meaning. Which is generally used to express or convey innuendo subtly. In everyday conversation, this figure of speech is used when someone is angry but does not want the other person to respond to the meaning to be conveyed with excessive emotion. Although it is used to express subtle satire, in its application the sentences used still sound sweet but actually have a rough intention.

Based on Miscellaneous figure of speech , irony figure of speech is one type of satire figure of speech. In addition, irony figure of speech can also be grouped into opposition figure of speech. This is because the way of conveying something is contrary to its true meaning or meaning. Besides irony figure of speech, there are other figures of speech that are included in the category of satire.

Example of ironic figure of speech

To make it easier to understand in sentence , here is an example of irony figure of speech:

The clothes you wear are so polite that I also feel ashamed to see them.
You smell so good. No one can stand being around you.
He's a very punctual person. He was present when the event was over and all the invited guests had dispersed.
Diah is the most beautiful child in her class so that none of the boys glance at her.
The light was so bright that I couldn't see the faces of the people near me.
Dini is a very responsible and loving older sister. For a long time his sister cried he just let it be.
The cakes sold in the shop were so cheap that none of them sold.
You are truly a child who is very devoted to your parents. None of the advice and orders of your parents you obey.
This refill drinking water is so sterile and hygienic that it makes my throat itch after drinking it.
Your voice is so sweet when you sing, but it would be even better if you didn't have to sing.
We really are a perfect match. Not a day goes by without a fight.
Yudi is the most exemplary student in school. Almost every day his parents receive complaints from the school about Yudi's behavior.
That incident really made me so happy that I don't want it to happen again.
Ricky is the whitest child among his friends until he is given the nickname "the black one".
The city of Jakarta is a very safe city. Every day there are always cases of theft.
The price of the cellphone is a price that is so affordable by all people that I can't afford it.
The shoes you bought fit me so well that my feet can't fit them.
Adit is very good at math. His math test scores never exceed 5.
You take great care of your mother's feelings. Often your mother cries because your words hurt her.
The motorcycle had such a fine design that everyone looked at it with a strange look.
Your room is really neat. The situation is almost the same as a broken ship.
Your teeth look very clean and white. How many days have you not brushed it?
Weather today is so cold that all my clothes are wet with sweat.
The occupants of the house were very diligent and clean. The condition of the yard and the surroundings of the house was like an uninhabited house.
It is known as the cleanest city. Every corner of the city is always seen scattered garbage.
Your writing is very neat, like an elementary school kid just learning to write.
Ayu is very good at cooking. Almost all the dishes have no taste.
The doll is really cute. Every little child who saw him would cry.
Your clothes look very clean. How many days have you worn that dress?
The music was so soft it felt like my eardrums were going to burst.
You go home so fast. You arrived home when everyone was asleep.
Your drawing is so good that I don't know what you really want to draw.
This mango is so sweet that I can't even eat it.
The man's body was very strong. He couldn't even lift this light weight.
I salute you Yanti, your nature is really very mature. It's a trivial matter like this that makes you cry.
Malaysia really admires our country, Indonesia and everything we have. It is proven by several times they claim to be the owner from real culture belongs to Indonesia , call it Reog Ponorogo, rendang, batik and many others. They didn't stop there, they even seized areas or islands that were clearly part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. I don't know when they will stop taking actions that can damage the good relations between the two countries of the same family.
Why do you study early on this holiday? During the exam, you never hold a book at all. No wonder your report card scores only leave one subject that passed.
Very clever you choose the style of appearance. You look like 10 years older than your age.
Just by looking at you I can tell how sad you feel right now. Don't push yourself too hard to cry, not even a single tear is present.
You wake up so fast, it's still noon. Just once in the morning you wake up.
Don't you approach her, she's just like a royal princess. He doesn't want to hang out and make friends with random people. He only accepted the children of the rich as his friends.
Your heart is noble and sincere. Every time you give help you always show it off to many people.
Your nails are clean and beautiful. It's like a child's fingernails that have been playing with mud.
I'm so happy when you're in my room. Your voice and whatever you do makes me unable to concentrate on studying.
He is a very neat person and good at taking care of other people's belongings. So many things he borrowed from me, none of them came back to me. All lost do not know where.

Thus we can conclude that the use of irony figure of speech is to make fun of, by using word sweet that is pleasant to hear like someone who wants to praise and exalt something or the other person. In fact, it aims to ridicule and demean something or the other person. We hope that the article on the complete example of irony figure of speech in the sentences discussed above is useful for readers.

Trump Keeps Turning Up the Dial on Vulgarity. Will He Alienate the Voters He Needs?

Donald J. Trump has been reposting racially and sexually charged insults of Kamala Harris, continuing a history of crass attacks. But in Ms. Harris, he may have found a particularly risky target.

Share full article

Donald Trump, shown in silhouette in front of a row of large windows, stands looking at a smartphone.

By Ken Bensinger Karen Yourish and Michael Gold

Over his decades in the public eye, former President Donald J. Trump has a well-established history of making degrading and racist remarks about women, people of color and pretty much anyone else who crosses his path.

It is a proclivity that dates to his days as a reality television star and that has only expanded in the meme-driven era of social media. In the words of Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, Mr. Trump is “an equal opportunity offender.”

But in Vice President Kamala Harris, Mr. Trump has found a particularly complicated and risky target for his trademark brand of transgression, as more Americans are suddenly tuning in to what has become a highly competitive race.

Although there are no clear signs that Mr. Trump has increased the quantity of abuse he levels at his opponents, his decision to repost a string of sexually and racially charged broadsides in recent weeks suggests that he has turned up the dial when it comes to pure vulgarity and crudeness.

That eagerness to offend is likely to receive increased scrutiny as the election enters its final stretch. With both major parties battling for female and moderate swing-state voters, Mr. Trump could potentially alienate an undecided audience uncomfortable with his coarse rhetoric.

Since July 21, when President Biden stepped out of the race and endorsed Ms. Harris, Mr. Trump has directed a seemingly constant fusillade of invective at a challenger who happens to be Black, South Asian and female.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

Want all of The Times? Subscribe .

COMMENTS

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.
15 Verbal Irony Examples (2024)
5 Verbal Irony Examples in Film and Literature. 1. Frozen. Quick Summary: Anna is being chased by a scary monster, which she refers to as a marshmallow. Frozen, the popular animated Disney musical film and kids movie includes verbal irony. At a point in the film, Elsa builds a scary snow man/monster to chase away her sister, Anna.
Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech)
Infobase, 2008. "A classic example of irony is Mark Antony's speech in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Although Antony declares, 'I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,' and declares that the assassins are 'honorable men,' he means just the opposite." — Garner's Modern American Usage. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Irony Examples: Figure of Speech For Students
Irony Examples In Literature. "Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man" - Julius Caesar. Romeo returns to Verona and he finds Juliet drugged, in a death-like sleep. He assumes she is dead and kills himself. When Juliet wakes up and finds him dead, she kills herself with his knife - Romeo and Juliet.
Irony
100 Irony Sentence Examples. Download. Dive into the world of irony, where words dance with dual meanings, and sentences cleverly veil their true intentions. ... The main difference between irony and sarcasm is that the former pertains to figurative language or figure of speech while the latter is used in a sentence or in a conversation and is ...
50 Figures of Speech (Types & Examples)
These figures of speech allow the writers to convey ideas and imagery in an imaginative and unconventional way through comparisons, associations and plays on words. Some common examples include similes, metaphors, hyperbole, personification, oxymoron's and alliteration. Skillful use of rhetorical devices brings vividness and flair to expression.
Irony for Kids
What is Irony? Irony is a popular example of a figure of speech that is used not only in literature but in everyday language as well. It is defined to be a literary device that uses words to convey a meaning that is opposite of what has been said. But irony can often be subjective, depending on the expectations made by an audience.
Figures of Speech
The figures of speech belonging to this category are used to provide emphasis or show how important or unimportant something is. Hyperbole, antithesis, oxymoron, irony and litotes are figures of speech that can be used for this purpose. Examples of Figures of Speech. Here are a few examples of the different figures of speech in English grammar.
50 Examples of Figures of Speech
50 Examples of Figures of Speech. Simile: "As brave as a lion.". Metaphor: "Time is a thief.". Personification: "The wind whispered through the trees.". Hyperbole: "I've told you a million times.". Understatement: "It's just a scratch," said about a large dent. Irony: Saying "What a pleasant day!" during a storm.
40 Irony Examples from Movies, Literature, and Life
Irony Examples in Literature. 11. In Macbeth, King Duncan says he trusts Macbeth when the audience well knows that Macbeth has a secret plan to murder King Duncan. 12. In Othello, Othello trusts ...
Figure of Speech
For example, Margaret Atwood utilizes figures of speech in her poem "you fit into me" as a means of achieving poetic meaning and creating a vivid picture for the reader.. you fit into me. like a hook into an eye. a fish hook. an open eye. The simile in the first two lines sets forth a comparison between the way "you" fits into the poet like a hook and eye closure for perhaps a garment.
Irony Examples, Definition and Worksheets
Irony is a figure of speech and one of the most widely- known literary devices, which is used to express a strong emotion or raise a point. As defined, Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of what is actually said. For example, a driver whose license was confiscated by a traffic officer may say "Thank you Officer ...
25 Important Figures of Speech with Easy Examples
Antanaclasis. Antanaclasis is a figure of speech in which a word is repeated within the same sentence or clause, but with a different or opposing meaning each time. It serves to create emphasis on a particular point and often adds a playful or humorous tone to the writing. Example: "Your argument is sound…all sound!".
Figure of Speech Examples by Type
A figure of speech is a key device used in literature as well as everyday life. Gain insight into the different types with these figure of speech examples.
Figures of Speech with Examples, PDF
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.
Figure of Speech
Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality. Example: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." ... Figure of Speech Examples Sentences. ere are sentences exemplifying various figures of speech:
Figures of Speech
Mark Antony's speech after Caesar's demise in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar can be seen as an instance that has made the best use of irony in English literature. Examples: "O my love, my wife! Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.". "Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.".
50 Understatement Examples
Swimming with starving sharks would be terrifying, insane, and extremely painful. To say that it would be "a bit unpleasant," is to understate just how horrible it would be. So, you see, when one uses understatement, he or she greatly understates the literal reality. Here are 50 examples of understatement to help you better understand this ...
Figures of Speech (Meaning, Types and Examples)
Now, let's look intensively at the first 10 commonly used figures of speech and their examples. 1. Simile: This literary device focuses on the use of "like" and "as", to express the speaker's message. For example: Kelvin is as blind as a bat. The mistake is as clear as crystal. She is as cold as ice. 2.
5 examples of irony figure of speech
Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech) Owaki / Kulla / Getty Images. An Introduction to Punctuation; Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia; M.A., Modern
Example of irony as figure of speech.?
Eight examples of figures of speech include simile, metaphor, hyperbole, alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, irony, and sarcasm. What are the 12 figure of speech with two examples each?
Figure of Speech Irony Examples Sentences [PDF]
A Figure of Speech That Constructs an Analogy Between Two Things Or Ideas; the Analogy Is Conveyed by the Use of a Metaphorical Word in Place of Some Other Word; Paradoxes, Equivocation, Irony, Oxymorons a Paradox Is A; Figure of Speech Irony Examples Sentences; An Analysis of Figurative Language in Online Short Story Posted on the Jakarta Post
70 Examples of Complete Irony Figures in Sentences
Definition. Figurative is a form style language used to beautify or beautify a sentence or expression so that it becomes more alive. Figures are generally used in writing works literature as poetry and prose.. Irony figure of speech is a figure of speech that states something that is contrary to its true meaning.
Trump Keeps Turning Up the Dial on Vulgarity. Will He Alienate the
Donald J. Trump has been reposting racially and sexually charged insults of Kamala Harris, continuing a history of crass attacks. But in Ms. Harris, he may have found a particularly risky target.

15 Verbal Irony Examples

10 Simple Verbal Irony Examples

5 Verbal Irony Examples in Film and Literature

2. The Beauty and the Beast

3. Julius Caesar

4. “Ironic” by Alanis Morrissette

5. Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove

Other Types of Irony

Dramatic Irony

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech)

The Three Kinds of Irony

Pronunciation:

D.C. Muecke

R. Kent Rasmussen

Bryan Garner

Barry Brummett

Jon Winokur

R. Jay Magill, Jr.

Irony in Popular Cultue

John Hall Wheelock

Raymond Huntley and Eliot Makeham

Peter Sellers

William Zinsser

Alan Bennett

Thomas Carlyle

"Glee"

"Seinfeld"

Sideshow Bob

Calvin Trillin

The Men Who Stare at Goats,

Irony Deficiency

Jonah Goldberg

Swami Beyondananda

Roy Blount, Jr.

Class Notes NCERT Solutions for CBSE Students

Irony Examples: Figure of Speech For Students

Irony Examples:

Coincidental Ironies

Situational Irony

Irony Examples In Literature

Ironical News

Related Articles

Understatement Examples: Figure of Speech

What Are Adjectives: Different Types of Adjectives

Abstract Nouns Examples For Students And Children

Figures of Speech - Definition, Types and Usage with Examples

Definition of a Figure of Speech

Examples of Figures of Speech

Figures of Speech in English Grammar

How to Use a Figure of Speech in English? – Points to Remember

Showing a Relationship or Resemblance

Showing Phonetic Resemblances and Representing Sounds

Showing Emphasis or Unimportance

What is a figure of speech?

What are the different figures of speech in English?

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

50 Examples of Figures of Speech

Similar Posts

Examples of Implied Metaphor in Literature

86 One Liner Owl Puns | Owl on Board: A Flight to Remember

Standard Metaphor Examples In Literature

100 Short & One Liner Love Puns (Love Laughs)

130 Pirate Puns: Swashbuckling Humor Ahoy!

Implied Metaphor (Examples in Literature & Sentences)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Figure of Speech

Types of Figures of Speech

Example 2: One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Example 3: Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

Related posts:

Literary Devices

Women’s History

American Revolution

Ancient History

World History

Famous Wars

Civil Rights

Natural Wonders