5 Examples Using Figurative Language
What Is Figurative Language?
Figurative language uses words in creative ways to add interest. It’s not meant to be taken literally. For example, when someone says “It’s raining cats and dogs,” they mean it’s raining very hard, not that pets are falling from the sky.
One of the neat things about figurative language is that it can turn simple words into pictures in your mind. We’ll give you some ways to use figurative language below.
1. Similes
A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as.” It shows how they are similar using a unique comparison. They’re also great for making stories more relatable.
“The desert was dry as a bone.”
For example, saying “the desert was dry as a bone” means the desert is very dry. It’s like saying the desert is as dry as something we know is really dry—a bone. This shows how similes creatively compare two things.
2. Metaphors
A metaphor is when you say one thing is another thing, to show they share something similar. Unlike a simile, it doesn’t use “like” or “as.”
“Her stomach was a twisted storm of butterflies.”
“Her stomach was a twisted storm of butterflies” is a metaphor. It compares her nervous feelings to a storm of butterflies twisting in her stomach. This shows how strong her feelings are without saying “she is very nervous”.
3. Personification
Personification is when you give human qualities or actions to something that isn’t human. This makes it easier for us to understand and feel connected to the world around us.
“As I climbed the stairs, the staircase groaned as if awoken from a long sleep.”
“As I climbed the stairs, the staircase groaned as if awoken from a long sleep” uses personification. It gives the staircase human qualities, suggesting it can groan and be awoken, like a person. It turns an action like climbing the stairs and makes the stairs seem alive.
4. Metonyms
Metonymy is when you use something closely related to a thing to stand for the thing itself. Metonyms make our language simpler and more direct by using these associations.
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
“The pen is mightier than the sword” is a famous example of metonymy. Here, “the pen” represents writing, ideas, or peaceful actions, while “the sword” stands for military power or violence. This phrase suggests that writing and ideas have more influence and lasting power than force or fighting.
5. Idioms
Idioms are phrases where the words together have a different meaning than the individual words suggest. They’re a big part of what makes language interesting. But they can be confusing because you can’t understand them just by looking at the words.
“I was over the moon.”
“I was over the moon” is an idiom that means someone is extremely happy. It doesn’t mean someone is literally jumping over the moon. This idiom uses the image of being so happy that you feel as high as the moon to express strong feelings of joy.
How To Use Figurative Language
Figurative language makes our words fun and interesting. It helps us compare things, give life to objects, and say things uniquely. Using figurative language, like similes, metaphors, and idioms, makes your writing more relatable.
Are there any good idioms that you want to share with us? We’d love to hear what you have to say. Add it to our comment section and we’d be happy to get back to you as soon as possible.