creative writing using figurative language

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Figurative Language – Definition and Examples

3-minute read

• 13th April 2023

In this article, you’ll learn about figurative language: what it is, how to use it, and lots of examples to inspire your everyday speech and descriptive writing .

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. It is often used to create imagery, evoke emotion, or emphasize a point in a way that literal language cannot. Think of it as painting a picture with words in the minds of your audience – for example, “She was as light as a feather while dancing.”

5 Types of Figurative Language

Below, we’ll look at five types of figurative language – metaphor, idiom, simile, hyperbole, and personification – that you can use in an essay, poem , speech, or conversation.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things by stating that one thing is another, without using “like” or “as.” Metaphors are used to create imagery, evoke emotions, and help readers or listeners to understand an idea or concept in a new and interesting way.

Here are some examples of metaphors:

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. Idioms are often used in informal or conversational language to add color or humor.

Here are some examples of idioms:

If you want to include idioms in your everyday speech or writing, make sure you fully understand the figurative meaning before using them. If used incorrectly, they can cause confusion for your audience.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as.” They are a great writing technique to create vivid imagery and a memorable comparison.

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Here are some examples of similes:

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is mostly used to emphasize a point in a funny or memorable way. Hyperbole is great to use in everyday language or writing, but it’s important to use it in moderation – otherwise, it can come across as insincere or unbelievable.

Here are some examples of hyperbole:

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or animal is given human-like qualities or characteristics. This technique is mostly used in poetry or descriptive writing to create vivid imagery.

Here are some examples of personification:

Figurative language is a great addition to your everyday speech and is frequently used in literature and poetry. It can add depth and richness to language, making it more interesting and expressive. However, it can also be confusing if the reader or listener does not understand the intended meaning of the figurative language. Therefore, it is important to have a basic understanding of figurative language in order to fully appreciate and understand written and spoken communication.

Interested in learning more about how use descriptive language and vivid imagery? Check out our Writing Tips blog to learn more.

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Figurative Language: Why and How You Should Use It

Zara Altair

Color Your Writing with Figurative Language

22 examples of figurative language, use figurative language wisely by avoiding clichés, figurative language is the spice of writing.

Figurative language means using literary devices, techniques, and figures of speech to heighten sensory response and add meaning, clarity, or impact to your writing.

Figures of speech color your prose, giving a sense of immediacy to readers. They evoke a strong emotional reaction.

Just like a figure in a drawing, figurative language creates an image in your reader’s mind. Figurative language calls on the reader’s senses through sounds, scents, tastes, images, and touch to make an idea accessible.

You probably use figurative language in your everyday speech without thinking twice about it. Here are some examples:

It’s a million degrees outside today.

Alice is busy as a bee .

His smile was a mile wide .

The chair groaned with his weight.

I can help you with your HTML—it’s a piece of cake .

It’s not really a million degrees outside. Alice isn’t a bee. Configuring code is not cake. But that’s how figurative language works. The images (figures) create an immediate impression.

Figurative language has been around as long as people have been telling stories. Over time, writers have come up with many ways to use figurative language. The world is your oyster (see what I did there?) when it comes to choosing figurative ways to express yourself.

When you want your writing to connect with readers and give them an emotional punch, figurative language can create an immediate response. Perk up your writing using figurative elements.

Here’s an introduction to 22 different ways of how to use figurative language.

A simile compares two things that are unlike each other by using “as” or “like” to establish equivalency. You are saying that the two things are similar.

The imagery is what connects the comparison to the thing you describe. The two things are not related in the world, but the image in the simile describes the state of the item.

Simile examples:

She was like a fish out of water at the prom.

He slept like a dog .

Her eyes sparkled like diamonds .

Figuratively, the man is like a sleeping dog, or the eyes are like diamonds. The figurative language connects the two.

2. Metaphor

A metaphor takes figurative language a step further. There is no comparison; the item described is the image of the metaphor even though it is not literally the object. The figure represents the thing described.

Metaphor examples from everyday speech:

The valley is covered in a blanket of snow.

She has a heart of stone .

He’s the black sheep of the family.

Use metaphors in both prose and poetry to create an emotional connection with your reader.

3. Metonymy

Metonymy means “change of name.” As a literary device, one word is used to replace another closely associated word. Use metonymy to avoid repeating the same word. The representative word allows you to vary expressions or to use a word to express a concept.

Examples of metonymy:

Hollywood : the film industry

Press : journalism and news organizations

Academics : school, college, university, studies

Management : administration, leadership

Metonymy helps keep your writing concise.

4. Synecdoche

A synecdoche uses a part of something to represent the whole. Just like metonymy, it keeps you from overusing a particular word. You’ll expand your reader’s understanding of your topic.

Examples of synecdoche:

Green thumb : a talent for raising plants

Stars and stripes : the American flag

Suit : signifying someone who is in business

5. Personification

Personification attributes human qualities to inanimate objects or the representation of an abstract quality in human form. The best way to understand is to look at some examples.

Examples of personification:

Jim heard the last piece of pie calling his name .

The door protested on its rusty hinges.

The headlights winked as the truck drove through the forest.

Personification makes inanimate objects relatable. It is used in advertising to make a product more approachable. Think of Goldfish crackers: the snack that smiles back .

6. Onomatopoeia

With onomatopoeia, the word itself sounds like the sound you’re describing. Just like a visual figure of speech, the sound of the word makes a vivid connection with the reader.

Examples of onomatopoeia:

The steak sizzled on the fire.

The avalanche boomed across the valley.

The bee and the doorbell buzzed at the same time.

Onomatopoeia is fun figurative language, giving your reader a sensory sizzle and making the scene come alive.

7. Oxymoron

You’ve heard it said that opposites attract. Oxymoron is figurative language that connects two opposite feelings. The words are self-contradicting but build sensory response in your reader by enhancing the concept.

Examples of oxymoron :

Managing the conference was controlled chaos .

One job qualification for our team is serious fun .

After the party, Kendra found the kitchen in a fine mess .

If you want your oxymoron to hit home, choose your own original opposites. Here’s one from Andy Warhol: "I am a deeply superficial person."

8. Hyperbole

Hyperbolic figurative language goes over the top as an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, humor, or effect. People use hyperbole often in casual speech.

Examples of hyperbole:

If I hear that one more time, I’m going to die .

After that hike, I am so hungry I could eat a horse .

9. Allusion

An allusion is a brief reference to a person, place, thing, event, or literary/poetic work that the writer assumes the reader knows. Poet T. S. Elliot and novelist James Joyce both wrote using allusions.

Examples of allusion:

Aila’s Achilles’ heel is her squeaky voice when presenting.

Following up with the conference attendees was a Herculean effort .

The cottage by the creek was a perfect Eden .

Be careful using allusions. Match them to your audience. Just because you know something doesn’t mean it is general knowledge, or even knowledge specific to your audience.

An idiom is an expression using two or more words to refer to something, but the words mean something other than the literal meaning of the words used in the idiom.

Idiomatic phrases can be national or regional. Sometimes even groups or families create their own internal idiomatic expressions.

Example of idiom:

Kirk: “If we play our cards right , we may be able to find out when those whales are being released.” Spock: “How will playing cards help?”

(Dialogue between characters Captain James T. Kirk and Spock in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , 1986)

They are not playing cards. Spock, who takes everything literally, doesn’t understand the idiomatic expression.

Be careful when using idioms—they often don’t translate well to non-native speakers (like Spock).

ProWritingAid’s Clichés Report highlights idioms in your writing so you can make sure you’re saying what you really mean.

Some similes and metaphors have become so commonplace that they are now cliché. Use the Clichés Report to find and replace stale words and phrases with fresher ideas.

Ready to freshen up your writing?

11. Imagery

Imagery creates pictures (images) with words. But the imagery is not limited to the visual. Imagery can refer to all five senses and internal emotions.

Examples of touch, taste, and smell imagery:

The rabbit’s fur felt like velvet .

Her lips tasted as sweet as sugar .

The kids rushed inside because the house smelled like chocolate .

Imagery elicits an immediate sensory response in your reader by providing familiar references to help them connect to what you’re saying. Varying the senses you appeal to in your writing makes for a more engaging reader experience.

Use ProWritingAid’s Sensory Report to highlight all of the sensory words in your writing. It will also tell you how many of each type of word you have used so you can make sure you’ve got a good balance.

12. Symbolism

A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else to evoke additional emotional meaning. A symbol can be a word, object, action, character, or concept. Literary novels often use symbolism to express a theme, like a river representing life.

Examples of symbolism:

Green traffic light: symbolizes “go”

Dollar sign: symbolizes money, wealth, earnings

Shopping cart icon: symbolizes online purchase

You can use anything to symbolize a concept in writing. Just make sure the symbol is one your audience understands.

13. Consonance

Consonance uses consonants in quick repetition. They can appear anywhere in the word—beginning, middle, or end. Consonance not only brings attention to the phrase but makes it easy to remember.

Examples of consonance:

Fuddy duddy

Jay-Z uses consonance in “Brooklyn’s Finest,” combining the similar sounds of S and Z.

Peep the style and the way the cops sweat us The number one question is, can the Feds get us?

Consonance intensifies the language, building an emotional connection with the reader.

14. Alliteration

Alliteration is the use of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close together in a sentence to evoke sensory feelings related to the sound. For example, P and hard C represent excitement, while S represents softness. It isn’t based on the letter but on the sound of the consonant.

Examples of alliteration:

Tonka Trucks

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…

As a subset of consonance, use alliteration to call attention to an important point and/or make your point memorable.

15. Assonance

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words close to each other. Unlike alliteration, where the word starts with a consonant at the beginning, the vowel sound can be inside the word.

Examples of assonance:

Stranger danger

Cock of the walk

Eyes on the prize

Once again, it’s the sound that’s important—not the letter used. And assonance works in the same way as alliteration to make your statement memorable or call attention to it.

Irony is a contradictory statement that expresses a reality different from what appears as truth. It points at a different perspective. In literature, it can be an unforeseen event that changes a character’s expectation or some unanticipated behavior different from what was expected.

Verbal irony is an unanticipated response; situational irony is an unexpected outcome.

Irony examples:

Telling a silent group, “don’t everyone speak at once.” (Verbal irony.)

Marriage counsellor divorcing her third husband. (Situational irony.)

Burglarized police station. (Situational irony.)

Irony also works as a plot device.

Hansel and Gretel (oral tradition): the witch burns in her own oven

Oedipus Rex, Sophocles: Oedipus searches for the murderer, who is himself

17. Sarcasm

Sarcasm is an ironic statement intended to mock. You say something different from what you literally mean. Sarcasm can portray the speaker’s true feelings even though it is veiled in humor. In order for sarcasm to work in writing, you must make sure the context is clear, otherwise the reader will misunderstand.

Examples of sarcasm:

I’d agree with you, but then I’d be wrong.

Ask me if I care.

Aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.

18. Litotes

Litotes is a literary device that states an affirmative without using an affirmative word, usually with negative terms. Often used as understatement or negation to express a contrary meaning.

Examples of litotes:

You’re not wrong.

His decision was not the worst.

Your effort has not gone unnoticed.

A pun is a literary device that plays on the sound of words. The words have identical sounds but the meaning is different. Puns are generally intended to be humorous.

Examples of common puns:

The librarian is a bookkeeper.

I need to spend more thyme in the garden.

“The road to success is always under construction.” (Lily Tomlin)

20. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences. It is figurative language that's especially effective in speeches. It functions to emphasize words and ideas. Use it to evoke emotion, highlight an idea, and create urgency.

Examples of anaphora:

“ Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done / Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung / Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game” ( All You Need is Love , Paul McCartney and John Lennon)

You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.

21. Tautology

In figurative language, tautology is the use of two words or phrases that say the same thing. Used well, it emphasizes a point.

But, be careful because tautology can also feel wordy. For example, ProWritingAid will signal tautologies as unnecessary words to keep your writing succinct.

Examples of tautology:

The morning sunrise is beautiful.

“With malice toward none , with charity for all , with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.” (Abraham Lincoln)

She was a dark-haired brunette .

22. Understatement

Understatement intentionally makes a statement less important than it seems or is. It functions as the opposite of hyperbole.

Examples of understatement:

“I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” ( Catcher in the Rye , J. D. Salinger)

It’s not too bad. (When your borrowed jacket is returned with an indelible stain.)

It’s O.K. I guess. (Describing an incredible result.)

Figurative language colors your writing to call attention to a passage. Images, word use, sounds, and wordplay are all ways to spice up your writing whether it’s an article, speech, fiction, or poetry.

Here you have 22 examples as ideas to use when your writing is feeling flat. Match the figurative language to the mood, tone, audience, and intended outcome. You’ll transform the seemingly ordinary into significant writing.

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Zara Altair writes traditional mysteries set in ancient Italy under Ostrogoths rule in The Argolicus Mysteries. She teaches mystery screenwriters and novelists at Write A Killer Mystery. She creates semantic web content for a select clientele.

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Reading Skills

Interpreting figurative language and poetic devices.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: August 11, 2023

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language can be described as the secret sauce in the recipe of literature. It’s a way of using words that steps beyond their literal meanings and presents ideas or feelings in an imaginative and thought-provoking way. You might find this a bit complex, but in reality, you’ve come across figurative language often. Have you heard expressions like “it’s raining cats and dogs” or “I could eat a horse”? These are examples of idioms and hyperbole, which are forms of figurative language.

Figurative language’s goal is to break away from the everyday and ordinary, and to invite readers into a vibrant world of meaning. It enhances writing by creating layers of depth, constructing vivid imagery, stirring emotions, and offering a unique viewpoint.

Figurative language comes in many shapes. Similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, symbolism, and idioms are some of the common types. For example, a metaphor like “life is a roller coaster” draws a comparison between life and a roller coaster, suggesting that life, much like a roller coaster, is full of ups and downs, and twists and turns.

By learning to understand and interpret figurative language, we can dive deeper into the layers of a text and fully appreciate the richness of the author’s vision.

Why Do Authors Use Figurative Language?

Authors use figurative language because it helps them express big ideas in exciting and creative ways. It’s similar to how a painter uses different colors and brush strokes to make an unforgettable painting. Here’s why authors often use figurative language:

• Building Pictures: Figurative language helps create strong images in the reader’s mind. Saying “the forest was so quiet you could hear a leaf drop” is much more powerful than simply saying “the forest was quiet.”
• Sharing Tough Ideas: Figurative language can make tricky or abstract ideas easier to understand. For example, saying someone has a “heart of stone” tells us quickly that they’re cold and don’t show their feelings.
• Sparking Feelings: Figurative language can stir up strong feelings in readers, making them feel more connected to what they’re reading.
• Making Writing Fun: Just like spices make food tastier, figurative language makes writing more fun to read and more memorable.
• Showing Creativity: Figurative language lets authors show their creativity by putting their own spin on how they describe people, places, and things.

The next time you read a book or a poem, look for examples of figurative language. Think about what the author might be trying to say with these expressions and how they add to the story. This can help you enjoy what you’re reading even more and appreciate the skill that goes into writing.

Examples of Figurative Language

To understand the different types of figurative language better, let’s look at some examples you might see in books, songs, or even in everyday conversation:

A simile is a comparison between two different things that share some common aspect. In the simile “She’s as busy as a bee,” we’re comparing a person (in this case, “she”) to a bee.

Bees are known for their constant activity; they are always moving, flying from flower to flower, collecting nectar, pollinating plants, and producing honey. Because of this, we often use bees as a symbol of busyness or industriousness. When we say “she’s as busy as a bee,” we mean that she is very active and hard-working, similar to how a bee is always working.

So, the simile “She’s as busy as a bee” is saying that the person is extremely busy, just like a bee. The words “as…as” are used to make the comparison, which is a classic way similes are formed. It’s a great example of how figurative language can help us express ideas in a more colorful and imaginative way.

Metaphors compare two things without using “like” or “as.”

Walt Whitman’s poem “O Captain! My Captain!” is filled with metaphors. It is an extended metaphor where the journey of a ship is compared to the journey of a nation.

Here’s an example from the poem:

“But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.”

In these lines, Whitman is referring to the ship’s deck where the Captain (Abraham Lincoln) lies “fallen cold and dead.” The deck of the ship and the fallen captain serve as metaphors for the United States and the assassination of President Lincoln. The “bleeding drops of red” symbolize the suffering and loss the nation endures due to Lincoln’s death.

This metaphor not only presents a poignant image, but it also enables Whitman to express deep national grief and the end of a significant era in American history.

Personification

Personification is when we give human traits to non-human things, like animals, objects, or ideas. It’s a cool way to make descriptions more lively or help express big feelings or thoughts.

Take the phrase, “The stars danced in the night sky.” Here, we’re using personification. Stars can’t dance like humans – they’re objects in space. But when we say “the stars danced,” we’re imagining the stars having this human ability to dance.

This does a couple of neat things. It helps the reader picture the scene more clearly – it’s not just “the stars were in the sky,” but the stars are moving and twinkling like dancers. Personification also adds a sense of fun or magic. Finally, it can make the reader feel closer to the stars, by linking them with a familiar human activity, like dancing.

So, personification helps to make writing more memorable, emotional, and deep, making stories or poems richer and more fun to read.

Hyperbole is a figurative language technique where you exaggerate something a lot to make a point or show that something is really important. It’s like using a giant magnifying glass to focus on something specific.

You may have come across someone saying, “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!” Of course, the speaker didn’t actually give the instruction a million times. It’s an exaggeration to show that they’ve repeated the request many times and are frustrated or annoyed.

Here’s another example: “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.” Obviously, someone isn’t literally going to eat a horse, but this phrase exaggerates hunger to a great degree. It’s an extreme way of saying that they’re extremely hungry.

Both of these examples use big, over-the-top numbers or scenarios to make a point. It helps the listener or reader understand just how strong the speaker’s feelings are about the subject. It’s not meant to be taken literally; instead, it’s a fun, dramatic way to express a point of view or an emotion. So, when you come across a hyperbole in your readings, try to understand the emotion or emphasis the writer is trying to convey through this exaggeration.

Symbols can be things, people, or colors that stand for bigger ideas or feelings.

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee talks a lot about a bird called a mockingbird. But she’s not just talking about a bird. The mockingbird is a symbol, or a sign, for something bigger. It stands for innocence, or not knowing about the world’s troubles. In the story, some characters are like the mockingbirds. They’re good people, but others treat them badly. This makes us feel sad, just like we would if someone hurt a harmless mockingbird.

Now, let’s think about another book you might know – Animal Farm by George Orwell. In this story, farm animals are symbols too. The pigs in the story are like bosses or leaders in real life. And there’s a windmill that stands for new tools and machines. Orwell uses these symbols to tell a bigger story about power and how it can be misused.

Both these books show us that symbols are not just things, people, or colors in a story. They can represent bigger ideas or feelings. So, when you’re reading a book, try to spot these symbols. Ask yourself, what could this thing or person really mean? This can make reading even more fun and interesting.

Idioms are like secret codes or special language that you might not understand just by looking at the words. They have a hidden meaning different from the literal definition of the words used.

Take the phrase “break a leg,” for instance. You might think, “Why would I want to break my leg? That sounds painful!” But don’t worry, it’s just a quirky way of saying “good luck,” especially before someone goes on stage for a performance.

How about “the ball is in your court”? Does it mean that there’s a ball game going on? Nope! This idiom is usually used in conversations to mean it’s now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Or consider “let the cat out of the bag.” Nobody’s really keeping cats in bags! This fun phrase is used when someone reveals a secret or a surprise by accident.

And lastly, you may have heard “butterflies in my stomach.” Of course, we don’t have real butterflies fluttering inside us! This phrase is used to describe the nervous, fluttery feeling we get in our tummies when we’re excited or scared about something.

Idioms can be really fun once you get to know them. They add spice to our language and make everyday conversations more colorful and interesting. So next time you come across an odd phrase, it might just be an idiom!

Analyzing Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry, with its rhythmic verses and expressive language, is a playground for figurative language. Poets use these techniques to convey emotion, depict vivid imagery, or bring a fresh perspective. Analyzing figurative language in poetry can often lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the poet’s message. Here’s how you can do it:

Identify Figurative Language

The first step is to identify instances of figurative language in the poem. Look for metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, or any other forms we’ve discussed. Mark them and note what they’re comparing or representing.

Understand the Comparison or Representation

Once you’ve identified a figurative phrase, try to understand what it’s comparing or representing. For instance, if a poet describes a person’s eyes as “deep pools of water,” think about what characteristics of water might apply to the person’s eyes. Depth? Mystery? Calmness? 

Interpret the Meaning

After understanding the comparison, try to interpret what the poet is trying to communicate through this use of figurative language. Using the same example, the poet might be suggesting that the person has a deep or mysterious nature, which can be inferred from their eyes.

Consider the Effect on the Poem

Lastly, consider how the use of figurative language impacts the overall poem. Does it add depth or emotion? Create a vivid image? Contribute to the poem’s tone or theme?

For example, let’s consider the famous line by Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” The roads here are a metaphor for choices in life. The use of this metaphor adds depth to the poem, making it more than just a simple tale about a walk in the woods. Instead, it becomes a reflection on life choices and their far-reaching consequences.

Remember, analyzing poetry is like being a detective. It requires a keen eye, patience, and an open mind. But the reward — understanding a poem’s richness and depth — is undoubtedly worth the effort!

What Are Poetic Devices?

Now that we’ve covered the dynamic world of figurative language, let’s dive into another crucial part of literary interpretation – poetic devices. These tools, while encompassing figurative language, stretch even further, offering poets a variety of ways to enhance their work.

Just as a painter uses different brushes and colors to bring their canvas to life, a poet uses these devices to paint vibrant images, stir emotions, and engage readers in unique and compelling ways. Figurative language is a part of this toolkit, but poetic devices go beyond that. They incorporate elements of sound, structure, rhythm, and more to make poetry resonate with readers. With this understanding, let’s explore what poetic devices are and how they add depth and beauty to a poem.

Here are some common poetic devices that poets often use:

 Rhyme is when the end or final sound in two or more words or lines of poetry chime together. It gives a poem structure, musicality, and a pleasing sound. An example is: “The cat sat on the mat.”

Alliteration

This is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in a line of poetry. It often creates a rhythmic effect. A well-known example is the tongue twister: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other. It can create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences. For instance, in the phrase, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains,” the repetition of the “ai” sound is assonance.

Onomatopoeia

This refers to words that sound like their meanings. Words like ‘buzz,’ ‘pop,’ ‘sizzle,’ or ‘click’ all reflect the sounds they represent. 

Repetition involves the intentional reuse of words, phrases, or entire lines in a poem, often to highlight an important point, or to establish a rhythmic pattern.

A great example of repetition is from “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman where repeats the phrase “we will rise” multiple times throughout her poem.

Gorman’s repetition of “we will rise” reinforces her message of hope and resilience. Each time she says “we will rise”, it acts like a drumbeat, driving home the conviction that no matter where in the country we come from or what challenges we face, we have the strength to rise above them. This not only emphasizes her message, but also gives the poem a strong, rhythmic pulse that keeps the audience engaged.

This is when a sentence or phrase runs over from one line to the next without a pause or punctuation. It can be used to speed up the rhythm of a poem or to link thoughts together.

Understanding these poetic devices and how they’re used in a poem can provide insights into the poem’s structure, its mood, and the poet’s intent. Just like appreciating the subtle notes in a symphony, recognizing these devices can significantly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of poetry.

Interpreting Figurative Language in “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

“A Poison Tree” is a powerful poem by William Blake that uses vivid and metaphorical language to explore themes of anger, deceit, and revenge. Here are some step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process of analyzing the figurative language in this poem:

1. Read the Poem

Start by reading the poem in its entirety to get a general understanding. Notice the overarching themes and emotions expressed in the poem.

2. Identify Figurative Language

 Read through the poem again, this time looking specifically for examples of figurative language. In “A Poison Tree,” you’ll find metaphor is heavily used. For instance, the “poison tree” in the title is not a literal tree but a metaphor for the speaker’s growing anger.

3. Understand the Comparison or Representation:

Analyze each instance of figurative language to understand what is being compared or represented. For example, in the lines “And my foe beheld it shine, And he knew that it was mine,” the shining “fruit” of the tree can be interpreted as the harmful consequences of the speaker’s anger, which the foe recognizes.

4. Interpret the Meaning

Consider the meaning of each metaphor or figurative phrase in the context of the entire poem. What does the “poison tree” suggest about the speaker’s anger? How does the “fruit” reveal the outcome of that anger?

5. Consider the Effect on the Poem

Finally, think about how the use of figurative language impacts the overall understanding and interpretation of the poem. Does it emphasize the destructive nature of repressed anger? Does it create a vivid image of deceit and its consequences?

Through this analysis, we see that Blake effectively uses figurative language to communicate a powerful message about the toxic effects of harboring anger and the tragic results that can come from it. The “poison tree” is not just a metaphor for anger, but a symbol of the dangerous allure of vengeance.

Remember, when analyzing a poem, it’s okay if you don’t get everything on the first try. Poetry analysis is a skill that develops over time. So keep practicing, and soon you’ll find that you can read and interpret poetry like a pro!

Mastering the art of understanding figurative language and poetic devices can seem tricky at first. But like cracking a code or solving a mystery, once you get the hang of it, it becomes an exciting part of reading.

When we learn how to interpret figurative language and recognize poetic devices, our reading experience becomes much richer. We gain the ability to see the creativity of authors and poets and appreciate the effort and thought put into every word.

Remember, words in literature are not just their dictionary definitions. They can be like colors in a painting or notes in a song, creating vivid images, stirring up emotions, and expressing big ideas. This is the beauty of figurative language and the enchantment of poetry.

Practice Makes Perfect

Albert provides many helpful questions for you to practice interpreting figurative language and poetic devices. Our Poetry course is perfect for analyzing similes and metaphors or checking out how rhyme scheme impacts a poem’s overall message. For more practice, check out our  Essential Readings in Literature  course which provides opportunities to analyze figurative language in short stories commonly taught in high school.

Albert’s rigorous questions combined with instant feedback and detailed explanations help your students grasp essential close reading skills. Start practicing today!

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Figurative Language

Figurative language definition.

Figurative language uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful.

Figures of speech such as metaphors , similes, and allusions go beyond the literal meanings of the words to give readers new insights. On the other hand, alliterations, imageries, or onomatopoeias are figurative devices that appeal to the senses of the readers.

Figurative language can appear in multiple forms with the use of different literary and rhetorical devices . According to Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia, the definition of figurative language has five different forms:

• Understatement or Emphasis
• Relationship or Resemblance
• Figures of Sound
• Verbal Games

Types of Figurative Language

The term figurative language covers a wide range of literary devices and techniques, a few of which include:

Personification

• Onomatopoeia

Alliteration

• Understatement

Short Examples of Figurative Language

• His friend is as black as coal.
• He has learned gymnastics, and is as agile as a monkey.
• When attacked in his home, he will fight like a caged tiger.
• Can you dance like a monkey?
• Even when he was told everything, he was acting like a donkey.
• My Friend is a Shakespeare when in English class.
• He was a roaring lion in anger, though now he is silent.
• They seem like jackals when running in fear.
• Kisses are roses in the spring .
• This world is a sea of anonymous faces.
• The house stood half-demolished and abandoned.
• He left with his haunted and spell-bound face.
• He did not like the odorless and colorless shape of water.
• His friend was looking at spooky glissando twangs.
• Zigzag fissures in the land made him look for snakes .
• The light on the site did not let him see the sight.
• He heard the sound of the fire, like wire striking the air.
• This artificial stream is going to flow to the downtown of the town.
• Please set the kite right.
• Might of the fright seems greater than the actual fear.
• He lets the pink ball fall with a tall man.
• They have not learned how to catch the cat.
• Get a seat with a treat in our local hall.
• Calling the cow an ox is like putting the cart before the horse.
• He saw the pink kite floating past the tall trees .
• He is dying with his untrustworthy belief.
• Sharply blunt razor cannot do anything to you.
• Kindly cruel treatment made him flabbergasted.
• Please, watch with closed eyes and you will see the heaven.
• Creatively dull person cannot do anything in his life.
• The Pentagon is located in Washington in the United States.
• The Hollywood is a home of English movies.
• 10 Downing Street is located in London .
• Buckingham Palace is world’s oldest symbol of democracy.
• The White House.
• He does not know how to behave with the special people.
• He is looking at his own grey hair and his agility.
• They saw a fleet of fifty.
• At this time, he owns nine head of cattle.
• The new generation is addicted to the use of plastic money.

Examples of Figurative Language from Literature

Example #1: the base stealer (by robert francis).

Poised between going on and back, pulled Both ways taut like a tight-rope walker, Now bouncing tiptoe like a dropped ball, Or a kid skipping rope, come on, come on! … Taunts them, hovers like an ecstatic bird, He’s only flirting, crowd him, crowd him,

The similes and word choice of this poem makes it a masterpiece. The poet use similes between the lines to depict his scattered thoughts before taking action, and makes comparison as, “ like a tight-rope ,” “ like a dropped ball ,” and “ hovers like an ecstatic bird .”

Example #2: I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings (By Maya Angelou)

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage Can seldom see through his bars of rage His wings are clipped and his feet are tied The caged bird sings with a fearful trill … And his tune is heard on the distant hill for The caged bird sings of freedom.

The entire poem is rich with metaphor as a bird in a cage represents a group of people who are oppressed and cannot get freedom. The cage represents physical barriers, fear, addiction, or society; while the song of the bird represents true self yearning for something greater in life.

Example #3: She Sweeps with Many-Colored Brooms (By Emily Dickinson)

She sweeps with many-colored Brooms And leaves the Shreds behind Oh Housewife in the Evening West Come back, and dust the Pond!

Dickinson uses personification of a housewife to describe the sunset in the very first line of this poem. She is using a sweeping housewife who does her daily work, likewise the rays of the setting sun sweep away beneath the horizon.

Example #4: The Raven (By Edgar Allen Poe)

O nce upon a midnight dreary w hile I pondered w eak and w eary ; r are and r adiant maiden; And the s ilken s ad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain … D eep into that d arkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, D oubting, d reaming d reams no mortal ever d ared to d ream before.

Poe uses alliteration by repeating the /w/ sound to emphasize the weariness of the narrator , and then /r/ and /s/ sounds in the second and third lines respectively. In the last two lines, the /d/ sound highlights the narrator’s hopelessness.

Example #5: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (By Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks Had I from old and young ! Instead of the cross , the Albatross About my neck was hung.

In these lines, the albatross symbolizes a big mistake, or a burden of sin, just like the cross on which Christ was crucified. Therefore, all people on the ship agreed to slay that bird.

Example #6: The Bluest Eyes (By Toni Morrison)

Personification, consonance, and simile.

She ran down the street, the green knee socks making her legs look like wild dandelion of stems that had somehow lost their heads. The weight of her remark stunned us.

This excerpt uses different devices that make language figurative. There is a good use of simile , “legs look like wild dandelion;” and personification, “lost their heads;” and use of consonance in “stunned us,” where the /s/ is a consonant sound.

Example #7: The Week of Diana (By Maya Angelou)

Metaphor, consonance, personification.

“The dark lantern of world sadness has cast its shadow upon the land. We stumble into our misery on leaden feet.”

in just these two lines, Maya Angelou has used a metaphor of the dark lantern, consonance of the /s/ sounds, and personification of misery.

Example #8: The Negro Speaks of River (By Langston Hughes)

Consonance, simile.

“I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”

This prince of the Harlem Renaissance has beautifully used a different type of consonance with the /l/ sound and a simile of “my soul.”

Example #9: Musée des Beaux Arts (By W. H. Auden)

Personification, consonance.

That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot Where the dogs go on with their doggy W. H. Auden life and the torturer’s horse Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.

W. H. Auden has used a personification of the “dreadful martyrdom,” and consonances of “some untidy spot,” with the /s/ sound, and “dogs go on with their doggy life,” with the /d/ and /g/ sounds.

Function of Figurative Language

The primary function of figurative language is to force readers to imagine what a writer wants to express. Figurative language is not meant to convey literal meanings, and often it compares one concept with another in order to make the first concept easier to understand. However, it links the two ideas or concepts with the goal of influencing the audience to understand the link, even if it does not exist.

Poets and prose writers use this technique to bring out emotions and help their readers form images in their minds. Thus, figurative language is a useful way of conveying an idea that readers cannot understand otherwise, due to its complex and abstract nature. In addition, it helps in analyzing a literary text.

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• Figurative Language

Figurative Language Definition

What is figurative language? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech . When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language focuses on the use of figures of speech that play with the meaning of words, such as metaphor , simile , personification , and hyperbole .

Some additional key details about figurative language:

• Figurative language is common in all sorts of writing, as well as in spoken language.
• Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative speech is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine.
• It's a common misconception that imagery, or vivid descriptive language, is a kind of figurative language. In fact, writers can use figurative language as one tool to help create imagery, but imagery does not have to use figurative language.

Figurative Language Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce figurative language: fig -yer-uh-tiv lang -gwij

Figures of Speech and Figurative Language

To fully understand figurative language, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of figures of speech. More specifically, it's helpful to understand the two main types of figures of speech: tropes and schemes .

• Tropes are figures of speech that play with and shift the expected and literal meaning of words.
• Schemes are figures of speech that involve a change from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.

Put even more simply: tropes play with the meaning of words, while schemes play with the structure of words, phrases, and sentences.

The Different Things People Mean When They Say Figurative Language

When people say figurative language, they don't always mean the precise same thing. Here are the three different ways people usually talk about figurative language:

• Dictionary definition of figurative language: According to the dictionary, figurative language is simply any language that contains or uses figures of speech. This definition would mean that figurative language includes the use of both tropes and schemes.
• Much more common real world use of figurative language: However, when people (including teachers) refer to figurative language, they usually mean language that plays with the literal meaning of words. This definition sees figurative language as language that primarily involves the use of tropes.
• Another common real world use of figurative language: Some people define figurative language as including figures of speech that play with meaning as well as a few other common schemes that affect the rhythm and sound of text, such as alliteration and assonance .

What does all that boil down to for you? If you hear someone talking about figurative language, you can usually safely assume they are referring to language that uses figures of speech to play with the meaning of words and, perhaps, with the way that language sounds or feels.

Common Types of Figurative Language

There are many, many types of figures of speech that can be involved in figurative language. Some of the most common are:

• Metaphor : A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, the phrase "her lips are a blooming rose" obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the red beauty and promise of a blooming rose with that of the lips of the woman being described.
• Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. An example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
• Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels.
• Personification : In personification, non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of personification, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human emotion.
• Idiom : An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is known to most Americans to mean that it's raining hard, but an English-speaking foreigner in the United States might find the phrase totally confusing.
• Onomatopoeia : Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The “boom” of a firework exploding, the “tick tock” of a clock, and the “ding dong” of a doorbell are all examples of onomatopoeia.
• Synecdoche : In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to its whole . For example, "The captain commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part.
• Metonymy : Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an object or concept is referred to not by its own name, but instead by the name of something closely associated with it. For example, in "Wall Street prefers lower taxes," the New York City street that was the original home of the New York Stock Exchange stands in for (or is a "metonym" for) the entire American financial industry.
• Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “ b ” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
• Assonance : The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the " ee " sound: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another.

Figurative Language vs. Imagery

Many people (and websites) argue that imagery is a type of figurative language. That is actually incorrect. Imagery refers to a writers use of vivid and descriptive language to appeal to the reader's senses and more deeply evoke places, things, emotions, and more. The following sentence uses imagery to give the reader a sense of how what is being described looks, feels, smells, and sounds:

The night was dark and humid, the scent of rotting vegetation hung in the air, and only the sound of mosquitoes broke the quiet of the swamp.

This sentence uses no figurative language. Every word means exactly what it says, and the sentence is still an example of the use of imagery. That said, imagery can use figurative language, often to powerful effect:

The night was dark and humid, heavy with a scent of rotting vegetation like a great-aunt's heavy and inescapable perfume, and only the whining buzz of mosquitoes broke the silence of the swamp.

In this sentence, the description has been made more powerful through the use of a simile ("like a great-aunt's..."), onomatopoeia ("whining buzz," which not only describes but actually sounds like the noise made by mosquitoes), and even a bit of alliteration in the " s ilence of the s wamp."

To sum up: imagery is not a form of figurative language. But a writer can enhance his or her effort to write imagery through the use of figurative language.

Figurative Language Examples

Figurative language is more interesting, lively, beautiful, and memorable than language that's purely literal. Figurative language is found in all sorts of writing, from poetry to prose to speeches to song lyrics, and is also a common part of spoken speech. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.

Figurative Language Example: Metaphor

Metaphor in shakespeare's romeo and juliet.

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo uses the following metaphor in Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony:

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Romeo compares Juliet to the sun not only to describe how radiantly beautiful she is, but also to convey the full extent of her power over him. He's so taken with Juliet that her appearances and disappearances affect him like those of the sun. His life "revolves" around Juliet like the earth orbits the sun.

Figurative Language Example: Simile

In this example of a simile from Slaughterhouse-Five , Billy Pilgrim emerges from an underground slaughterhouse where he has been held prisoner by the Germans during the deadly World War II firebombing of Dresden:

It wasn't safe to come out of the shelter until noon the next day. When the Americans and their guards did come out, the sky was black with smoke. The sun was an angry little pinhead. Dresden was like the moon now , nothing but minerals. The stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.

Vonnegut uses simile to compare the bombed city of Dresden to the moon in order to capture the totality of the devastation—the city is so lifeless that it is like the barren moon.

Figurative Language Example: Oxymoron

These lines from Chapter 7 of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover María.

She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, “And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.”

The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation.

Figurative Language Example: Hyperbole

Elizabeth Bennet, the most free-spirited character in Pride and Prejudice , refuses Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal with a string of hyperbole :

From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.

Elizabeth's closing statement, that Darcy is the "last man in the world" whom she would ever marry, is an obvious hyperbole. It's hard to believe that Elizabeth would rather marry, say, an axe murderer or a diseased pirate than Mr. Darcy. Even beyond the obvious exaggeration, Austen's use of hyperbole in this exchange hints at the fact that Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy are more complicated than she admits, even to herself. Austen drops various hints throughout the beginning of the novel that Elizabeth feels something beyond mere dislike for Darcy. Taken together with these hints, Elizabeth's hyperbolic statements seem designed to convince not only Darcy, but also herself, that their relationship has no future.

Figurative Language Example: Personification

In Chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne describes a wild rose bush that grows in front of Salem's gloomy wooden jail:

But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.

In the context of the novel's setting in 17th century Boston, this rose bush, which grows wild in front of an establishment dedicated to enforcing harsh puritan values, symbolizes those elements of human nature that cannot be repressed, no matter how strict a community's moral code may be: desire, fertility, and a love of beauty. By personifying the rosebush as "offering" its blossoms to reflect Nature's pity (Nature is also personified here as having a "heart"), Hawthorne turns the passive coincidence of the rosebush's location into an image of human nature actively resisting its constraints.

Figurative Language Example: Idiom

Figurative language example: onomatopoeia.

In Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's The Tempest , Caliban uses onomatopoeia to convey the noises of the island.

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices...

The use of onomatopoeia makes the audience feel the sounds on the island, rather than just have to take Caliban's word about there being noises.

Figurative Language Example: Synecdoche

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth , an angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:

Take thy face hence.

Here, "thy face" stands in for "you." Macbeth is simply telling the servant to leave, but his use of synecdoche makes the tone of his command more harsh and insulting because he uses synecdoche to treat the servant not as a person but as an object, a body part.

Figurative Language Example: Metonymy

In his song "Juicy," Notorious B.I.G. raps:

Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight

Here he's using "limelight" as a metonymy for fame (a "limelight" was a kind of spotlight used in old theaters, and so it came to be associated with the fame of being in the spotlight). Biggie's use of metonymy here also sets him up for a sweet rhyme.

Figurative Language Example: Alliteration

In his song "Rap God," Eminem shows his incredible lyrical dexterity by loading up the alliteration :

S o I wanna make sure, s omewhere in this chicken s cratch I S cribble and doodle enough rhymes T o maybe t ry t o help get s ome people through t ough t imes But I gotta k eep a few punchlines Just in c ase, ‘ c ause even you un s igned Rappers are hungry l ooking at me l ike it's l unchtime…

Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

The term figurative language refers to a whole host of different figures of speech, so it's difficult to provide a single definitive answer to why writers use figurative language. That said, writers use figurative language for a wide variety of reasons:

• Interest and beauty: Figurative language allows writes to express descriptions, ideas, and more in ways that are unique and beautiful.
• Complexity and power: Because figurative language can create meanings that go beyond the literal, it can capture complex ideas, feelings, descriptions, or truths that cause readers to see things in a new way, or more closely mirror the complex reality of the world.
• Visceral affect: Because figurative language can both impact the rhythm and sound of language, and also connect the abstract (say, love) with the concrete (say, a rose), it can help language make an almost physical impact on a reader.
• Humor: By allowing a writer to layer additional meanings over literal meanings, or even to imply intended meanings that are the opposite of the literal meaning, figurative language gives writers all sorts of options for creating humor in their writing.
• Realism: People speak and even think in terms of the sorts of comparisons that underlie so much figurative language. Rather than being flowery, figurative language allows writers to describe things in ways that match how people really think about them, and to create characters who themselves feel real.

In general, figurative language often makes writing feel at once more accessible and powerful, more colorful, surprising, and deep.

Other Helpful Figurative Language Resources

• The dictionary definition of figurative : Touches on figurative language, as well as some other meanings of the word.
• Figurative and Frost : Examples of figurative language in the context of the poetry of Robert Frost.
• Figurative YouTube : A video identifying various forms of figurative language from movies and television shows.
• Wikipedia on literal and figurative language : A bit technical, but with a good list of examples.

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Using Figurative Language | Figures of Speech

Figurative language is words and phrases that go beyond their literal meaning, to make a point more strongly. There are many different types of figurative language, or figures of speech. They include similes, metaphors and analogies, which all aim to improve understanding by making comparisons with more familiar situations or objects. Others include assonance, alliteration and onomatopoeia, which all use the sounds of words to heighten their impact.

This page describes some of the common figures of speech, and provides examples of their use. It will therefore help you to ensure that you use figurative language correctly in both speech and writing.

Comparisons

There are several types of figures of speech that make comparisons with other situations. These are designed to make a point or explain something by showing you in more familiar terms.

Analogies make a comparison between two similar things, as a way to make a point .

In other words, the purpose of an analogy is not the comparison in itself, but the point that it makes. You will therefore often see the point itself follow the analogy.

For example:

“ Life is like a sewer: what you get out of it depends on what you put in ” Tom Lehrer

This is far funnier and more memorable than simply saying ‘What you get out of life depends on what you put in’.

Analogies in business writing and blogs

One very common form of blog post is the metaphor or analogy post. These use a common situation or experience to make points about business practice. Real-life examples on one simple subject (lessons from owning a dog) include:

• Ten life lessons that we can learn from dogs
• Leadership lessons from a dog owner
• What dog ownership taught me about leadership.

Some people dislike these articles, and consider them laboured. However, they can be a good way to get a point across. The key is not to get lost in the metaphor.

In other words, know what point you want to make, and use the metaphor to illustrate it. Do not allow the metaphor to be the point itself.

There is more about using metaphors, analogies and other stories in business in our page on Storytelling in Business .

Metaphors are a comparison made without using as or like

In a metaphor, the author or writer makes a comparison by simply stating that something ‘is’ something else. For example:

“The moon was a ghostly galleon, tossed on cloudy seas.” From The Highwayman , by Alfred Noyes.

Her smile was sunshine on a summer’s day.

These examples of metaphors are all explicit: they use the word ‘was’ or ‘is’ to make the comparison.

However, metaphors can also be implicit. In other words, rather than saying ‘is’ or ‘was’, the comparison is implied by the words around it. For example, you might describe a group of people as a ‘forest’ rather than a crowd, to make them sound more mindless.

Similes make a direct comparison using the term as or like.

This makes them relatively easy to spot. For example:

• He was as hungry as a hunter.
• Her eyes gleamed in the darkness like a cat’s.

Similes are generally used to provide a better description, and to create a more vivid picture.

Metaphors, similes and analogies: what’s the real difference?

Both metaphors and similes can be used as part of an analogy. Indeed, some authorities say that they are actually forms of analogy.

More precisely, the distinction is that similes and metaphors only make a comparison, with or without the terms ‘like’ or ‘as’. Analogies take that comparison, and make a point with it.

With similes and metaphors, the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about the comparison.

Figures of speech that use sound to increase impact

There are several forms of figurative speech that use the sound of the words to increase their impact.

Alliteration is repetition of sounds at the start of several words that are close together

Examples include:

She heard the sound of the sea on the shore

Here, the effect is heightened because the repeated s sound is actually very like the sound of waves on a beach. It therefore invokes more of the reader’s senses, and heightens the impact. Different senses are processed in different parts of the brain, so engaging more senses uses more of your brain. This seems to make a passage like this more memorable and engaging.

Assonance is repetition of vowel sounds within several words that are close together

Examples include death threats , ran ragged and Please Please Me.

This repetition emphasises the words with the repeated sound, and highlights them for the reader or listener. Our brains like repetition, and again, it seems to make words or phrases more memorable.

Onomatopoeia is the use of words that sound like the noise they describe

Examples include splash, slosh, bark and buzz .

Like alliteration, this forces the reader to engage more of their senses, and therefore increases the impact of the words.

Other Figures of Speech

Other figures of speech and figurative language include:

Personification, where something non-human is given human-sounding characteristics . For example, The wind whistled through the trees , or The river gurgled over the stones.

Hyperbole, or excessive exaggeration. For example, I jumped a mile!

Irony is the juxtaposition of unexpected events and outcomes, or surprising or amusing coincidences or contradictions. It would, for example, be ironic if a fire station burned down, or a police station was burgled, or a marriage guidance counsellor turned out to be cheating on their spouse.

An ironic definition of irony

irony , n. the opposite of wrinkly

Idiom, or phrases with a meaning beyond the literal. Idioms include phrases like “raining cats and dogs”, meaning ‘raining very hard’, and “a piece of cake” meaning ‘easy’. Idioms generally do not translate well into other languages: there may be a similar expression, but it is unlikely to be a direct translation. They are therefore particularly hard for non-native speakers of a language to understand and use correctly.

Idiomatic language

When we talk about being able to talk idiomatically, we do not mean using lots of idioms. Instead, the phrase is used to mean using the language like a native speaker, idioms and all.

Ironically, therefore, the term ‘idiomatic language’ is actually almost an idiom itself.

Symbolism is the use of an object to represent something else. This is usually a higher feeling or power. For example, in the legends of King Arthur, the sword Excalibur is a symbol of bravery and royalty. In Tolkien’s novels, the One Ring is a symbol of darkness.

Allusion is a reference in film or literature to another work or characters . It does not have to be explicit. For example, the film Chicken Run contains numerous allusions to the World War Two film, The Great Escape. Bridget Jones’ Diary and its sequel are nods towards the novels of Jane Austen, containing many similar plot devices.

Beware figurative language that has become a cliché

Some figures of speech have been so overused that they have become clichés.

This might include some very well-known similes, or metaphors that have been made so often that they are getting a bit tired.

It is worth trying to coin new comparisons and being original in your writing. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it can also be lazy.

You can find out more about clichés in our page Understanding and Avoiding Clichés .

A Final Word

Figurative language is often what makes a language come alive.

Whether in speech or on the page or screen, it helps to deepen descriptions, heighten the impact of words, and emphasise a point. Too much figurative language can indeed be too much—but using some is important to ensure that your writing or speech is memorable and unique.

Continue to: Creative Writing Avoiding Common Mistakes in Writing

See also: Active and Passive Voice Business Storytelling Writing for Children

How To Use Figurative Language To Enhance Your Writing

• What Is Figurative Language?
• Figurative Language Vs. Literary Devices
• Using Figurative Language
• Take The Quiz

In writing, we use a lot of different figures of speech. In your own writing, you have likely used a simile in a sentence such as It was as hot as the sun. Or perhaps you like creating clever puns such as She brought the planks of wood to the board meeting. Both of these popular types of wordplay are examples of figurative language . Not only is figurative language fun, but it can also really spice up your writing if used effectively. 

In this article, we will:

• explain what figurative language is
• give examples of different types of figurative language
• offer tips for using figurative language creatively

You probably use figurative language already, but learning a bit more about it will ensure that your metaphors, similes, puns, idioms, and hyperbole shine like diamonds . Without any further ado, let’s cut to the chase and learn all we can about figurative language.   

What is figurative language ?

Figurative language is language that uses creative wordplay, expressions, and figures of speech to mean something beyond the literal definition of words. 

Figurative language can be described as the opposite of literal language. When we use words literally, their meaning is usually the same as the meaning that appears in the dictionary. For example, the sentence I went to the grocery store literally means that you traveled to a place that sells food. 

When we use words figuratively, on the other hand, they mean something beyond the definitions of the words themselves. Often, we use figurative language to inspire colorful mental images or make our writing and speech more exciting. 

Let’s look at the sentence It was raining cats and dogs . If we read this sentence literally, it says that cats and dogs fell from the sky. If we recognize it as figurative language, we know that the sentence is actually saying that it was raining a lot. As you can see, figurative language requires us to go beyond the literal meanings of words to understand the intent behind them. 

Examples of figurative language

Figurative language includes many different figures of speech and types of wordplay. The following list gives some popular examples of figurative language but is not exhaustive.

A simile is “a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared.” Typically, similes make comparisons using the word like or as .

Example: She ran as fast as lightning. 

2. metaphor

A metaphor is another form of comparison in which something is said to figuratively be something else.

Example: I am a sloth in the morning until I drink my coffee. 

Learning the difference between a metaphor and a simile can be a walk in the park and as easy as pie!

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its elements.

Example: You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

4. hyperbole

A hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration.

Example: The dish exploded into a million pieces.

Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.

Example: I failed my exams and lost my wallet, so it has been a fantastic day so far. 

6. onomatopoeia

An onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound it refers to.

Example: The cymbals crashed, and the drums boomed.

A person is making a pun when they humorously use words with multiple meanings or words with similar sounds to create wordplay.

Example: The article on fishing lures made by secret societies looked interesting, but it turned out to be clique bait.

When they’re not formal and serious, words are perfect for playful linguistic shenanigans, antics, and amusement!

8. personification

Personification is the act of giving human elements to non-human things.

Example: The leaves danced gracefully in the wind.  

9. metonymy

Metonymy is when the name of something is replaced with something related to it.

Example: He loved music from the cradle (birth) to the grave (death).

10. synecdoche

Synecdoche is when a part of something is used to refer to a whole.

Example: She saw a lot of familiar faces at the party.

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Figurative language vs. literary devices

A literary device is an element, like a metaphor, that draws us into a story . Some consider literary devices to be the building blocks of literature. When used correctly and effectively, literary devices give writers a way to infuse their work with detail and hint at larger themes, ideas, and meaning.

Some forms of figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, are considered to be types of literary devices. However, common literary devices may make use of figurative language, literal language, or both to accomplish whatever goal an author has in mind. 

Elevate your writing by getting to know some of the most common types of literary devices.

For example, foreshadowing is a commonly used literary device. When establishing foreshadowing , an author may use actual events to hint at something that will happen later in a story. For example, a heroine may repeatedly see a black cat wandering around before she discovers that the evil sorcerer disguises himself as a black cat.  

Alternatively, a literary device such as symbolism may use figurative language to express meaning to a reader. For example, a group of knights in a story may wear clothing with lions on them, and the author may refer to them as lions in the narrative. In this case, the author is using symbolism; the knights are not literal lions. The author compares them to lions using figurative language in order to emphasize their courage, pride, and ferociousness. 

Often, figurative language and literary devices are used together by writers in order to draw readers in with clever and imaginative use of words, themes, and plots. 

How to use figurative language

Using figurative language in your writing is a great way to catch a reader’s attention and make your text more creative and exciting. However, there are some important tips to keep in mind when using figurative language. 

Arguably the most important part of figurative language is ensuring that your reader understands what you are saying. If you use an expression your reader doesn’t know or make a comparison that your reader doesn’t understand, you have unnecessarily made your writing worse. As a writer, you must always keep your audience in mind. So if you’re unsure who your audience is, it is best to stick to common expressions and make your wordplay easy to understand. 

For example:

❌ Confusing: The pickpocket was a hyena among oryx; it was like shooting fish in a bucket. 

✅ Better: The pickpocket was a wolf among sheep; it was like taking candy from a baby. 

The second example shows how to use figurative language effectively. It relies on common, well-known animals in a simple metaphor and also uses a common expression. Even if a reader hasn’t heard the expression like taking candy from a baby , it is pretty clear from the context that it is referring to easily committing a crime. 

Another thing to keep in mind before using figurative language is the type of writing you are doing. Specifically, are you engaging in formal writing or informal writing? Figurative language is more likely to be used in informal writing. While formal writing does usually allow for figurative language, it is often a lot more difficult to use figurative writing effectively in formal writing. 

In formal writing, lighthearted figurative language such as puns, hyperbole, and whimsical similes will often come across as distracting, unprofessional, and inappropriate. In formal settings, it is best to stick to serious uses of figurative language that don’t detract from the tone or professionalism of the writing. 

❌ Informal language: The senator had to get out while the getting was good because he knew his argument wasn’t going to cut the mustard. 

✅ More formal: The senator had to cut his losses because he knew his argument didn’t hold water. 

Think you’re one smart cookie? Take the quiz!

If you’re confident you’ve got a good grasp on figurative language, try blowing us out of the water, knocking our socks off, and showing us you’re quick as a whip by acing our figurative language quiz .

Give your writing even more of a leg up by learning some rhetorical devices.

Ways To Say

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