Figures of Speech

      Figure of speech is the deviation from the ordinary use of words to increase the effect. There are many figures of speech in English, only a few of them are given below.

       The Simile is a direct and explicit comparison, usually expressed by as, like etc., the Metaphor is only an implied comparison.
He is as fierce as a tiger. (Simile)
He is a tiger. (Metaphor)

      Synecdoche denotes the whole thing by one of its parts or vice versa.
I want two more hands (men).
Gold and silver (riches) I have none.
Long live His Majesty (King).

     Personification is the way to treat inanimate things and abstract ideas as living persons. Apostrophe is also a kind of personification which in addition denotes some absent person as if he were present.
The thirsty earth soaks up the rain. (Personification)
O solitude! Where are thy charms? (Apostrophe)

     Transferred Epithet is the way of using one objects epithet (an adjective or phrase that describe ssomebody's/something's character or most important quality) to another.
He walked with careless steps.

    Antithesis is the use of contrasted words or ideas set against each other in a balanced form.
United we stand, divided we fall.

    Epigram is an apparent contradiction in language which by causing a temporary shock, rouses our attention to some important meaning underneath.
The child is the father of the men.

    Oxymoron is an extreme form of Epigram, and is the use in one expression of two contradictory terms.
He is always idly busy.

    Climax is the gradual ascent to a more and more important or impressive form of expression.
He smiled, he laughed, he roared.

    Bathos or Anti-climax implies a descent from a higher to lower.
Not one, but all mankind's epitome.

    Euphemism is the way of stating offensive words in an agreeable and pleasing manner.
He has gone the way of all flesh (has died).

    Alliteration is the frequent repetition of the same letter.
A strong man struggling with the storms of fate.

    Irony is the use of words the natural meaning of which is just the opposite of what is intended to be expressed. By this figure, therefore, we say one thing but mean just the opposite which stays hidden in the tone or manner of the speaker.
He left me to the mercies of my enemy.

   Allegory, Parable, Fable are lengthy comparison between unlike things for the purpose of teaching some moral lessons. In an Allegory the characters actually stand for virtues and vices, whereas in a Parable and Fable the moral is taught in a general way. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is the best known Allegory, Aesop's Fables are well known and The Bible abounds in many Parables.

   Pleonasm or Tautology is the unnecessary repetition of the same thing in different words.
Let us repeat it again.

   Exclamation is the strong expression of a feeling.
Oh, what a fall was there my countrymen !

   Interrogation is a statement put in the form of a question to make the statement more emphatic.
Can a blind man see ?

   Hyperbole or Exaggeration represents things as greater or less, better or worse, than they really are.
A thousand thanks to you.

    Litotes is the use of a negative to express a strong affirmative of the opposite kind.
He is no fool (wise).

    Periphrasis or Circumlocution is expressing something in a roundabout way, instead of saying it directly.
The great fierce fish that thirsts for blood (shark).

   Metonymy is substituting the name of one thing for that of another closely connected with it.
Address the chair (Chairman).
The pen (writer) is mightier than the sword (soldier).

   Onomatopia is the use of words which suggest their meaning by their very sound.
The mew of the cat.