What Is Figurative Language? Pep Up Your Speech With These 8 Examples
8 min read
What Is Figurative Language? Pep Up Your Speech With These 8 Examples
“Clickity clack! I’m typing, fast as the wind. If I don’t finish these today, I’ll be up a creek without a paddle!”
Often, when composing cover letters or business emails, we find ourselves in search of words or phrases to give our writing - or speeches - a bit of pep. We rummage through the thesaurus, forage the corners of our minds, on the hunt for ways to heighten the imagery of our text and increase its emotional impact.
That is where figurative language flies to the rescue.
What is figurative language?
Figurative language is phrasing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to get a message or point across. It’s the use of figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, and allusions, to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful. Figurative language heightens the impact of a given statement, by conjuring images outside of the immediate confines of the text, to elicit a sensation. Metaphors might arguably be the most well-known form of figurative language. “Fish out of water,” “beat a dead horse,” and “apple of my eye,” are all commonly used metaphors.
Figures of speech also include sound-based devices, such as alliteration and onomatopoeia, that use the way words sound to conjure images and associations with experiences.
In fact, there are several forms of figurative language. Let's take a look at a few of them and some illustrative examples.
8 Figurative language examples
1. Simile
“He was wily as a fox”
A simile is a figure of speech that draws comparison between two separate concepts, using a clear connecting word such as “like” or “as.” In the above, a man is described as being wily, meaning to possess cunning, craftiness, and shrewdness. As this is a quality usually associated with a fox, the simile draws a comparison between the man and a fox to highlight this particular trait of his.
“I slept like a log”
“Dumb as a rock”
“Sharp as a tack”
2. Metaphor
“He’s a dull blade”
A metaphor applies a word or phrase to a person or thing that isn’t meant literally, but rather to make a comparison. The intent is to associate that person or thing with an idea that elicits an image that would otherwise not be suitable for that person or thing but is better at describing the desired sensation. In the above, a person is described as dull, which can mean boring, but in this instance, more likely means unintelligent or obtuse. A dull blade is a particularly acute metaphor because a blade that is dull is not only the opposite of what you expect a blade to be, but it is also rather useless. So, instead of just calling him dull, the metaphor elicits the image of an unsharp blade to help visualize the severity and impact of his dullness.
A metaphor is like a simile, but without connecting words.
“He was a wily fox”
“She cried a river of tears”
“She’s a raging tiger”
3. Implied metaphor
“She lured him into her web”
Metaphors can come in a few different forms. In the implied metaphor, the object of comparison is merely implied rather than directly referenced. For instance, the phrase, “He barked commands at the team,” implies a comparison to an angry dog. “He brayed his refusal to leave,” implies a comparison to a stubborn mule. Here, the image of a spider, building a sticky web and luring her dinner into it, is conjured to describe a woman drawing a man into a trap with ill intent.
“He slithered through the crowd”
“She galloped after the bus”
“He dove head-first into the relationship
4. Personification
“The wind howled”
Personification is where human qualities are projected onto inanimate objects, animals, natural elements, or even abstract notions, as in “The sun invited us outside.” In the above, the wind is described as making a horrifying sound or howling, which is to cry out loudly and without restraint in pain or grief. This way, you can imagine the wind as someone crying out in pain.
“The words leaped off the page”
“Time marches on”
“The cat grinned”
5. Hyperbole
“I have a million things to do today”
Hyperbole is extravagant, intentional, overt exaggeration used to emphasize an emotion or description. Sometimes hyperbole also uses simile and allusion. No human actually has a million things on a one-day to-do list. That’s obviously impossible. And that’s the keyword: “obvious”. The overt nature of the exaggeration is what lends the hyperbole its power; you obviously don’t have a million things to do, but the size of your to-do list might feel insurmountable.
“I am starving to death”
“This guy is taller than a giraffe”
“You’re so loud, the whole city can hear you”
6. Allusion
“Go down a rabbit hole”
Allusion is when a text references another external text - or even a person, place, or event. It can be either explicit or implicit. Here, the well-worn phrase “to go down the rabbit hole” is actually a reference to Lewis Carroll’s novel Alice in Wonderland. It alludes to Alice’s literal journey into a rabbit hole and her metaphorical journey into an unknown world that leads to twists and turns and never-ending discoveries. The saying now refers to “a complexly bizarre situation in which the pursuit of something (such as an answer or solution) leads to other questions, problems, or pursuits”
“In the ninth level of hell”
"Chocolate cake is my Achilles heel"
“Well, Einstein, any bright ideas?”
7. Idiom
“Toe the line”
An idiom is a non-literal turn of phrase, so common that most people know them. It is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. In other words, an idiom is a phrase that, when taken as a whole, has a meaning you wouldn't be able to deduce from the meanings of the individual words. The origin of the above phrase “toe the line,” is somewhat disputed, but its most likely origin goes back to the wooden decked ships of the Royal Navy during the 17th century. Barefooted seamen had to line up for inspection on deck, lining up their toes along the seams of the wooden planks, hence to "toe the line". Now it is an idiom meaning to conform rigorously to a rule or standard
“Hit the hay”
“Stabbed in the back”
“Blow off steam”
8. Alliteration
“Krispie Kreme Crumble Cake”
Although it doesn’t use figures of speech, many consider alliteration to also be figurative language. Alliteration is a sound device that layers additional meaning and sensation on top of the language of the text. This device is about building a series of words that start with the same letter sound. “Wicked witch” or “from forth the fatal loins of these two foes.” This can help to elicit a feeling or image from the text, simply through word choice. Alliteration can also make phrases more memorable. That’s why you can find them in Movie and TV titles - Big Brother, Breaking Bad, Wonder Woman - and ad slogans - “Don't dream it. Drive it.” (Jaguar),
“Intel Inside” (Intel), “You'll never put a better bit of butter on your knife.” (Country Life Butter), and “Maybe it’s Maybelline”.
Wiley Willie wandered westward
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Paula planted the pretty pink poppies in the pot
How do you use figurative language in business writing?
In business, we often hear that direct, plain language is best, to avoid confusion. Certainly, in international dealings, for example, idioms can lead to serious misunderstandings. But, simply because you’re writing in a business setting, doesn’t mean that your writing has to be as dull as an old blade.
Figurative language in your blogs, emails, and pitches can be an effective and compelling tool to inspire clients, excite colleagues, and just keep readers engaged. Sometimes plain language isn’t enough to convey a message or the scope of an idea. That’s when more vivid imagery can help readers to understand the breadth of the point you’re trying to get across. Using figurative language is a great technique to help your readers to form images in their minds. It can help you bring out emotions and help turn abstract ideas into tangible concepts.
For more tips on career development, check out our blogs. Or, if you’re looking for experts with knowledge of figurative language to help pep up your cover letter, let our expert writers at ZipJob lend a hand.
Extended reading:
Written by
Robert Lyons, Freelance Writer
As a freelance writer, Robert has covered technology, travel, arts, the entertainment industry, and career development. Originally from the Midwest, he has lived in L.A. and Berlin but now is based in New York.
