Figures of Speech

Figurative the Language

Figurative language is a broad category that includes :

a) Figures of speech

b) Sound devices and

c) Imagery.

I. Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are words or groups of words that must be taken in a non-literal sense in order to understand their meaning. Examples of figures of speech are Similes, Metaphors, Hyperboles, Personification, Synecdoche, Onomatopoeia, Oxymoron, Litotes, Idiom, Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance, Allusion, Irony, Puns, Understatement and Personification. All of these use words in a non-literal, or figurative way. So, figures of speech fall into the broader category of figurative language, which includes words that are non-literal in their meanings as well as words that evoke sensory reactions in readers (imagery) or use sound devices to enhance the meaning of a phrase or sentence.

Figurative language can also include wording that creates an image for the reader or that uses sound devices to add a deeper level of meaning to a word or group of words. Imagery is wording that evokes a five-senses response. Words such as “glittering,” “screeching,” “frigid,” “lemony,” and “smoky” create sensory reactions in the reader. Poetry especially takes advantage of such sound devices to create a mood or reinforce a meaning. For example, in these lines from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” the repeated long /e/ sound reinforces the sweeping wind: “The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.”

How to use figurative language in your own writing

Here are four tips to keep in mind for using figurative language in your own writing:

Use figurative language sparingly

With figurative language, a little goes a long way. Think of it like cooking with salt, using a little bit can enhance the taste and add wonderful new flavors, but overdoing it can ruin your meal. Figurative language can also be distracting if used too much, so it’s best to limit its usage. If you’re using metaphors, hyperbole, or other literary devices in every sentence, you’re going to exhaust your reader.

Figurative language pairs well with humor

Apart from creating writing and helping to explain complex ideas, figurative language is also used in humour. Comedians and comedic writers often use it for punchlines and humorous analogies.

Be careful when using figurative language as dialogue

Often in creative writing, it’s tempting to write figurative language as part of a character’s dialogue. While figurative language is quite common in everyday speech (i.e., “I could just die from embarrassment,” or “I’m starving!”), flowery phrases tend to stick out in conversations, and not always in a good way.

Even if a writer is particularly proud of a certain turn of phrase, putting those words in the mouth of a character can seem out of place or inauthentic.

Never sacrifice clarity

Sometimes figurative language can simplify a complicated idea, but other times it can complicate a simple idea. If you want to add some figurative spice to a sentence, make sure that you don’t convolute the meaning.

Remember that figurative language can be distracting, so sometimes it makes it harder for the reader to understand what you’re trying to say. Never sacrifice clarity for something that sounds nice.

TYPES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

1. SIMILIE

A simile is a type of figurative language that describes something by comparing it to something else with the words like or as.

How to Use a Simile in a Sentence?

The general idea of using a simile with the word ‘as’ is by using a noun that is known for a particular quality. For example: as proud as a peacock, as busy as a bee and so on. A simile is a direct comparison of two like or unlike things. A simile helps your reader or listener visualise, understand and have a better conception of the quality of the nouns being compared. It makes it a lot more vivid and descriptive. In other words, it can be said that similes can be used to provide a mental image to your reader or listener.

Importance of Using a Simile

Similes are a powerful tool for making language more interesting, descriptive, and creative. Because the mind thinks in images and associations, similes can elicit stronger and more effective descriptions than adjectives or exact descriptions; they can activate linked emotions, generate new mental connections, and underline specific features. From common conversation to poetry, similes are almost required for creative expression.

Examples of Similes using “as” and “like”

As proud as a peacock
Example: He is now as proud as a peacock, since he owns the latest imported car.
As gentle as a lamb
Example: My grandmother is as gentle as a lamb, a very soft spoken and kind hearted person.
As bright as a button
Example: She seems to be as bright as a button!
As strong as an ox
Example: Though kind in nature, he is as strong as an ox.
As hot as hell
Example: How can you bear to go out in this weather? It is as hot as hell!

As tough as leather
Example: My brother can help you move all this furniture, he is as tough as leather!

As bright as the moon
Example: Her eyes shined as bright as the moon on receiving her birthday gift.
As thin as a rake
Example: How can you eat so much and still be as thin as a rake?
As wise as an owl
Example: This problem seems tough! You can only solve this if you are as wise as an owl!
As white as a ghost
Example: Her face became as white as a ghost when she spotted the burglar in her house.
As fresh as a daisy
Example: You still look as fresh as a daisy after finishing all the work!
As stiff as a board
Example: I am sure that he is very nervous, he is standing as stiff as a board on the stage.
As clear as crystal
Example: She loved visiting the lake high up in the mountains, whose water was as clear as crystal.
As smooth as silk
Example: Her voice is as smooth as silk.
As stubborn as a mule
Example: It’s no use trying to change his mind, that man is as stubborn as a mule.

As silent as the grave
Example: He knew something was wrong when he found his friends as silent as the grave.

As light as a feather
Example: This shawl is made from very fine material, it’s as light as a feather!
As old as the hills
Example: Her grandmother’s love story was as old as the hills.
As straight as an arrow
Example: You can trust him, he is as straight as an arrow.
As clean as a whistle
Example: The maid has done a good job, and the hall is as clean as a whistle

As soft as velvet
Example: I just love my new blanket, it is as soft as velvet!

As sharp as a razor
Example: Despite being over 75 years of age, my grandmother’s mind is as sharp as a razor.
As white as snow
Example: The clothes she wore were as white as snow.
As brave as a lion
Example: While fighting the war, the soldier was as brave as a lion.
Cunning like a fox
Example: Don’t trust his words, he is cunning like a fox.
As cold as ice
Example: The expression on her face was as cold as ice.

As busy as a bee
Example: My wife is as busy as a bee in the mornings.
As clear as crystal
Example: She loved visiting the lake high up in the mountains, whose water was as clear as crystal.
As smooth as silk
Example: Her voice is as smooth as silk.
As stubborn as a mule
Example: It’s no use trying to change his mind, that man is as stubborn as a mule.

As silent as the grave
Example: He knew something was wrong when he found his friends as silent as the grave.
As light as a feather
Example: This shawl is made from very fine material, it’s as light as a feather!
As old as the hills
Example: Her grandmother’s love story was as old as the hills.
As straight as an arrow
Example: You can trust him, he is as straight as an arrow.
As black as coal
Example: His face became as black as coal after being criticized.

METAPHOR

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. Metaphors can be used to create vivid imagery, exaggerate a characteristic or action, or express a complex idea. Metaphors are commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech. Metaphors can make your words come to life, and often, you can use a metaphor to make your subject more relatable to the reader or to make a complex thought easier to understand. They can also be a tremendous help when you want to enhance your writing with imagery. As a common figure of speech, metaphors turn up everywhere from novels and films to presidential speeches and even popular songs. When they’re especially good, they’re hard to miss.

TYPES OF METAPHORS

There are four types of Metaphors:

Implied Metaphor

Implied metaphors are subtle, often embedding deeper meanings without directly stating the comparison. These figurative expressions weave an intricate tapestry of ideas and imagery, requiring the reader or listener to deduce the connection. This guide will not only provide illuminating examples of metaphors but also share insights on crafting them and using them effectively. Whether you’re a writer, educator, or simply curious, uncover the nuances of this artful linguistic tool and learn to harness its potential.

Take these two sentences:

a) Jordan got his courtship cues from the peacock.
b) In a room full of ladies, Jordan simply fans his feathers.

In both sentences, we are comparing Jordan to a peacock. In the first sentence, the comparison is overt: the peacock is mentioned directly. But in the second sentence, we imply that Jordan is the peacock by comparing his behavior (fanning his feathers) to something peacocks are known for doing. That isn’t meant to suggest that Jordan actually has feathers, but that he is behaving in a showy and flirty way to catch the attention of the ladies.

Here are some common examples of Implied Metaphor

Jack purred over her baby. (Jack is compared to a cat)
Once Sneha saw her bad result, she left the class with her tail between her legs. (The girl is compared to a dog)
John galloped to the medical store to get his mother’s medicine. (John is compared to a horse)
The air hostess spent her whole journey buzzing from seat to seat. (Woman is compared to bee or fly)
Nancy slithered over to Jane and hissed,” come! Let’s make noodles” (Girl is compared to snake)
Little Andrew shed his clothes and jumped into the pool. (Boy is compared to snake)
The lily danced in the wind. (Flower is compared to human)
When the match ended, all the photographers orbited the player to get a clip. (Photographers are compared to the planet)
He offered a glass of water to his angry wife until it erupted. (Wife’s anger is compared to the volcano)

His soft words nourished his bruised respect. (Words are compared to food)

Sustained Metaphor

Sustained or Extended metaphors are a great way to build evocative images into a piece of writing and make prose more emotionally resonant. Examples of extended metaphor can be found across all forms of poetry and prose. Learning to use extended metaphors in your own work will help you engage your readers and improve your writing. A sustained metaphor is carried through multiple sentences or even paragraphs. Because it is used and developed over a longer section of text, a sustained metaphor can be a powerful literary device that provides strong, vivid imagery in the reader’s mind.

Here are some common examples of Sustained or Extended metaphor

“Life is a journey”
“Love is a rose”
“A person’s mind is a garden”
“A society is a machine”
“Art is a mirror of society”
“A person’s life is a book”
“A person’s emotions are waves”
“A person’s thoughts are clouds”
“A person’s dreams are a puzzle”
“A person’s goals are a mountain to climb”

Another example of Sustained Metaphor used in Literature found in William Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It.” In Act II, Scene VII, the character Jacques delivers his famous “All the world’s a stage” monologue. Here is an excerpt:

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts…”

In this extended metaphor, Jacques compares the world to a stage and human beings to actors. He goes on to describe the different stages of life as different roles or parts that people play. This metaphor not only provides a vivid and imaginative way of looking at life but also offers deeper insights into the transient and performative nature of human existence.

Dead metaphor

A dead metaphor is a cliché that has become so commonplace that the imagery has lost its power. Examples of dead metaphors include: “raining cats and dogs,” “throw the baby out with the bathwater,” and “heart of gold.”

With a good, living metaphor, you get that fun moment of thinking about what it would look like if Elvis were actually singing to a hound dog (for example). But with a dead metaphor, the original image has already receded into the background.

Here are some examples of a dead Metaphor

The leg of the table – The phrase refers to the structure that give stability to a table. On the contrary, no one can ever think of leg of an animal or a table as a basis for such comparison..
The eye of the storm – The eye of the storm indicates absolute stillness in the center of a storm. But it has slowly become simple figures of speech..
Time is running out – The sentence is meant to imply that the time is hardly left. It can be depleted. While it has also become a stereotype as it has been exhausted in use.
He’s a couch potato – He is a couch potato and unfortunately, it is also no longer possible to melt the potatoes using my grandmother’s old cast-iron pan.
She’s fishing for compliments – It is possible to replace the second comma with a colon to emphasize that she is looking for any type of compliment. The main issue with this analogy is that fishing is no longer a suitable image.

Mixed Metaphor

A mixed metaphor is a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer combines two different metaphors that are incompatible. All metaphors should be accepted for their figurative meaning rather than their literal meaning, but mixed metaphors make this difficult by offering inconsistent imagery and ludicrous comparisons that strain the boundaries of linguistics. The use of mixed metaphors can derail a piece of otherwise strong writing.

Here are some examples of Mixed Metaphors

We were flying through a sea of success.
He seemed scary, but he was all bark with no place to go.
The substitute teacher screamed her hair out, but the kids wouldn’t listen.
When the going gets tough, the early bird gets the worm.
Too many cooks break the camel’s back.
This is hardly rocket surgery.
A rolling stone gathers a rock and a hard place.
I’ll be here ’til the cows come home to roost.

IDIOMS

An idiom is a widely used saying or expression containing a figurative meaning that differs from the phrase’s literal meaning. The word “idiom” comes from the Greek word “idioma,” meaning peculiar phrasing. For example, “apple of one’s eye” is an idiom universally understood to mean fond of a person.

Idioms often summarize or reflect a commonly held cultural experience, even if that experience is now out of date or antiquated. For instance, you might say that someone should “bite the bullet” when they need to do something undesirable. The phrase’s origin refers to wounded soldiers literally biting down on a bullet to avoid screaming during a wartime operation. That common occurrence from the past resulted in a phrase we still use today. These phrases are also unique to their language of origin. In other words, English idioms are different from Spanish or French idioms.

Types of Idioms

Pure Idioms

These idioms bear the components of the phrase with no literal resemblance to the meaning of the phrase. Examples of pure idioms include:

Break a leg (Cheer of good luck)
Once i a blue Moon (Rarely or infrequently)
Beat around the bush (say things indirectly)

Binomial Idioms

Binomial idioms, or binomial expressions, are phrases that include two words that may be opposites, usually joined by ”and” or ”or.” Usually, binomial idioms are used to express disconnect or opposition, or else to restate a single idea. Examples of binomial idioms include:

Back and forth (Move in two directions)
By and Large ( In general, usually)
Safe and Sound (safe from danger, free from injury)

Partial Idioms

When idioms become particularly well-known and integrated into a culture, they sometimes get shortened to partial idioms. This makes them quicker to say, but it can also make them even more confusing for those who are not familiar with them. Examples of partial idioms include:

When in Rome (do as the Romans do)
If the shoe fits (wear it)
Birds of a feather (flock together)

Idioms can be used in many ways:

Idioms can be a powerful tool when used correctly. Idioms are an easy way to make your writing sound more conversational. For fiction writers, idioms can add personality to characters’ voices. Idioms can vary geographically and generationally, so using appropriate idioms can make your characters more authentic Science fiction and fantasy writers may enjoy creating idioms that make sense in the fictional worlds they create. It’s best to avoid idioms in technical or formal writing. Idioms leave a lot of room for misunderstandings, and they aren’t precise. Idioms can become clichés when they are overused in certain situations! Use idioms sparingly and efficiently in your writing.

Examples of Pure Idioms

Sl No	Pure Idioms	Meaning
1	A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush	An opportunity in hand, currently, is better than a prospect in the future, because time never repeats itself.
2	Chip off the old block	A person is similar in behaviour or actions to his parents.
3	Every cloud has a silver lining	Bad things one day eventually lead to good things.
4	Fair and square	Being direct or fair.
5	Don’t cry over spilt milk	Don’t cry over what has happened as it can not be fixed.
6	Having an Ace up the sleeve	Have an advantage that is currently being withheld for future purposes.
7	Hook, line and sinker	Doing something or trying to achieve something with thoroughness and passion.
8	Down for the count	Tired; giving up.
9	Up a creek without a paddle	In an unlucky situation.
10	Fish out of water	To be out of your comfort zone.
11	Go the extra mile	To make an extra effort.
12	To not see the wood for the trees	To be so involved in trivial matters that you don’t get the important facts.
13	On thin ice	In a precarious or risky situation
14	Rain on someone’s parade	To spoil a moment.
15	Throw caution to the wind	Take a risk.
16	Penny-wise and Pound foolish	Careful in trivial matters but wasteful or extravagant in large matters.
17	Bite off more than you can chew	Take on difficult work that is beyond your capabilities.
18	Play by the ear	To improvise.
19	Ignorance is bliss	You are better off not knowing some things.
20	Beating Around the Bush	To talk about unnecessary things and not coming to the point.
21	Be in a Tight Corner	Being in a difficult situation
22	Wild Goose Chase	A futile chase.
23	Bury the Hatchet	Ending a quarrel to make peace.
24	To be in the doldrums	To be in a low spirit
25	Twist someone’s arm	To convince someone
26	Stab someone in the back	To betray a close person
27	Go cold turkey	To quit or stop addictive or dangerous behaviour
28	Ring a bell	Sounds familiar
29	To have sticky fingers	Stealing, A thief
30	Blow off steam	Experiencing strong feelings like anger or stress
31	Break the bank	To be very expensive
32	Wear your heart on your sleeve	Expressing yourself too openly
33	Cut no ice	Fail to make an impact
34	Light at the end of the tunnel	Seeing signs of improvement in the future
35	Through thick and thin	Through good and bad times
36	A left-handed compliment	Saying something insulting in the form of appreciative words.
37	Notch up	To win or create a record
38	Once bitten, twice shy	Afraid of doing something again
39	Hear it on the grapevine	To hear rumours
40	To cook the books	To alter facts and figures
41	A cash cow	A product or service that generates a lot of revenue for a company.
42	The gift of the gab	Talent for speaking
43	Cost an Arm and a Leg	Be very expensive
44	Smell a rat	Suspect something foul
45	Die in harness	Die while in service
46	To be snowed under	To be very busy
47	To move heaven and earth	To exert all efforts
48	To jump from a frying pan into the fire	To come out of one trouble and get into a worse
49	A miss is as good as a mile	Comes nowhere near the target
50	To throw cold water upon anything	To discourage efforts

Examples of Binomial Idioms

1	Bread and butter	something that is fundamental
2	My way or the highway	either do what I say or get lost
3	No fuss, no muss	no complications
4	Black and blue	having bruises
5	Hustle and bustle	a lot of activity and noise
6	Safe and sound	not in danger and not injured. Unharmed
7	Loud and clear	in a way that is very easy to understand
8	Thick and thin	both good and bad times
9	By hook or by crook	by any means possible
10	Ride or die	very committed and supportive
11	Sink or swim	Sink or swim
12	all or nothing	To say something needs to be completed wholly or not at all.
13	By and large	Used to make a general estimation about something
14	chalk and cheese	Used to refer to two things completely different from each other.
15	fair and square	To describe something that is achieved honestly and without unfair methods.
16	Aches and pains	Minor pains and a feeling of discomfort, especially in the muscles.
17	Born and bred	Be born and grow up in a particular place.
18	Cloak and dagger	Refers to stories or situations that involve intrigue, secrecy, espionage or mystery.
19	Cut and dried	Clear and definite or unchangeable.
20	Done and dusted	Completely finished.
21	Down and out	Without any money or means of support
22	Dribs and drabs	Little by little; in small numbers or amounts
23	Haves and have-nots	Rich and poor people
24	Hem and haw	Be very evasive; not give a clear answer.
25	High and dry	In a difficult situation without resources or assistance
26	Hot and bothered	Agitated, flustered or worried
27	Hue and cry	Loud opposition to something
28	Hustle and bustle	Noisy activity and surroundings.
29	Leaps and bounds	Very quickly and greatly.
30	Out and out	Complete
31	Prim and proper	Formal and socially correct
32	Rant and rave	Speak loudly and angrily about something
33	Trials and tribulations	The difficulties we face in life
34	Part and parcel	an essential component
35	Make or break	no middle ground between success or failure
36	Win or lose	whether someone succeeds or not
37	Pros and cons	Good and bad side of anything
38	Back to front	Confused
39	All in All	Person who seems to know everything
40	Signed and sealed	No document can be signed after being sealed inside an envelope
41	Cause and effect	The cause comes first and the effects follow
42	Catch and release	Cannot release something unless it’s been caught first
43	Rank and file	Unless a lot is ranked first, they cannot be filed by rank
44	Dusk till dawn	All-day long (Dusk is the end of daylight and dawn is the start)
45	Floor to ceiling	Entirely (Floor is at the bottom and ceiling is on top of a room)
46	Ebb and flow	Continuity (Ebb is the decrease and flow is the increase of water in the sea)
47	Head over heels	A somersault position (Head sits on top of the torso and heels, below the feet)
48	Sooner or later	Eventually (Soon is quick and late is the polar opposite)
49	Hand over fist	Rapidly (Hand and fist signify the same part of the human body)
50	Null and void	No power or validity (Null is zero and void means emptiness)

Examples of Partial Idioms

Sl No	Idioms	Meanings
1	When in Rome, be a Roman	Adopting to local customs or norms
2	The ball is in your court	It is your responsibility to take action now
3	Bite off more than you can	taking on a task that is too big or beyond one’s capabilities.
4	Beat around the bush	Avoiding the main topic or being indirect in communication
5	Give the benefit of	completion with “doubt” or “hesitation,” depending on the context.
6	If the shoe fits, wear it.	accept a criticism or general remark that another person has made.
7	Birds of a feather, flock together.	People who are alike tend to do things together.
8	Cross that bridge once we get to it.	You don’t need to deal with a situation until it happens.
9	Time flies when you’re having fun.	Time goes quickly in times of joy.
10	To kill two birds with one stone.	To achieve two things at once.

I. “The ship in the storm”

Idiom: Smooth seas dont make skillful sailors.

Meaning: Challenges and difficulties in life are required for growth and success.

Story:

A ship loaded with passengers started off on a holiday trip from India to Indonesia. With about 20 families consisting of 100 members. It was a month long trip. The passengers and the crew seemed extremely joyous and happy interacting with each other and enjoying the trip. On the third day of the journey, the nature started to show ups and downs and rough weather hit the vessel in the open sea with no time to react. Captain and his crew faced a violent storm at sea. As the ship tossed and turned, the crew panicked. Though the crew had a pre warning, with little time they have to act fast to save the ship and the passengers. Everyone in the crew panicked and waited for the captain’s instructions. Despite the difficult situation, the captain remained calm and steered the ship through the storm. When they reached calm waters, the crew asked how he stayed composed. The captain replied, “Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.” This story embodies the idiom “smooth seas don’t make skilful sailors,” emphasizing that challenges and difficulties are necessary for growth and development. Instead of panicking and creating a mind block over the situation, we should take control over the situation and act fast keeping in mind the lives and property we are responsible for.

III. “Holding On”

Idiom: Put the glass down or Let your hair down

Meaning: Let go of stress and be happy

Once upon a time a psychology professor walked around on a stage while teaching stress management principles to an auditorium filled with students. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the typical “glass half empty or glass half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, “How heavy is this glass of water I’m holding?”. Students shouted out answers ranging from eight ounces to a couple pounds. She replied, “From my perspective, the absolute weight of this glass doesn’t matter. It all depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, it’s fairly light. If I hold it for an hour straight, its weight might make my arm ache a little. If I hold it for a day straight, my arm will likely cramp up and feel completely numb and paralyzed, forcing me to drop the glass to the floor. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels to me.” As the class shook their heads in agreement, she continued, “Your stresses and worries in life are very much like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache a little. Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb and paralyzed – incapable of doing anything else until you drop them.”

4. HYPERBOLE

It is a figure of speech that is an intentional exaggeration for emphasis or comic effect. It is used to emphasize or draw attention to a certain element in a story. Hyperboles are used in daily conversations and speeches. Hyperbole is often used in poems and stories because it helps to emphasise part of the story and evoke a response from the reader. Hyperbole can help the writer to get their point across so that you understand the emotion, seriousness or humour of the situation. It can also be used to make something sound much worse than it actually is. For example, ‘this is the worst book in the world!’. In this example, the speaker doesn’t literally mean that the book is the worst one ever written but is using hyperbole to be dramatic and emphasise their opinion.

Advantages of using Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a way to accentuate a point—with gusto. Sometimes that gusto is intended to be humorous, other times it’s used to rally support or execute sharp criticism or deep discontent. Whatever the context, remember that the intent of hyperbole is to add unmistakable emphasis.

Here are some of the common examples of Hyperbole:

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.’
‘I haven’t seen you in ages!’
‘The teacher gave us a ton of homework.’
‘When your mum sees what you’ve done, she will kill you.’
‘She never stops talking.’
‘This work is going to take me years to finish.’
‘I’ll be there in two seconds.’
‘I was dying of laughter.’
That dress is amazing and looks like it cost a million dollars.
I love my family to the moon and back.
He means to say that he is buried under a mountain of work nowadays.
His dog is quite adorable and, in my opinion, the cutest thing alive.
She loves him more than life itself.
All his luggage weighs a ton.
After a family wedding function, I felt like I could sleep for a week.
The lyrics to this song are the worst thing I have ever heard.
This room is so cold that I’m getting hypothermia.
I’ve told you a million times to keep your files organized.
The weather is extremely cold and polar bears are just roaming outside.
She’s so funny and believes everything like Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company for her.
I have a million chores to finish at home today, so I must leave early.
One day when buses were on strike, I had to walk 15 miles to school uphill, in the snow.
I had a tonne of projects to complete this week.
If I don’t find the perfect dress for today’s function, I’ll die!
I could not see the number of the car as it just zoomed faster than the speed of light.

5. Personification

Personification is a figure of speech that bestows human traits to non-human entities. It can also be used to give a human-like persona to an abstract concept. It is the practice of using objects, quantities and other things as humans in art and literature.’ Personification examples can be found everywhere, from film to prose to poetry. For example, think about how often you hear someone say ‘The rain feels so good on my skin’ or ‘ love the smell of fresh snow.‘ The point of using personification is to help the reader better visualize certain elements of the story or poem. Telling a story with no personification can be difficult because it’s hard for readers to relate without ascribing human qualities to the characters and objects in your tale. When you use personification, you give everything in your story a sense of character and identity. Even if you don’t want everything in your story to be humanized, bringing inanimate objects and characters to life through personification can make them richer and more relatable.

Examples of Personification

The wind howled outside her bedroom window.
The grease jumped out of the pan.
The leaves let go of the tree and danced to the ground.
The wind was angry that night.
During the night, the blanket crept up until it was snuggled under my chin and my feet were bare.
The big, full moon confidently led me through the forest.
The leaves let go of the tree and danced to the ground.
The curtains danced in the breeze.
Her father’s eyes were cold and dark.

The tree branch scratched and clawed at my windowsill, trying to break into the house.
Her father looked at her with disdain.
The diving board taunted me, daring me to approach.
Her heart sank at the sight of her grandfather’s failing health.
The door protested as it opened slowly.
My house is a friend who protects me.
The mother duck scolded her young, encouraging them to walk in a line.
The moon smiled at the stars in the sky.
Justice is blind and, at times, deaf.
Money is the only friend that I can count on.
The wind whistled in my ears.
The sea was angry that day
He sang a lonely song to the moonlight.
The brown grass was begging for water.
The silence crept into the classroom.
December light is brief and uncharitable.
Clean dishes who sing and dance.
The old floorboards creaked under my weight.
The light danced on the surface of the water.
Stars winked in the midnight sky
The engine gave one final protest before the car broke down.
The heat was killing the Republican crowd in the protestant march.
The dog patiently sat at the door until he was let outside.
The gentle breeze swept over the field of grass.
The ocean was calling his name.
Time marched by
Sunbeams peaked through cracks in the clouds.
The city never sleeps
The city is alive at night
The train whistled as it arrived at the station
The thunder cried that night when he died.

Personification in Literature

For centuries, authors have been personifying the ideas, concepts, and objects in their work in order to inject meaning into otherwise insignificant things and abstractions.

Examples of Personification

The wind howled outside her bedroom window.
The grease jumped out of the pan.
The leaves let go of the tree and danced to the ground.
The wind was angry that night.
During the night, the blanket crept up until it was snuggled under my chin and my feet were bare.
The big, full moon confidently led me through the forest.
The leaves let go of the tree and danced to the ground.
The curtains danced in the breeze.
Her father’s eyes were cold and dark.
The tree branch scratched and clawed at my windowsill, trying to break into the house.
Her father looked at her with disdain.
The diving board taunted me, daring me to approach.
Her heart sank at the sight of her grandfather’s failing health.
The door protested as it opened slowly.
My house is a friend who protects me.
The mother duck scolded her young, encouraging them to walk in a line.
The moon smiled at the stars in the sky.
Justice is blind and, at times, deaf.
Money is the only friend that I can count on.
The wind whistled in my ears.
The sea was angry that day
He sang a lonely song to the moonlight.
The brown grass was begging for water.
The silence crept into the classroom.
December light is brief and uncharitable.
Clean dishes who sing and dance.
The old floorboards creaked under my weight.
The light danced on the surface of the water.
Stars winked in the midnight sky
The engine gave one final protest before the car broke down.
The heat was killing the Republican crowd in the protestant march.
The dog patiently sat at the door until he was let outside.
The gentle breeze swept over the field of grass.
The ocean was calling his name.
Time marched by
Sunbeams peaked through cracks in the clouds.
The city never sleeps
The city is alive at night
The train whistled as it arrived at the station
The thunder cried that night when he died.

Personification in Literature

For centuries, authors have been personifying the ideas, concepts, and objects in their work in order to inject meaning into otherwise insignificant things and abstractions.

6. SYNECDOCHE

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, 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. A less common form of synecdoche occurs when a whole is used to refer to a part. An example of this is when the word “mortals” is used to mean humans—”mortals” technically includes all animals and plants (anything that dies), so using “mortals” to mean humans is a synecdoche that uses a category to stand in for one of its subsets. Writers use synecdoche to enhance description & create imagery for the reader. The presence of a part is related to the whole. In a synecdoche, whole means something big & refers to many things. Example- The battalion excelled in the regiment means the battalion is a part & the regiment is a whole. When writers use synecdoche, it creates connections for the reader. For a synecdoche to function both as a microcosm and macrocosm, the reader must understand the relation of the smaller part to the larger whole. This means that a writer cannot choose any part of something & make a synecdoche. Meaning must be there for the part which is related to the whole in order for the reader to understand. Microcosm means a smaller part of something refers to a larger whole. For example– “blue hair” is used to call an older woman. Here we see how a smaller part of a woman’s body represents her as a whole in terms of age.

Macrocosm means a larger entity refers to a smaller part within it. Example-“Ivy League” is a group of prestigious colleges in the northeastern United States. Therefore, when someone is called an “Ivy League” student, it means that s/he belongs to one of these universities.

Examples of Synecdoche

Microcosmic Synecdoche

“We need some more hands.” “Hands” to refer to all manual labour workers.
“He has a nice set of wheels!”. “Wheels” to refer to a car
“This room is full of suits.” “Suits” to refer to business people.
“She’s wearing some nice threads.” “Threads” to refer to clothes.
“Check it over with your department head.” “Head” to refer to a person in charge.
“Show some teeth!” “Teeth” to refer to someone’s personality or confidence.
“Move your feet.” “Feet” to refer to a person’s movement.
“We need more boots on the ground.” “Boots” to refer to a soldier.
“He’s got more brains than anyone else.” “Brains” to refer to intelligence.
“I need a second pair of eyes on this.” “Eyes” to refer to a person looking at something.

Macrocosmic Synecdoche

1. “The White House is holding a press conference.” “The White House” as a reference for the President, staff, or advisors.
“Hollywood doesn’t make good films anymore.” “Hollywood” to refer to the actors or filmmakers in it.
“The market crashed on Wall Street.” “Wall Street” to refer to the financial sector or bankers.
“The bench needs some new players.” “The Bench” as a reference to the players or coaches.
“The team is off to a great start this season.” “The team” to refer to just the players on a sports team.
“Society is changing in many ways.” “Society” to refer to a particular segment of people within it.
“The police are doing their best to keep the streets safe.” “The police” when referring to individual officers
“The media is reporting on the latest news.” “The media” when referring to individual reporters and journalists.
“Congress is voting on the bill tomorrow.” “Congress” to refer to the members of Congress or a government body.
“Washington is out of touch with reality.” “Washington” to refer to the politicians in Washington or the government in general.

III. Container Synecdoche

“How much for a bottle?” “Bottle” to refer to the substance inside.
“She ate an entire box.” “Box” to refer to what’s inside of it.
“I need to buy a sack of potatoes.” “Sack” for potatoes or other items that are stored in a bag.
“Those costs $9.95 per crate.” “Crate” for the items inside the box, such as apples or oranges.
“I’ll have another glass.” “Glass” for wine or whatever is inside of it.

Material Objects Synecdoche

“Do you want paper or plastic?” “Paper” or “plastic” referring to grocery bags.
“I read it in the paper.” “Paper” to refer to the newspaper.
“Put the silverware on the table.” “Silverware” to refer to all types of cutlery, even though most are not made of silver.
“I have a new set of irons.” “Irons” to refer to golf clubs.

Category Synecdoche

“I’m looking for my jewellery.” “Jewellery” for rings.
“New Orleans won 4-0.” “San Francisco” or “New Orleans” or other city names used to represent sports teams.
“They were all put to the sword.” “The sword” referring to death.
“The computer needs new hardware.” “Hardware” to refer to a specific type of hardware like a motherboard.
“I need to buy new software.” “Software” to refer to a specific type of software like word processing or Excel.

Synecdoche in Literature

In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Mercutio says “A plague o’ both your houses!” He is referring to the families rather than their actual dwellings.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Daisy refers to her daughter as “the best of me” rather than using the word daughter or infant.
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon uses the phrase “Four legs good, two legs bad” to refer to animals and humans respectively.
In the Bible, John 6:53, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” uses “flesh and blood” to refer to people.
In Salvador Dali’s autobiography, he states “Give me a museum and I’ll fill it.” He uses museum to represent the specific walls that he would use to fill with art.

In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, “Eyes, look your last!” is an example of using eyes to represent an entire person.
In Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, he uses “off with their heads” as a way to refer to execution.
In Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, “I’ll chase him round Good Hope and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom.” is an example of using part (Norway Maelstrom) to represent the whole (world).
In Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, he states “Blanket me!” which is an example of using a material (blanket) to represent an object (bed).
In The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas writes ‘“He shall think differently,” the musketeer threatened, “When he feels the point of my steel.”’ Steel is used to refer to a sword.

What is Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeias include animal noises such as oink, meow, roar, and chirp. Onomatopoeia can differ between languages, and it conforms to some extent to the broader linguistic system. Onomatopoeia termed is used for referring to the sound of the things sometimes which are not existing. These sounds seem normal when they get included in a speech or narration, but if seen separately, or individually they surely grab the attention and make oneself imagine how they are discovered and built in the first place. Onomatopoeias are extremely important in both first and secondary language learning. When first exposed to sound and communication, humans are biologically inclined to mimic the sounds they hear, whether they are actual pieces of language or other natural sounds. There are two types of Onomatopoeia namely tame and wild. As one begins to acquire one’s first language, the proportion of “wild” onomatopoeia reduces in favour of sounds which are congruent with those of the language they are acquiring. Onomatopoeia can make a poem or piece of writing appeal to the sense of hearing.

Basically, there are four types of Onomatopoeia:

Real words that sound like real things

This type of onomatopoeia, which we’ll call conventional onomatopoeia, uses words whose own sound evokes the sound of real things. The word “meow,” which sounds just like the sound a cat makes when it actually meows, is a classic example of conventional onomatopoeia. This is by far the most common type of onomatopoeia.

Real words made to evoke the sound of real things

In this rarer type of onomatopoeia, a word or series of words is used to imitate a real-world sound, even though the words used don’t mimic that sound themselves. Perhaps the most famous example of this type of onomatopoeia is Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “The Bells,” in which Poet repeats the word “bell” 62 times to evoke the sound of a bell ringing and tolling, even though the word “bell” itself does not itself sound like a bell ringing.

Made-up words that sound like real things

Made-up words can fill the void when no word exists to sufficiently capture the nuances of a real-world sound. For example, when James Joyce needed a word to convey the sound of someone knocking on a door, he invented “tattarrattat.” Today, almost a hundred years after he coined it in writing his novel Ulysses, “tattarrattat” has become a legit word (it’s in the Oxford English Dictionary).

A series of letters that mimic a “raw” sound

Sometimes onomatopoeia involves no words at all, as in examples like “Zzzzzz” to represent the sound of sleeping or snoring, “hachoo” for a sneezing sound, or “tsk-tsk” or “tut-tut” to convey the scolding sound we make to express disapproval.

Why is Onomatopoeia preferred by Writers?

Writing in plain and literal language is not very expressive and can be pretty dull. Consider this example: “The car drove fast down the street and turned quickly at the corner.”. This sentence conveys meaning in a clear way. But, now consider the revision of the same sentence : “We heard the of the car’s engine as it whizzed, vroomed and screeched around the corner.” This sentence is a lot more vivid and descriptive. It enhances expressiveness by evoking sounds and feelings of real life.This is the reason writers prefer to use Onomatopoeia. With onomatopoeia, a gun doesn’t just go off, it goes “bang!” Thunder doesn’t just make a sound, it makes a “clap,” “crack,” or a “boom.” Birds don’t just sing, they “tweet” and “chirp.” Onomatopoeic words like these help bring written language to life.

Examples of Onomatopoeia

There are five categories of onomatopoeic examples that are commonly used to represent certain sounds.

A) Animal noises:

I love to hear the chirping of birds at my window in the morning.
My dog always bow-wows whenever he sees me.
I heard a frog croaking in the heavy pouring rain last night.
The barking of a dog could be annoying at times.
He clearly heard the hissing sound of the snake in the nearby bush.
My cat does meows whenever I come back from work.

The roar of a lion is truly frightening and fascinating.

B) Collision or explosive sounds:

The fighter plane’s boom was heard miles away!
The heavy door shut with a loud clang.
There was another terrible crash and something huge collapsed just after the earthquake.

C) Musical sounds:

Yesterday while coming home, the continuous ‘toot’ of the horn of impatient drivers bothered me a lot.

There was a loud ‘clang’ sound when I dropped the heavy pot on the floor last night.
The pluck sound of the strings from his new guitar is really soothing and mesmerizing.

D) Movement of water, air, or objects:

Puff of wind with some drizzling literally changed my mood and brought a happy state of mind for me
He drives so fast and the ‘vroom’ of his wheels is very loud.
A soft crackling sound – my sister wore such a large dress on her wedding that when she was walking down the aisle it made a gentle ‘rustle’

E) Human sounds:

He caught a cough and cold, and he kept ‘sneezing’ whole night and that sound did not let me sleep.
When he entered the class with such a loud ‘achoo’ due to cold, everyone started staring him.
The smoke was belching so high that we could not see anything else around,
He has been coughing since morning, ask him to take some medicine.

F ) Animal , Insect, birds and Objects names using Onomatopoeia

A Quail which is native of Canada, the United States, Mexico is called as Stout Bobwhite
The perching bird or the Passerine is called as a songbird,
The Cuckoo is one bird in Africa, Asia, and even Australia is known for its distinct feature of laying eggs in other birds nests.
Killdeer breeds is visible in Canada and Mexico.
Whippoorwill is prominent in rich moist forests again in the United States.
Bumblebee, a species most common in temperate climates and there is another reference to Bumblebee tuna
Katydid is a kind of bird originates in cooler as well as dried regions, for instance heath lands of Australia.
Cricket is quite known for loud, persistent and chirping singing.

G ) Onomatopoeia in Brands and Slogans:

You’re likely familiar with these onomatopoeic brands and slogans: The most famous site for searching and locating anything anytime anywhere is Google. Who can miss the Tweeting on Twitter, another influence in the series of sounds?

The brands like Krispy Kreme entice the buyer’s imagination for food, its texture and taste!
Similar is the case for corn and oat breakfast cereal named Cap’n Crunch
Pop Rocks, an absolutely apt name given to a product like candy that comes with small popping reaction when it is in the liquid form.
Slurpee, name given to a frozen carbonated drink to give the feel of indulgence by name itself.
Another very influential reference is of ‘Tic Tacs’
A toy company naming its product as Wham-O Toys to attract kids’ attention,
Zoom Video Communications is adding the series of onomatopoeic branding which is quite successful and widely reachable with the unique naming of sound.

What is Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech made up of two words that are contradictory to one another. For example, “deafening silence” and “working holiday” are both oxymoron’s. The combination of the two words often has a paradoxical or incongruous effect and is used to create emphasis or make a statement more powerful. The term “oxymoron” comes from the Greek “oxys” and “moros,” which mean “sharp” and “dull,” respectively. Oxymoron’s are commonly used in literature, poetry, and everyday speech as a means of emphasizing a point or creating irony. One well-known example of an oxymoron in literature is from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. “Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!” Both “brawling love” and “loving hate” are oxymoron’s because they are two words used together with contradictory meanings.

There are several types of oxymoron’s.

Antithetic oxymoron:

An antithetic oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposite or contradictory meanings are combined to create a rhetorical effect. Some examples of antithetical oxymorons include:

“ill health” (meaning poor or bad health)

“quiet riot” (meaning a peaceful demonstration or a peaceful uprising)

“Pale fire” (meaning a weak or insignificant flame)

Syntactic oxymoron:

A syntactic oxymoron is a type of oxymoron in which two words or phrases that are syntactically incongruous are combined to create a rhetorical effect. Some examples of syntactic oxymorons include:

“The living dead” (meaning people who are alive but have a zombie-like appearance)

“the sound of silence” (meaning a silence so profound that it can be heard)

“The frozen flame” (meaning a flame that is cold)

Verbal oxymoron:

A verbal oxymoron is a type of oxymoron in which a word or phrase is used that is self- contradictory or has conflicting connotations. These types of oxymorons often use words with multiple meanings or different connotations to create a rhetorical effect. Some examples of verbal oxymorons include:

“Cruel kindness” (meaning showing kindness in a harsh or harmful way)

“predictably unpredictable” (meaning something that is both able to be predicted and yet impossible to predict)

“Genuine fake” (meaning something that is not authentic but is presented as such)

Situation oxymoron:

A situation oxymoron is a type of oxymoron in which an action or situation is contradictory or absurd. These types of oxymorons often occur in everyday life and can be used to create a sense of irony or to point out the absurdity of a situation. Some examples of situational oxymorons include:

“Selling ice in the Arctic” (meaning trying to sell something that is abundant and easily obtainable in an area)

“a silent lecture” (a lecture that’s supposed to be listened to but with no sound“a dry swim” (swimming without getting wet)

Conceptual oxymoron:

A conceptual oxymoron is a type of oxymoron in which two concepts that cannot coexist are combined to create a rhetorical effect. These types of oxymorons often involve combining abstract ideas or concepts in a way that is incongruous or impossible. Some examples of conceptual oxymorons include:

“a square circle” (meaning something that cannot exist)

“a married bachelor” (a man who is married but still considered a bachelor)

“a transparent secret” (a secret that is open and visible to everyone)

Paradoxical oxymoron:

A paradoxical oxymoron is a combination of words or a phrase that contains elements that contradict each other but still make sense. It’s a special kind of oxymoron that combines two statements that seem contradictory, yet they can both be true at the same time. Some examples of paradoxical oxymorons include:

“Less is more” (meaning that by having less of something, you actually have more of it)

“The end is the beginning” (meaning that the end of one thing is also the start of another)

“to be and not to be” (meaning the existential dilemma of life and death)

Litotes

Imagine trying on a new outfit or experimenting with a fresh haircut, and you ask your friends for their opinion. They might shower you with compliments like ‘You look amazing’, ‘This is a perfect fit for you’, ‘You should try new things more often, this is impressive’, and so forth. But sometimes, they might also say, ‘It’s not bad’. This seemingly underwhelming response is a classic example of a rhetorical device called litotes. A Litotes is a rhetorical device that always makes an affirmative statement by expressing the negative of its contrary, often (but not always) by using negative words like ”not” or ”can’t.” Saying that a dish at a restaurant was ‘not great’ when one means that it was terrible is an example of a litotes. Let’s delve into some examples to better understand how litotes can be used effectively. Here are some instances from literature, cinema, and everyday conversations that should give you a clearer perspective.

Everyday Uses of Litotes

Jerome is not an unkind person.
(i.e He is a kind person)
The weather today is not too hot.
(i.e The weather is moderate)
The movie wasn’t entirely uninteresting.
(i.e The movie was a bit interesting)
I am not unaware of the situation.
(i.e I know the situation pretty well)
The trip is not a short one.
(i.e It is a long trip)
The task is not beyond our capabilities.
(i.e The task is can be done )
His performance was not the worst.
(i.e His per was good enough)
The meal was not unsatisfactory.
(i.e The meal was fairly good)
The book was not uninteresting.
( i.e The book was interesting)
THer cooking isn’t terrible, exactly.
(i.e., It’s actually great.)
Ireland is no ordinary country.
(i.e., It’s special.)
Geoffrey, this isn’t rocket science.
(i.e., It’s easy.)
Your commentary on their relationship was less than smart.
(i.e., It was stupid.)
In truth, I can’t argue with any of your assertions.
(i.e., I agree with you.)
All in all, she wasn’t a bad dancer.
(i.e., She was a good dancer.)
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
(i.e., It’s similar.)
He’s not unlike his older brother.
(i.e., He’s similar.)
They spent seven months apart; that’s no small amount of time.
(i.e., That’s a long time.)
They don’t exactly have an ordinary relationship.
(i.e., Their relationship is different.)
She’s not the sharpest knife in the box.
(i.e., She’s unintelligent.)
Your kitchen isn’t disorderly, per se.
(i.e., It’s orderly and organized.)
You won’t be sorry you bought a kitchen organizer.
(i.e., You’ll be glad.)
His statements are not without truth.
(i.e., They are at least partly true.)
Large crowds of people are not my cup of tea.
(i.e., I dislike them.)
he painting is not devoid of beauty.

Litotes in English Literature

“He was not unkind to me.” (Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
“I am not unaware of your difficulties.” (Emma by Jane Austen)
“It is not unmeet that we should pause.” (Paradise Lost by John Milton)
“The sword wasn’t useless to the warrior.” – Beowulf
“I am no prophet and here’s no great matter.” – The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot
“No, ‘tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door.” – Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
“You know, it’s really not that hard to put food on the table if that’s what you decide to do.” – The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wall
“I live at West Egg, the – well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them.” – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Litotes in Popular Cinema

Following are a few examples from English movies.

In the film ‘The Iron Lady’, a dialogue goes: “It’s not unimportant to know how to make a proper cup of tea.”
In ‘Casablanca’, one character tells another: “I’m not ungrateful to you for what you did.”
In ‘The Dark Knight’, Batman says: “This city just showed you that it’s full of people ready to believe in good.” Here, by saying ‘people ready to believe in good’, he implies that the people are not inherently bad or evil.

Alliterations

Alliterations are a type of figure of speech that is used a lot in poetry. It is the term given to the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of words in a phrase. For example: “Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers”. It could be seen that the alphabet “P” repeats in all words. Alliteration isn’t just restricted to repeating the first letter, but it also reflects sounds. All kinds of effects can be achieved by using alliteration. The key to understanding the effect is simply to listen – how do the sounds make you feel? Poets can call attention to certain words in a line of poetry by using alliteration, and they can use it to create a pleasant, rhythmic effect. It can also be used to add to the mood of a poem, or to create more drama or danger. It is to be noted that Alliterative words don’t have to be right next to each other. Other words can appear between them.

Common Examples of Alliteration

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Sally sells seashells by the sea shore.
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
“Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation,” Martin Luther King.
“My mind makes marvelous moves, masses / Marvel and move, many mock what I’ve mastered,” Blackalicious — Alphabet Aerobics
“Little old lady got mutilated late last night.” — Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London
“Whisper words of wisdom …” — The Beatles – Let It Be
“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” — Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi
Clary closed her cluttered clothes closet.
Harry hurried home to watch football on TV.
Rachel ran right until she realized she was running round and round.
Polly’s prancing pony performed perfectly.
The boy buzzed around as busy as a bee.
Make a mountain out of a molehill.
Matthew met Michael at the Moor.

Examples of alliterations in stories and Nursery Rhymes

Three grey geese in a green field grazing. Grey were the geese and green was the grazing.’ (Three Grey Geese – Mother Goose)
‘Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said, this butter’s bitter; if I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter, but a bit of better butter will make my batter better.’ (Betty Botter – Carolyn Wells)
‘There’s a worm at the bottom of my garden, and his name is Wiggly Woo.’

Alliteration in Tongue Twisters

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes…’ (Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare)
‘Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary.’ (The Raven – Edgar Allen Poe)
‘Shining sun / Green, green grass / Birds building / New nests’ (Sunny Spring – Twinkle)

Alliterations in everyday usage