Don’t you just love using figurative phrases when you write? You can create some pretty bizarre mind-pictures, while getting your main point across to your readers.
In case you aren’t familiar with figurative phrases, they’re things that wouldn’t actually happen in the real world, whereas literal things can and do. Being figurative is a creative way to give a little extra oomph to something needing a little push.
A few examples of “figurative speaking” would be:
1. After all the rain, I was happy to see the sun smiling so brightly.
2. He was so mad, the top of his head blew off and smoke billowed from his ears!
3. The red-haired girl loved the piano solo — it simply blew her away!
4. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!
5. After the meeting, I got the green light to do the deal.
6. She was chomping at the bit to get to her appointment on time.
7. We were shocked to learn the truth about our teacher.
8. The movie scared the life out of me!
9. At the mere thought of her new boyfriend, she got butterflies in her stomach.
Writers, especially poets, use figurative language to build imagery and give their writing more power. Here are a few of the most common types:
Simile: compares two different things, using the words “like” or “as”.
Metaphor: compares two different things, without the words “like” or “as”.
Personification: gives human characteristics to non-human or abstract things.
Hyperbole: a great exaggeration, often unrealistic, to add emphasis to something.
Allusion: a reference to a living person, work, event, or well-known piece of pop culture.
One thing to remember, with figurative language, a little goes a long way. It can be distracting, so it’s best to limit using it. Think of it like cooking with spice: Using a little can make things better, but overdoing it can ruin your whole dinner.
Bon Appétit!
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Very sage advice, if you get my drift.