figs speech Flashcards
(21 cards)
what does alliteration mean?
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
“the alliteration of ‘sweet birds sang’”
Letty litters letters.
what does antithesis mean
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
“love is the antithesis of selfishness”
what does assonance mean
In assonance the same vowel sound is repeated: Example : A stitch in time saves nine.
To open their golden eyes
what does Allegory mean?
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
“Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey”
what does simile mean?
comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g. as brave as a lion ).
what does Juxtaposition mean
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
“the juxtaposition of these two images”
what does Epigram mean?
saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way.
what does Euphemism mean
a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
“the jargon has given us ‘downsizing’ as a euphemism for cuts”
what does Fable mean?
a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
“the fable of the sick lion and the wary fox”
what does Hyperbole mean?
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
“he vowed revenge with oaths and hyperboles”
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what does Innuendo mean?
This literally means ‘by making a nod’, i.e. by hinting or implying a thing without plainly saying it. It is an indirect reference or insinuation;
what does irony mean?
the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
what does oxymoron mean?
contradictory words come very close together, as when an adjective contradicts its noun,
what does Onomatopoeia mean?
onomatopoeia, the sound of the words helps to suggest the sound being described
what does Paradox mean?
An apparent contradiction which, by causing a temporary shock, rouses our attention to some important meaning beneath.
what does Personification mean?
when you take something which is not human and you give it human qualities.
what does a Rhetorical Question mean?
This is one to which you don’t expect an answer.
what does Parable mean?
This also tells a story in everyday terms to illustrate a spiritual truth – like the story of the Good Samaritan and many others we find in the New Testament.
what does Mixed Metaphors mean?
A mixed metaphor is a combination in the same sentence of comparisons from different sources.
what does Symbolism mean?
the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
“he has always believed in the importance of symbolism in garden art”
