Literal vs Nonliteral

Front

What is a literal meaning?

Back

The literal meaning of a word or phrase is its most basic, straightforward meaning without any metaphor or exaggeration.

Front

What is a nonliteral meaning?

Back

The nonliteral meaning of a word or phrase involves figurative language, where the words are used in a way that is different from their usual meaning.

Front

Give an example of a literal statement.

Back

The cat is on the mat.

Front

Give an example of a nonliteral statement.

Back

It's raining cats and dogs.

Front

What does 'kicked the bucket' mean in a nonliteral sense?

Back

It means to die.

Front

What does 'bark worse than bite' mean in a nonliteral sense?

Back

It means someone may seem threatening but is not actually dangerous.

Front

What does 'comparing apples and oranges' imply?

Back

It implies that two things are so different that they cannot be compared.

Front

What is an idiom?

Back

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning.

Front

What is a metaphor?

Back

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Front

What is a simile?

Back

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.