Figurative Language Definitions and Examples

When the initial consonant sound is repeated in a series of words, it is called ...

• oxymoron

• onomatopoeia

• alliteration

• allusion

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

When a word suggests or makes its own sound, it is ...

• onomatopoeia

• allusion

• alliteration

• idiom

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

A phrase with words that contradict each other is ...

• alliteration

• allusion

• oxymoron

• hyperbole

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5A

The wind whistled warily while we wished for silence.

• onomatopoeia

• personification

• simile

• alliteration

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

When Mom noticed we had driven out of our area, she said, "Dorothy, we aren't in Kansas anymore."

• oxymoron

• allusion

• personification

• simile

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

That tree just grabbed the hat right off my head!

• oxymoron

• metaphor

• simile

• personification

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Dad is a monster when he can't find his tool box.

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• allusion

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Before taking the stage, the crew told me to break a leg.

• simile

• alliteration

• idiom

• personification

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5B

CCSS.L.4.5B

As my hair dried, each strand went boing!

• onomatopoeia

• personification

• alliteration

• metaphor

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

That jumbo shrimp is awfully good!

• metaphor

• oxymoron

• onomatopoeia

• hyperbole

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5A