Interpreting Figures of Speech

What is the literal meaning of the phrase 'John's sitting on the fence'?

• John is in favor of something.

• John is actually sitting on a fence.

• John is against something.

• John is undecided.

What does the phrase 'John's sitting on the fence' mean figuratively?

• John is against something.

• John is in favor of something.

• John is actually sitting on a fence.

• John is undecided.

Which of the following is an example of a simile?

• He is a couch potato.

• Her skin is as smooth as silk.

• The trees were dancing in the breeze.

• I have a million things to do today.

What does the simile 'He ran out of the office like a bat out of hell' mean?

• He left slowly.

• He left calmly.

• He left quickly and chaotically.

• He left quietly.

Which of the following is a metaphor?

• I slept like a baby.

• Her skin is as smooth as silk.

• He is a couch potato.

• The trees were dancing in the breeze.

What is an example of hyperbole?

• He is a couch potato.

• I have a million things to do today.

• The trees were dancing in the breeze.

• Her skin is as smooth as silk.

What does personification involve?

• Using a word in its literal sense.

• Exaggerating for effect.

• Giving human traits to non-human things.

• Comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'.

Which of the following is an example of personification?

• Her skin is as smooth as silk.

• The trees were dancing in the breeze.

• I have a million things to do today.

• He is a couch potato.

What does the phrase 'starving for attention' imply?

• The person is literally hungry.

• The person is dying from lack of food.

• The person is craving attention.

• The person is full.

What is sarcasm?

• A literal statement.

• A figure of speech that means exactly what it says.

• A figure of speech that uses irony to mock or convey contempt.

• A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.