Introduction to Figurative Language/Figures of Speech

Contributed by:
Ivan
Figurative language expresses oneself without using a word’s strict literal or realistic meaning. Common in comparisons and exaggerations, it’s usually used to add creative flourish to written or spoken language or explain a complicated idea.

1. Language Unit
The Study of:
By: Panicked Teacher ©2011
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2. Figurative Language
What ts figurative lenguege?
The Study of:
3. What is Alliteration?
Alliteration: Repeated consonant
sounds at the beginning of words.
Alliteration Examples:
Betsy bought bigger bottoms for baby Billy.
Samantha saw seven silly soldiers selling strawberries Saturday.
Maria made millions of marshmallow muffins for many mellow messengers.
4. WHaT iS
Onomatopoeia: Words whose sound
suggests its meaning.
Onomatopoeia Examples:
The bees buzzed by flying back to their hive.
Click the button to take the picture.

The pig squealed when it saw the dog coming.
5. wHat js a m@taPHor’?
Metaphcr: A figure of soeech
stating two things are similar.
Metaphor Examples:
The strawberry was a fresh summer day.
The rain came down in full cold buckets.
The test was a long never-ending marathon.
She read the book at a snail's pace.
6. What is a Simile?
Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Simile Examples:
She was QS smart as an owl.
The student was QS quiet as a mouse.
My backpack was like a bag of bricks.
7. What is aHyperbole?
Hyperbole: An extravagant exaggeration.
Hyperbole Examples:
The walk was a million miles long!
I ate five-thousand pancakes for breakfast!
The bag of gifts weighs a ton!
8. What ts Personification?
Personification: Giving human qualities
to things and ideas.
Personification Examples:
The tree leaves danced in the wind.
The chair stood up straight and tall.
The car jumped to the finish line.
9. What ig ah Idiom?
Idiom: A phrase that has a meaning
different from the dictionary definition.
Idiom Examples:
She didn't want to open that can of worms.
The test was a piece of cake!
Don't take the fall for your friend.
The early bird gets the worm.
10. Figurative Language
Whet fs figurative language?
The Study of:
What is a Simile?
Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Simile Examples:
She was @S smart as an owl.
The student was GS quiet as a mouse.
My backpack was Lik€ a bag of bricks.
What is Alliteration?
Alteration: Repeated consonant
sounds at the beginning of words.
‘Aliteration Exonpes
Betsy bought bigger bottoms for baby Billy.
‘Somantha saw seven silly soldiers selling strawberries Saturday.
‘Moria made millions of marshmallow muffins for many mellow messengers.
WHat iS
Onomatopoeia: Words whose sound
suggests its meaning.
Onomatopoeia Examples:
The bees buzzed by flying back to their hive.
Glick the button to take the picture.
The pig squealed when it saw the dog coming.
11. wHat js a metaPHor?
Metaphor: A figure of speech
stating two things are similar.
Metaphor Examples:
The strawberry was a fresh summer day.
‘The rain came down in full cold buckets.
The test was a long never-ending marathon.
She read the book at a snail's pace.
What is an Idiom?
Idiom: A phrase that has a meaning
different from the dictionary definition.
Idiom Examples:
She didn't want to open that can of worms.
The test was a piece of cakel
Don't take the fall for your friend.
The early bird gets the worm.
What is Personification?
Personification: Giving human qualities
to things and ideas.
Personification Examples:
The tree leaves danced in the wind.
The chair stood up straight and tall,
The car ji to the finish line.
What is a Hyperbole?
Hyperbole: An extravagant exaggeration.


Hyperbole Examples:
The walk was @ million miles
Late five-thousand pancakes for breakfast!
The bag of gifts weighs a ton!
12. Examples of Idioms
Apple of my eye-feeling affection for someone
A dime a dozen-something so common that it has little value, no need
A taste of your own medicine-a lesson where other people treat you the same way you treat
them in order to teach you that you are acting badly ...
Back to the drawing board-figuring out a new solution to a problem
Ball is in your court-it is up to you to make a decision
Bend over backwards-helping someone
Bite your tongue-stopping yourself from saying something that will hurt someone's feelings
Blowing your top-becoming extremely angry
Break a leg-do a great job
Breaking news-important information that just happened
Breaking the ice-getting to know someone
Call the shots-tell people what to do, in charge
Changing your mind-deciding to do something else
Clear the air-talk about a problem
Come in handy-something that is useful
Cracking up-thinking something is funny, laughing
Cup of Joe-cup of coffee
Cut it out-stop doing something
Cutting corners-to take a shortcut, to find a cheaper or easier way of doing something
Dead as a doornail-lifeless
13. Examples of Idioms
Don't rock the boat-do not cause problems
Going out on a limb-taking a risk
Hit the road-leave
Hit the hay/sack-you are going to go to sleep
I'm all ears-ready to listen
Lend someone a hand-help someone out
That is over her/his head-they don't understand
Penny pincher-someone who does not spend a lot of money and likes to buy things cheap
Piece of cake-easy or simple
State of the art-the best
Stealing my thunder-taking the attention away from someone's accomplishments and achievements
Take a hike-telling someone to leave
Take a rain check-declining now, but suggesting you may say yes in the future
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree-a child growing up to be very similar to their
parents with similar characteristics
The drop of a hat-doing something instantly before anything else, stopping what you are
doing to do something else
The early bird gets the worm-whoever arrives first has the best chance of success
Under the weather-ill or sick
Wake up and smell the coffee-Start paying attention to what is happening around you
Walking on eagshells-being very careful because someone gets easily of fended or angry
We are in the same boat-being in the same situation or having the same problem as others
Zip your lip-be quiet

14. Similes Fing the simls, Highlight, or underline them,
1. The clock struck midnight and the sky was as black as ink.
2. The new couch was as big as a bus and could hardly fit inside their small living room.
3. She forgot her glasses and felt as blind as a bat, so she had difficulty reading.
4. She forgot her homework four days in a row and felt as flaky as a snowstorm.
5. After getting all the questions correct on her test, she felt as wise as an owl.
6. The snobby and conceited girl treated everyone badly and was as cold as ice.
7. I needed my sunglasses inside since the lights were as bright as day.
8. The new baby looked as cute as a cupcake in his brand new giraffe sweater.
9. Her brand new puppy was as cute as a button when he chased his tail in circles.
10. The frog wasn't moving because it was as dead as a doornail.
11. When everyone is sleeping, the house is as quiet as a mouse.
12. When she graduated from high school, her mom was as proud as a peacock.
13. When the school bell rings at the end of the day I feel as free as a bird.
14. She accidentally dropped the meatball and it was as flat as a pancake.
15. She ate the huge pizza all by herself and felt as fat as a pig.
16. She exercised and ate healthy things all week and felt as light as a feather.
17. Finding the ring she lost was like finding a needle in a haystack.
18. The girl walked as slow as a snail because she was so exhausted.
19. The class was as quiet as a mouse because they didn't want to get in trouble.
20. She was so cozy in her bed she felt as snug as a bug ina rug.
15. Sirmiles Fing the simile, Highlight, er underline then,
21. The teacher told him it is as solid as a rock, admiring his model airplane.
22. He wouldn't change his mind and was told he was as stubborn as a mule.
23. She felt as sick as a dog when she had the flu and didn't go to school yesterday.
24. She didn't care what others said about her because she was as tough as nails.
25. The extraordinary girl was as sweet as honey and was voted class president.
26. She was so scared that she turned as white as a ghost.
27. The dog's fur looked as fluffy and white as snow after getting his hair washed.
28. The basketball players all looked as tall as giraffes to the people in the audience.
29. The ants at the picnic were as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.
30. He stayed out in the sun all day and after his face looked as red as a tomato.
31. He hadn't eaten the entire day at school and felt as hungry as a bear.
32. The class acted like busy bees getting ready for open house later that day.
33. When she made her speech she felt like a bug under a magnifying glass.
34. He disappeared as quick as a wink when his mom asked him to do chores.
35. The girl acted as nutty as a fruitcake when she wouldn't stop laughing.
36. Someone stole all of the money in her wallet and she felt as poor as dirt.
37. She felt as fit as a fiddle after completing the twelve week exercise program.
38. Her dad looked like a bald badger because he lost all his hair.
39. The play was not good and would last as long as balloons ina room of kittens.
40. She was as pleased as punch after she got a letter from her Grandma.
16. Similes Find the similes, Highlight or underline them.
1. The clock struck midnight and the sky was as black as ink.
2. The new couch was as big as a bus and could hardly fit inside their small living room.
3. She forgot her glasses and felt as blind as a bat, so she had difficulty reading.
4. She forgot her homework four days in a row and felt as flaky as a snowstorm.
5. After getting all the questions correct on her test, she felt as wise as an owl.
6. The snobby and conceited girl treated everyone badly and was as cold as ice.
7. I needed my sunglasses inside since the lights were as bright as day.
8. The new baby looked as cute as a cupcake in his brand new giraffe sweater.
9. Her brand new puppy was as cute as a button when he chased his tail in circles.
10. The frog wasn't moving because it was as dead as a doornail.
11. When everyone is sleeping, the house is as quiet as a mouse.
12. When she graduated from high school, her mom was as proud as a peacock.
13. When the school bell rings at the end of the day I feel as free as a bird.
14. She accidentally dropped the meatball and it was as flat as a pancake.
15. She ate the huge pizza all by herself and felt as fat as a pig.
16. She exercised and ate healthy things all week and felt as light as a feather.
17. Finding the ring she lost was like finding a needle in a haystack.
18. The girl walked as slow as a snail because she was so exhausted.
19. The class was as quiet as a mouse because they didn't want to get in trouble.
20. She was so cozy in her bed she felt as snug as a bug in a rug.
17. Similes Find the similes. Highlight or underline them.
21. The teacher told him it is as solid as a rock, admiring his model airplane.
22. He wouldn't change his mind and was told he was as stubborn as a mule.
23. She felt as sick as a dogwhen she had the flu and didn't go to school yesterday.
24. She didn't care what others said about her because she was as tough as nails.
25. The extraordinary girl was as sweet as honey and was voted class president.
26. She was so scared that she turned as white as a ghost.
27. The dog's fur looked as fluffy and white as snow after getting his hair washed.
28. The basketball players all looked as tall as giraffes to the people in the audience.
29. The ants at the picnic were as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.
30. He stayed out in the sun all day and after his face looked as red as a tomato.
31. He hadn't eaten the entire day at school and felt as hungry as a bear.
32. The class acted like busy bees getting ready for open house later that day.
33. When she made her speech she felt ike a bug under a magnifying glass.
34. He disappeared as quick as a wink when his mom asked him to do chores.
35. The girl acted as nutty as a fruitcake when she wouldn't stop laughing.
36. Someone stole all of the money in her wallet and she felt as poor as dirt.
37. She felt as fit as a fiddle after completing the twelve week exercise program.
38. Her dad looked /ike_a bald badger because he lost all his hair.
39. The play was not good and would last as long as balloons in a room of kittens.
40. She was as pleased as punch after she got a letter from her Grandma.
18. Metaphor Examples
Highlight or underiine the 2 things being compared in each metaphor.
Their mom was the rock of the family.
The ship was a tiger roaring through the water.
The airplane was an elephant running on the runway.
The girl was a kitten to the new baby.
Time was a thief to me this year.
Her memory is cloudy since she can never remember anything.
Her life was a rainbow of experiences.
Her birthday was a storm of happiness.
Her smile was sunshine when her baby was born.
The history test was a train wreck.
The dinner was an ocean of flavors.
The teacher was an encyclopedia of information.
19. Metaphor Examples
Highlight or underiine the 2 things being compared in each metaphor.
Their mom was the rock of the family.

The ship was a tiger roaring through the water.

The airplane was an elephant running on the runway.

The girl was a kitten to the new baby.
Time was a thief to me this year.
Her memory is cloudy since she can never remember anything.
Her life was a rainbow of experiences.
Her birthday was a storm of happiness.
Her smile was sunshine when her baby was born.
The history test was a train wreck.
The dinner was an ocean of flavors.
The teacher was an encyclopedia of information.
20. Huperbole Examples
Highlight or underiine the hyperbole example in each sentence.
My backpack weighed a ton with all of my books in it.
The homework list was miles long.
The alarm clock could be heard around the world it was so loud.
I felt like I hadn't seen you in years.
I could eat every hamburger on this planet, I was so hungry.
She thought she was the best tennis player on this planet.
The class was never ending.
Her brain was the size of a pea.
I will die if I have to read one more page, I am so tired.
Thave told him a million times to get his chores done.
The family had to wait for centuries to get seated at the restaurant.
The pile of garbage reached the sky.
T'll never reach the end of the race.
21. Huperbole Examples
Highlight or underiine the hyperbole example in each sentence.
My backpack weighed a ton with all of my books in it.
The homework list was miles long.
The alarm clock could be heard around the world it was so loud.
I felt like I hadn't seen you in years.
I could eat every hamburger on this planet, I was so hungry.
She thought she was the best tennis player on this planet.
The class was never ending.
Her brain was the size of a pea.
Iwill die if I have to read one more page, I am so tired.
T have told him a million times to get his chores done.
The family had to wait for centuries to get seated at the restaurant.
The pile of garbage reached the sky.
I'll never reach the end of the race.
22. Personification Examples
Highlight or underline the personification example in each sentence.
The stars danced in the night sky.
The old and tattered house looked depressed.
The wind howled during the rainstorm.
Time flies when you are having a great time.
Her life passed by so quickly.
The phone blurted out a loud ring.
The popular toy flew off the shelves during the holidays.
The fire ran wild and spread really quickly putting the homes in danger.
The year raced by and before we knew it, summer was here.
The thunder growled in the night.
The girl's heart skipped down the street when she got nervous.
The boy's shirt yelled my name since it was so bright.
The snow wrapped the trees in white, fluffy blankets.
The cookies screamed, "I'm donel" from the oven.
The city streets whispered quietly during the night.
The river ran through the mountaintop.
The good news traveled fast through the town.
The opportunity knocked at his door.
The tree appeared angry when it lost its leaves.
The strawberries smiled with juiciness.
23. Personification Examples
Highlight or underline the personification example in each sentence.
The stars danced in the night sky.
The old and tattered house looked depressed.
The wind howled during the rainstorm.
Time flies when you are having a great time.
Her life passed by so quickly.
The phone blurted out a loud ring.
The popular toy flew off the shelves during the holidays.
The fire ran wild and spread really quickly putting the homes in danger.
The year raced by and before we knew it, summer was here.
The thunder growled in the night.
The girl's heart skipped down the street when she got nervous.
The boy's shirt yelled my name since it was so bright.
The snow wrapped the trees in white, fluffy blankets.
The cookies screamed, "I'm done!" from the oven.
The city streets whispered quietly during the night.
The river ran through the mountaintop.
The good news traveled fast through the town.
The opportunity knocked at his door.
The tree appeared angry when it lost its leaves.
The strawberries smiled with juiciness.
24.
onomatopoeia ‘ oy
Onomatopoeia: Words whose sound suggests its meaning,
Bam Crash Slap
Beep Fizz Snap
Boom Gobble Snort
Chomp Honk Splash
Chug Pop Squeak
Click Quack Squirt
Crack Ring Tick-Tock
Crackle Roar Whoosh
25. Alliteration uses repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of each word. Write two examples below.















26. Figurative Language Game
Cut out the strips and distribute to students, Have the student read their sentence out loud
Students must tell what type of figurative language is being used and WHY they chose that type of Figurative Language,
Cut on the line and distribute one per student, ©

27. Figurative Language Game
Cut out the strips and distribute to students, Have the student read their sentence out loud
Students must tell what type of figurative language is being used and WHY they chose that type of Figurative Language,
Cut on the line and distribute one per student, ©

28. Figurative Language Game
Cut out the strips and distribute to students, Have the student read their sentence out loud
Students must tell what type of figurative language is being used and WHY they chose that type of Figurative Language,
Cut on the line and distribute one per student, ©

29. Figurative Language Game
Cut out the strips and distribute to students, Have the student read their sentence out loud
Students must tell what type of figurative language is being used and WHY they chose that type of Figurative Language,
Cut on the line and distribute one per student, ©

30. Figurative Language Challenge
Write an example of each type of figurative language to add to your portfolio of work.

She CBu\d Gar
lhe million ganedkeS
Srewas GO hurary.
because i+ u oes m
Idiom .







Onomatopoeia Personification Simile
Creech (Renkeaton =e
Se ate,
ieee REET Poe
ESR gertln anes 7% gia Bi gages Aha


31. Figurative Language Challenge
Write an example of each type of figurative language to add to your port folio of w.


Hyperbole Idiom Metaphor
Onomatopoeia Personification Simile

32. Figurative Language Assessment







Name: Date:
Write an example of each type of figurative language below.




Personif ication:




33. RARER KKK KKK KKK KKK KKK KKK KK KKK
sjmjle personification Onomatopoeia METAPHOR axtireration typerbote Idiom
Language Master
sjmjle personification Onomatopoeia METAPHOR axxiteration tiypertote Idiom
RRR KKK KEKE KEKE KEKE KKK KKK KKK KKK KK