figure of speech
A 'figure of speech' creatively alters language to enhance meaning or effect, commonly used in rhetoric and literature.
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Definition
C1Rhetoric
(stylistic, academic)A word or phrase that deviates from its ordinary use to achieve a rhetorical effect.
Example
- Metaphors and similes are common figures of speech used to make writing more vivid.
C1Literature
(creative, artistic)An expression that uses language in a non-literal way to convey meaning or create an effect.
Example
- The phrase 'time is a thief' is a figure of speech that suggests time steals moments from our lives.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "figure of speech":