figure of speech

A form of expression in language, either spoken or written, that employs nonliteral meaning, unusual construction, or a particular combination of sounds to emphasize or heighten the rhetorical effect. Bob: "Does eating an apple a day really keep doctors away from you?" Doug: "Don't take it so literally, Bob, it's just a figure of speech."

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Michael	MIE-kəl (English), MI-khah-el (German), MEE-kah-el (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish)	English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Gertie	GUR-tee (English), KHER-tee (Dutch)	English, Dutch
Hattie	HAT-ee	English
Wilfred	['wilfrid]
Xabi	-	Basque
Sonal	-	Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati