figure of speech



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."
See also: figure, of, speech

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
AnnukkaAHN-nook-kahFinnish
Mahometus-Arabic (Latinized)
Thucydidesthoo-SID-ə-deez (English)Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Cullen['kʌlən]
Nkosana-Southern African, Xhosa
Izz Ud-Din-Arabic