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
JorjaJAWR-jəEnglish (Modern)
Gabija-Lithuanian, Baltic Mythology
Adi (1)ah-DEEHebrew
MaynardMAY-nərdEnglish
Georgei-Medieval Slavic
MahİR-Turkish