Interpret figures of speech

Key notes:

Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.

Verbal irony involves saying one thing but implying something very different. People often use verbal irony when they are being sarcastic.

Olivia seems thrilled that her car keeps breaking down.

Each breakdown is as enjoyable as a punch to the face.

Learn with an example

✈️ What does the verbal irony in this text suggest?

After a jog around the neighbourhood, Grace collapsed on the couch and declared with a wheeze, “Well, I’m ready to run a marathon.”

  • Grace was out of shape.
  • Grace plans to run more.
  • The text uses verbal irony, which involves saying one thing but implying something very different.
  • Ready to run a marathon ironically suggests that Grace was out of shape. She was actually far from ready to run a marathon.

✈️What does the idiom in this text suggest?

Mobile phones once cost an arm and a leg, but today the majority of people can afford them.

  • Mobile phones were once popular items to trade.
  • Mobile phones were once very expensive.
  • The text uses an idiom, an expression that cannot be understood literally.
  • The idiom an arm and a leg suggests that mobile phones were once very expensive. A part of your body would be a high price to pay, so the idiom means that something is very expensive.

✈️ What does the verbal irony in this text suggest?

While waiting for her search results, Kelly exclaimed, “My Internet connection is as speedy as a snail!”

  • The Internet connection was very fast.
  • The Internet connection was very slow.
  • The text uses verbal irony, which involves saying one thing but implying something very different.
  • As speedy as a snail suggests that the Internet connection was very slow. A snail is not speedy, and neither was Kelly’s Internet connection.

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