Questions tagged [figures-of-speech]
A figure of speech is figurative language in the form of a single word or phrase.
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What is the figurative meaning of "pivot towards"?
I read a sentence in Voice of America news:
Clinton's dominating victory in South Carolina’s Democratic primary allows her to pivot towards a general-election campaign message.
What does pivot ...
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Past Perfect usage
I'm reading a book and found this odd usage of past perfect tense in a speech of a character: "He never feels as if he knows, neither does he feel as if nothing had happened". My English teacher (not ...
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Any particular meaning to the expression 'stuck still'?
Stuck still, I would like to know what the exact meaning of this expression is. I think it's something like 'frozen in place' by a certain shocking or surprising occurrence or situation.
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“A government of the people, by the people, for the people”
From a famous speech:
A government of the people, by the people, for the people
I believe the last part is clear (for the people). But what is the difference— in meaning— between of the people (it ...
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The Kids are All Right
As I was reading some of the responses on Should I use “the wife” or “my wife”?, I agreed with many of the posters stating that using the wife as opposed to my wife was slightly less personal and ...
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The rain is "lifting"
How can the rain "lift"?
I mean, I can pretty well figure out that the fog or mist or smog, etc. "lifts", i.e. disappears or disperses by or as if by rising, but "the rain ...
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Analysis of following writing pattern
Is there a name for following writing/dialogue pattern?
We ride into the future. A future where ...
In the world you grew up. A new world with ...
It's just a theory. A game theory.
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what figure of speech/ literary device is the following?
When something is implied but we still state it to reinforce the idea, I suspect it might be tautology but isn't tautology repetition of idea in different form ? implication is not required in ...
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Rhetoric word for answering a question with another answer implying the first
During a discussion on AI, it was asserted that AI is not yet handling very well cases where an indirect, but quite adequate (unless prevaricatory) answer is given.
Examples:
Person A: Are you ...
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Is there an expression for cutting ties or calling off something that is ultimately unfavorable to both parties?
In particular, ending something that one of the parties is still attached to. For instance, in a relationship, if one person doesn't want to go through the short term struggle of a breakup (and is ...
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When should I say or write the expression, "Good question"? [closed]
People are often heard saying "Good question". Some people suggest that, when you don't have the answer then this expression is used to acknowledge that. However, it feels more of an appreciation from ...
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Can "cinema" work as a collective noun?
The local cinema do not even consider screening this movie.
In the above sentence, "cinema" is employed to denote one or more of the staff who determine the programme.
My question is, does it work?
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99% of people would do x
99% of people, 99% of things, events, dogs, whatever.
99%
Recently I used what is to me as a Brit a pretty common figure of speech, saying "99% of people would x", meaning simply that the vast ...
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Is there any authoritative source from where we can find out if a phrase or figure of speech is American English or British English? [closed]
For example the figure of speech " One swallow doesn't make a summer" is British English. Similarly the figure of speech 'All hat and no cattle" is American English.
Is there any source from where ...
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What does "wound for sound" mean and where did it come from?
This is a figure of speech that's been in my lexicon virtually forever. I'm not sure where I learned this, but to me it means "keyed up and ready to go". A combination of high energy, tension, and ...
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An alternative to the phrase "God bless you" [closed]
In the context of wishing someone a Blessing,if I choose not to use the term God , what are the other words that can be used that still conveys the same meaning as the phrase "God bless you"?
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Is the expression "You the Man" gender neutral?
The expression "You The Man" is generally used to compliment a male.
Can this expression be used to compliment a female? If not, what is a suitable alternative?
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Figure of speech: Repeated synonyms
I am looking for the name of the figure of speech, where two words with similar meaning are used together to convey an idea more emphatically. For example: 'Cease and Desist', 'Null and void', etc.
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Aphorisms that use two words in reverse order [duplicate]
I've found aphorisms often that play on the meaning of two words and their interaction and was wondering what one might call them.
An example is the PJ Harvey song name:
The whore hustles and ...
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"I'm happy to see that you are sober as a judge" Is this a rhetorical device?
Context: A few decades ago, during the electoral campaign for governor, there was a televised debate between the three major parties candidates. Candidate A, the favorite according to the polls, was ...
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discerning between "metaphor" and" symbol"
I am wondering if symbol and metaphor could be considered interchangeable-- And, when they cannot. Or, would you please show me an authoratative source?
Any comment or feed back would greatly be ...
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Richard Feynman is certainly not mischievous!
In the introduction of Richard Feynmans book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, a colleague describes Feynman's character.
The description makes sense to me - except for one word.
The word ...
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What figure of speech takes the form "[concrete noun] of [abstract noun]" (non-anthropomorphic)
What is the precise technical figure of speech for a phrase that pairs a concrete noun (non-anthropomorphic*) to an abstract noun in the form of "[concrete] of [abstract]"?
The particular ...
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From Avocadoes to Asparagus, from kangaroos to koalas
What is the name of this literary saying? People use this figure of speech in order to express a wide coverage or variety of a certain class, such as vegetable species available in a market for ...
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What does "wear shoes" mean in this idiom?
I was reading an article today that used "wear shoes" metaphorically and I have no idea what they're trying to say. The context is an Indian outsourcing company diversifying by using its existing ...
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Asking about figures of speech [closed]
Is steady my knees an image and why ?and also chewing on his pipe?and shuffling of their feet? the treble of them are extracts from a prose text called "she walked alone" thank you..
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Waterproof shod?
In Norwegian we have a saying, vanntette skodd, that directly translated to English would be waterproof shod. It means that there is a segregation between two subjects such that not even water passes ...
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What figure of speech is this, "assaulted by a haircut"?
"That guy is assaulting us with that haircut".
There's some hyperbole in there, but its definitely a substitution of some sort.
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What do these two figures of speech mean? Embrace the grind and lower your shoulder
I came across these two figures of speech:(a) Embrace the grind and (b) Lower your shoulder in one of the Instagram posts of Dwayne Johnson(The Rock)
Since I am not a native English speaker I just ...
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How to find out an Irony in a sentence [duplicate]
How can I find out what Irony has been used in a sentence?
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The Yellow Wallpaper - What does *Smooch* mean?
I was reading a brilliant piece of Feminist Literature : The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman which uses the word smooch three times, all in reference to the yellow wallpaper:
Then ...
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What's the name of this figure of speech playing with the use-mention distinction?
The following is a figure of speech I've seen a couple of times in my native language of German.
Though I have no reason to doubt it exists, I don't remember ever seeing it used in English, so I've ...
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Which figure of speech is this?
Suppose I've written a story that is set in ancient times. And I refer to something quite modern in it. Like I'm writing about the roman empire suppose, and I write 'He looked at the time in his watch....
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Other words for or similar to synecdoche
What size shirt are you wearing?
I'm wearing a large.
In this instance, large is a noun used in place of the understood [large] shirt. I'm trying to figure out if there is a word for "a ...
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What figure(s) of speech or expression are in play here?
I recently heard a somewhat poetic song lyric that I couldn't pin down. The writer says of a failed relationship:
We broke a diamond with our bitter words.
I get diamond as a metonym for marriage,...
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"Childlessness is hereditary in our family" What do you call a statement containing a contradiction such as the example?
This kind of sentence is usually absurd and may or may not be recognized as such by the person who utters it.
She will regret it till the day she dies, if she lives that long!
"Aren't you going to ...
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"Freedom is slavery" and "Ignorance is strength" - What kind of rhetorical strategy is this?
What kind of rhetorical strategy (or fallacy?) is it when someone uses words with opposite meanings and combines them in what seems to be a contradiction?
In George Orwell’s 1984 we can find:
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Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Is there a term for a word like Democratic in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
The key point here is that the word is being used precisely because it's false.
It has something in common with a ...
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"The only witness is a prostitute!" What do you call this type of rhetoric in English? [closed]
The defense attorney:
“…and finally, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client can never
be considered legally guilty unless the prosecutor can prove it beyond
a reasonable doubt. And, ...
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What kind of rhetorical strategy is it when someone points out a potential sticking point in his proposition before anyone can criticize it?
E.g.:
I know some of you might consider this question general reference, but think of all those people who will be reading it all over the world and how it will enrich our data bank.
Of course ...
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What figures of speech are common in "roasts"? [closed]
When a celebrity or personality is "roasted", lots of bad things are said about and to the (un)fortunate guest; at the end usually there is a change in mood and the person is acknowledged by the ...
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What is the term to describe the use of "City Hall" in "you can't fight City Hall"?
I know there's a word to describe the use of the words "City Hall" in the common phrase "you can't fight City Hall", where "City Hall" = "the office of the mayor of the city", but I can't remember ...
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Is there a metaphorical word or phrase for a potential trouble maker?
More specifically, someone who might open "undesirable doors" and fill you with profound regret for letting him/her into your life.
The idiom I'm trying to find would be used in the following ...
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What figure of speech is it when we say "This meat is swimming in fat."?
What figure of speech is it when we say:
"The meat is swimming in gravy. I'll have fish instead."
"Her eyes were swimming with tears."
"They say he's swimming in money."
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What is the origin of "in a jiffy"?
What is the origin of "in a jiffy"?
Etymology online Dictionary says origin unknown but speculates that it was slang (cant) for lightning and dates it as 1785.
Wikipedia agrees but adds that the ...
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"Not as heavy as an elephant." Which literary device is this?
I was having a conversation with a friend today. He jokingly asked me to help him pick up a desktop printer later (he's obviously strong enough to carry one on his own - a typical desktop printer is ...
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How does "not least" mean "in particular; notably"?
What's an intuitive derivation behind ODO's definition that helps to internalise its meaning?
not least = In particular; notably
I couldn't find the etymology for this ??adverbial phrase?? I also ...
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What kind of figurative language is this phrase?
What figurative language is "to drive the idea out of my mind"? Is it an idiom or personification? Or something else? I have tried to figure it out but I can't.
The full sentence is:
He wanted to ...
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Are "I scream" and "Ice cream" homophones, or do we have another term here?
When two phrases are pronounced alike but have different spelling and meaning, can we call them homophones? e.g. "ice-cream" and "I scream", "nitrate" and "night rate", "that's tough" and "that stuff"...
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