Hyperbole Definition There is exaggeration, and then there is exaggeration. That extreme kind of exaggeration in speech is the literary device known as hyperbole. Take this statement for example: I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse. Hyperbole is used in literature, rhetoric and everyday speech.
What is the best definition for hyperbole?
The definition of hyperbole is a description that is exaggerated for emphasis. An example of hyperbole is saying you are so hungry you could eat a horse.
What does hyperbole mean definition?
: language that describes something as better or worse than it really is In describing his accomplishments, he’s somewhat given to hyperbole. [=he tends to exaggerate his accomplishments] The customer’s letter of complaint was filled with hyperboles [=(more commonly) exaggerations] and outrageous claims.
What is a hyperbole example?
Hyperbole is a figure of speech. For example: “There’s enough food in the cupboard to feed an entire army!” In this example, the speaker doesn’t literally mean that there’s enough food in the cupboard to feed the hundreds of people in the army.
What is hyperbole in a sentence?
Definition of Hyperbole. an exaggeration or overstatement used to evoke strong feelings. Examples of Hyperbole in a sentence. 1. During the hurricane, it seemed as though the hyperbole, “raining cats and dogs“, was almost accurate.
How do you explain hyperbole to a child?
Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for emphasis or humor. This literary tool is often used to make a certain element of a story seem more interesting. To say you were bored to tears (even when you were never on the verge of crying) packs a bit more of a punch than, “I was bored.”
What is hyperbole in figurative language?
Hyperbole, from a Greek word meaning ‘excess’, is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis. It’s a type of figurative language. It can also be used to make something sound much worse than it actually is.
What does hyperbole mean in literary terms?
The literary term for exaggeration is hyperbole. Hyperbole is a figure of speech used by a writer to overemphasize a point. It is not meant to be taken literally but is intended to give the reader a “larger than life” picture to highlight a particular idea.
What is a good example of a hyperbole?
Here are some common examples of hyperbole in everyday speech: I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse. That purse looks like it cost a million dollars. I Love You to the moon and back. He feels buried under a mountain of work. I’m dying of thirst. That dog is the cutest thing alive. She loves him more than life itself. This suitcase weighs a ton. He heard an ear-splitting shriek.
What best describes a hyperbole?
The phrase that best describes the role of hyperbole in a written work is C) to exaggerate. If you say-I have been waiting for you for a hundred years, when you are waiting for someone for a half an hour, that would be a hyperbole.
What are some characteristics of hyperbole?
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. As a figure of speech it is not intended to be taken literally. Hyperbole is frequently used for humour. Examples of hyperbole are: They ran like greased lightning. He’s got tons of money.
