The idea to add emphasis through deliberate exaggeration helps the writer bring a description or situation to life. A simile always uses the words like or as to draw a comparison between two subjects; he is as evil as the devil.. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. These high heels are killing me. Counting sleep is a mantra that could help people to fall asleep. 1. A metaphor sets up an implied comparison between two different subjects; a river of daylight rushed upon us. Understanding alliteration is another excellent example to expand your writing and having fun with the language know-how of this literary device. 72. [10] In popular culture [ edit] No hyperbole 1) The baby's wails almost shattered the windows. His brain's the size of a pea. Hyperbole is a common literary device in poetry as well, frequently used to demonstrate the depth of the poet's love, anger, sadness, or other emotions. I was quaking from head to foot and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far.". To save this word, you'll need to log in. He runs like the wind. Symbolism is figurative language that enhances literal things with symbolic meaning. The word hyperbole is actually composed of two root words: hyper which means "over," and bole which means "to throw." 32. 69. In practice, hyperbole is language that loads up on the drama. Ive walked thousand miles to meet you. He talks a mile a minute. This is an example of metaphor. Im dead tired; I can sleep for days. Kids and other beginners can start with writing hyperboles that require absolute words such as most, best, worst, none, never, all, always, everything, and so on, which almost always exaggerate the situation. Monkeys, which seem to be as abundant as salt in the sea, have been a menace in this town. It was so cold; I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets. The size of serving in your restaurant is like serving a mouse to a hungry lion. Throughout the years, when sweethearts have expressed their feelings for each other, they have used hyperboles to accentuate their love for one another. 40. She was so mad she was spitting bullets. 41. Viewers know these claims are exaggerations, but they're effective in making for memorable advertising. She's as old as the hills. Top 13 Hyperbole Examples. Youve the memory of a wild elephant. Many of the best-known . Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing. [This too has been overused, and hence its not a good one.]. Theyre used mainly for emphasizing a point and highlighting difference between two things. Tastes so good, cats ask for it by name.Meow Mix, 23.) [Regular bags weigh in kilograms, but here the weight has been stretched to a ridiculous level, a ton. Using hyperbole is a way to make a point by overemphasizing a good or bad situation to draw attention to it. I'm drowning in work. Cover the Earth with Sherwin Williams.Sherwin Williams Paint, 16.) He was so angry, I thought he was going to kill somebody. 74. If only you had gotten out of bed on the other side, then maybe things might have gone better for you! 2023. The hyperbole is that no one can sleep a hundred years. 29. However, it is commonly used in prose and plays as well. 2) We have lived in this neighborhood for two decades. Just what is hyperbole? This rock simile invokes the features of rocks (theyre heavy and hard to move) and applies them to someone sleeping. I'm so broke I don't have two cents to rub together. Hyperbole, the exaggerated statements that aren't meant to be taken literally, have spiced up the English language for eons. It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.Perdue Chicken, 35.) Hyperbole (/haprbli/ (listen); adj. He hit the ball so hard that it landed on moon. She was buried under a mountain of paperwork. Until the ocean covers every mountain high.Stevie Wonder, 61.) We shape the patterns of our lives around the night and day, so it makes sense for us to project some of our behaviors back onto the sun itself. Learn how your comment data is processed. Tim Moodie is not prone to using hyperbole. Am I right? 39. Don't be afraid to revise a sentence or passage numerous times before you hit on the hyperbolic statement or description you're going to use in the final version. In this context, hyperbole is sometimes seen in definitions along with the word . 20. Read Also: A List of Dream Metaphors and Idioms. In our daily lives, hyperbole adds a conversational urgency that's a mainstay of the way we communicate. 107.) 110.) Hyperbole is the practice of exaggeration as a literary or rhetorical strategy, whereas exaggeration is the portrayal of something as greater or worse than it is. Latin, from Greek hyperbol excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw more at devil, 15th century, in the meaning defined above, 18 words even you might be mispronouncing. Sleep is the balm that soothes and restores after a long day. Her comics were observational and absurdly humorous. 86.) In literature, hyperboles are a literary tool that can be used to create great visual images in the mind of the reader. Bob: Good morning honey, you slept in today. Your expressions during the play were as animated as a suit on a hanger. Greenest state in the land of the free. They may have woken up multiple times throughout the night. But more realistically, it just means waking up very early and not sleeping in. Humor writing is complex, and it takes time to put just the right words together for the maximum effect. 30 Hyperbole Examples 1. This is the funniest joke Ive ever heard. Homer used hyperboles in his works The Iliad and The Odyssey, and poets have been using this technique ever since. b. Step-by-step process. His brain is the size of a pea. In other words, comparison isnt very striking. My comments that go with examples are in square brackets. Today, you still hear people saying Im going to hit the hay, meaning that youre going to bed. Rise means to get out of bed while Shine means that the suns out so the day has started. Your gaming laptop seems to be worth its weight in gold. 46. Henry David Thoreau. So, to catch Zs is an idiomatic expression meaning to get some sleep. Critics suggest the use of hyperbole is controversial because by definition exaggeration it is at odds with the truth. It's a common figure of speech that adds flavor to writing. 786 Words4 Pages. [8] The rhetorical device may be used for serious or ironic or comic effects. Id jump in front of a train for ya. 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed. A thousand times before, Ive wondered if theres something more, something more.Creed, 55.) I walked a million miles to get here. The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.Folgers Coffee, 19.) (In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo utters of Juliet, "The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars") Advertisers and marketers have been leaning on the power of hyperbole since the dawn of time (think your local diner touting "the world's best coffee!") 22. 92. Something that is rough is not comfortable. It's from the field of rhetoric, which makes it at home with terms like metaphor, trope, and litotes. 6. Mark Twain was a master at it. I'm so tired I could sleep for a year. Hyperbole is most often found in poetry, as poets use it to make comparisons and describe things in more embellished terms. Here are 50 of the most common hyperbolic phrases uttered from sea to shining sea! The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low, Each like a corpse within its grave, until, Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow, Her clarion oer the dreaming earth, and fill (Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air). Kilt him a bear, when he was only three.". The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. One moose, two moose. Even if I gave you all the roses in the world, they would not be enough. Did the storyteller really drive faster than a speeding bullet? 95.) 5. I died a hundred times. But, in this idiom, we mean someone has been rolling around in the bed all night long. Its a big populous nation that could rise to rule the world one day. It means that the author is very tired and sleepy. Hyperbole is part of something called "figurative speech." Figurative is the opposite of "literal." Not literal the way you use it when you plead to turn the heat up and say, "It's literally freezing" when it's only 55 degrees outside. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Send us feedback. This word doesn't behave the way we expect a word that's spelled this way to behave. Real-world examples. 1. Our car cost us an arm and a leg. We should be partners for the next seven lives. 82.) "; the court found this to be "political hyperbole". Theyre as many as stars in the galaxy. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? Copyright 2013 - 2023 Michael and Gabriel, Inc. | Privacy Policy. Youre lower than a snakes belly in a wagon rut. It has a line, called a macron, over the final e: hyperbol. ], 81. 84. Wiktionary 115.) The trend toward hyperbole appears to echo a broader belief among experts that young women are its first adopters. hyperbolic /haprblk/ (listen)) is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. We can burn brighter than the sun.FUN, 59.) 44. Hyperbolic language is used frequently in everyday conversation, and also often appears in literature. Shes just a girl, and shes on fire. In the first century, Roman rhetorician Quintilian observed, "all people are by nature inclined to magnify or to minimize things and nobody is content to stick to what is really the case" (translated by Claudia Claridge in "Hyperbole in English," 2011). This poem by Annie Matheson describes the beauty of nature as night descends over a summer day. For example, the American tall tale about Paul Bunyan relies heavily on hyperbole to establish Bunyan's giant stature and abilities.[12]. For Instagram captions, Facebook posts and other social media communications. People moved slowly then. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. He writes on most aspects of English Language Skills. Someone who over slept is considered to have slept too long, which may cause problems! Hence, literally has become one of the primary ways to exaggerate and hyperbolize a statement.[13]. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Whereas a hyperbolic approach might have the storyteller say that he drove faster than a speeding bullet. You could literally interpret it as getting up as soon as theres a tiny bit of light in the day. It is a literary device often used in poetry, and is frequently encountered in casual speech. This saying isnt about sleep at all, really, but it does have the word in it. Examples: 50. Learn a new word every day. Nordquist, Richard. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/hyperbole-figure-of-speech-1690941. Winking involves closing your eyes, which is required to sleep. 7.) So if you sleep like a log, youre immovable. 29. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while.Bruno Mars, 73.) 1. Little grammar. You stole my heart, and no, I dont want it back. This smoothie is used oil compared to the smoothie you make. They might wake up multiple times through the night to go to the bathroom or when they hear dogs barking outside. Four decades later we're all blabbermouths, adrift on a sea of, balanced on the razor edge of anachronism, creating a rich stew of accepted and invented history, anecdote, myth and, enough food to feed a whole army is a common example of, Veteran Bruce concertgoers this was my 15th show expect that kind of comic, Bottom line, if flourishes of rhetoric and, For once, Bill Plaschke went light on the, Instead, the authors palpable enthusiasm supercharges descriptions of Mr. Jacksons at-bats or off-tackle runs, which are often described with, Detractors questioned the accuracy of some of Mr. Daviss assertions and the, Post the Definition of hyperbole to Facebook, Share the Definition of hyperbole on Twitter, "mile-high ice cream cones" is an example of. Basics About Sleep Understanding how lack of sleep affects your health can allow you to make healthier decisions for you and your family. 8. Imagine a raft in the water drifting. It may be a little uncomfortable, but at least its squishy and better than sleeping on the floor. 12. 16. 5. Not only are you the most special person on my left, but you are also the only person in my life. I was so ashamed, the earth swallowed me up. He could play the guitar just like ringing a bell.Chuck Berry, 68.) Thats the great thing about figurative speech you can be as creative as you want! When you exaggerate something, you're using hyperbole. 13. New Raps, Toasts, Dozens, Jokes, and Children's Rhymes From Urban Black America" (Temple Univ. I slept like a rock last night. ], 20. To be in time for the show, he drove faster than a Formula-1 race car. [In rare case, it could be, but mostly itll be an exaggeration.]. 98.) 102.) 101. He never stopped complaining about his workplace. It may come from the story of sleeping beauty, who was a beautiful Disney character who slept for years until being awoken by her prince charming. Of course, this metaphor works because owls are nocturnal animals, meaning they are awake at night and sleep during the day. Weve assembled some examples of hyperboles used in songs, there are probably a lot more, but there are also a lot of songs where you just cant understand the lyrics. Hyperbole is often a boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally true. I would prefer Titanic to this helicopter. Find these hyperbole examples entertaining? That runner's faster than the speed of lightning. Even a 5-year-old would. Examples: 18. Hyperbole is one of the most common literary devices and figures of speech used in everyday language. [Blowing papers has been stretched to blowing a person. 21. 99.) It is used heavily in advertising and entertainment. Betcha cant eat just one.Lays Potato Chips, 25.) As a politician, I have become all-too-accustomed to hyperbole, a figure of speech in which extreme exaggeration is used for effect. At Greeting Card Poet, weve put together a comprehensive list of hyperboles for you to enjoy and perhaps use in your own writings or greetings. While making the omelette, I puffed it so much that it hit the ceiling. A sleeping giant has nothing to do with sleep, really. Assn v. Bresler (1970), Letter Carriers v. Austin (1974) and Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co. (1989) are notable cases. Why does a boy who is fast as a jet take all day and sometimes two to get to school?John Ciardi, 45.) 103.) 34. 9.) A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? And forty is a term to imply many or a lot. 27. I SLEPT LIKE A . Hyperboles are exaggerations of reality, over-the-top depictions that aren't meant to be taken literally. It doesnt amount to a hill of beans. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. The advanced-level hyperbole compares number of reasons with an unlike thing number of people who died because of the virus and requires bit more thinking than stretching 4-5 reasons to thousand. Copyright 2023 Lemon Grad. 21. I would travel a million miles just for the chance to hold your hand. This simile, in a way, compares the officer to the other officers because it shows he treats his prisoners better. 94.) Nothing runs like a Deere.John Deere, 34.) 1. In these clothes, youre looking like a monkey in dinner jacket. 80. Hyperboles vs. Other Types of Figurative Language. I want to tell you a million times that I love you. You can write advanced hyperboles by replacing the stretched attribute we saw in intermediate-level hyperboles with an unlike thing. The hyperbole literary definition. This collection starring the best of the best will show you how. Learn more. It keeps goingand goingand going.Energizer Batteries, 32.) Im so broke I dont have two cents to rub together. Here are 50 of the most common hyperbolic phrases uttered from sea to shining sea! The word hyperbole, from a Greek word meaning "excess," is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis. You can beat a photocopier at copying assignments in both speed and resemblance. They range from the absolute clich through to the unique, strange and inventive. The description you create needs to bring forth surprise or delight in your audience at the image portrayed by the comparison or description. 12. 7. (Go and just) Cry me a river.Justin Timberlake, 64.) This is the best restaurant in the world. She is so slim that she can pass through the eye of a needle. Nglish: Translation of hyperbole for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of hyperbole for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hyperbole. But through much of the 20th Century it was mired by internal poverty, which meant that it was considered a sleeping giant unaware of (or unable to exercise) its true strength. 82. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. A statement that is a deliberate exaggeration to emphasize that something is far better or far worse is a hyperbole. The word is composed from hupr 'above, beyond' and bll 'throw'. The word comes to English directly from Latin, but the Latin word is from a Greek word that has one crucial visual difference. 43. Unlike most English words beginning with hyper-, it is stressed on the second syllable. My Mom made enough food to feed an army. Only you can prevent forest fires.Smokey the Bear, 38.) Nordquist, Richard. If you need time to think about something before making a decision, you can say Ill sleep on it. If you say this, youre asking for a day to have a think. Humor writer Dave Barry certainly uses it with flair: It's everywhere in comedy, from stand-up routines to sitcoms, used to tickle the audience's funny bone by putting a surprising image into people's imagination. Theyll be heavily flopped onto the bed, not moving an inch. Hyperbole is exaggeration that shows strong feeling and effect.Ex. If it were a very cloudy day, youd still supply the sunshine. In many ways, we can think of hyperbole as the art of exaggeration. 99. Come on, get up! You go back to her. He has written copy for many Radio and TV commercials and is very familiar with the terms best, greatest, cheapest, most reliable, happiest, grandest, and more. A hyperbole is a single statement such as, Im so hungry I could eat a horse. The exaggeration is so outrageous that its unbelievable, but it does convey the strong message that Im really hungry!. 97. Hearken! Im so poor I cant afford to pay attention. That turkey could feed an army! 4. Hyperbole is a rhetorical device, literary device, and a type of figurative language. Frosted Flakes Theyre Great!Kelloggs, 17.) It's been raining for 40 days and 40 nights. It could have its place in fiction or other types of creative writing when used for effect. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.Kurt Vonnegut. Hyperbole is used to create emphasis. 100. That book is a real doorstopper. Hes happier than a dead pig in the sunshine. 64. Instead, they would often sleep on piles of hay. It is the opposite of understatement. https://www.thoughtco.com/hyperbole-figure-of-speech-1690941 (accessed March 2, 2023). I have a ton of papers to grade. Often in literature, the hyperboles are more complex than the ones used in day-to-day speech. 30. For scrapbooking and party invitations. A hyperbole is an overstatement that makes a claim that isnt meant to be taken literally. I died of embarrassment. Forty winks means a short sleep during the day. 89.) 2.) You speak so loudly. You can better grab the reader's attention. 50. Its difficult to get rid of cockroaches. The mole on your forearm is bigger than a saucer. If something is really concerning or worrying for you, you might lie awake all night thinking about it. It relates back to the concept that you appear to nod when you fall asleep. This is a funny one! Hyperbole Examples for Kids worksheet2. Emily V. 18. ], 32. Still-waking sleep that is not what it is!" (I. i. They might be able to get to have a nap for 30 minutes between dropping their kids off at school and going to work, for example. 2. Nordquist, Richard. You got me feeling emotions higher than the heavens above.Mariah Carey, 50.) You might use this phrase when telling someone to get out of bed and enjoy the day. Hyperbole definition and meaning + examples", "Recovering Hyperbole: Re-Imagining the Limits of Rhetoric for an age of Excess", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hyperbole&oldid=1136283094, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Of nature as night descends over a summer day drove faster than the sun.FUN,.! For eons of creative writing when used for serious or ironic or comic effects examples do not represent opinion! Intention of being literally true dont want it back poor I cant afford to pay attention the. I puffed it hyperbole about sleep much that it landed on moon, Dozens Jokes. Definitions along with the word comes to English directly from Latin, but you are also the only in! Literal things with symbolic meaning belly in a way, compares the officer the... 16. I don & # x27 ; s as old as the art of exaggeration. ] play guitar. In front of a needle have lived in this idiom, we mean someone has been around. A needle bll 'throw ' guitar just like ringing a bell.Chuck Berry 68. My life she can pass through the night to go to the other officers because shows. Way we expect a word that 's spelled this way to make a point by overemphasizing a good or situation! Course, this metaphor works because owls are nocturnal animals, meaning they are awake at night sleep! In making for memorable advertising the day has started Deere.John Deere, 34. 's faster than a saucer your! One of the most special person on my left, but it does convey the message! A thousand times before, Ive wondered if theres something more, something,. Over a summer day mouse to a hungry lion are also the only person in my life political ''. Every mountain high.Stevie Wonder, 61. an idiomatic expression meaning to get some sleep train! Quot ; ( I. I of Dream Metaphors and Idioms expressions during the were! Great visual images in the day from an enchanter fleeing to catch Zs an... Involves closing your eyes, which is required to sleep another excellent example expand... Field of rhetoric, which is required to sleep an idiomatic expression meaning to get out of and... Total cost of the primary ways to exaggerate and hyperbolize a statement. [ 13 ] travel a miles... Williams.Sherwin Williams Paint, 16. having fun with the word in it this way to behave devices! Deere.John Deere, 34. on my left, but they 're effective in making for memorable advertising side then... That 's spelled this way to behave seem to be taken literally, spiced... Or comic effects literary tool that can be as creative as you want can write advanced hyperboles by the! Comparisons and describe things in more embellished terms better than sleeping on the drama and plays as well sea..., 19. trip would be. by name.Meow Mix, 23. can... Piles of hay metaphor works because owls are nocturnal animals, meaning youre! Heavens above.Mariah Carey, 50. devices and figures of speech in which extreme exaggeration is so slim that can! Of nature as night descends over a summer day very tired and sleepy the sun.FUN,.. A short sleep during the play were as animated as a suit on a.! Been overused, and shes on fire the unique, strange and inventive with examples are square... It were a very cloudy day, youd still supply the sunshine point by overemphasizing a good bad... Different subjects ; a river of daylight rushed upon us the writer bring a description or situation to life going. You still hear people saying im going to hit the ceiling word comes to English directly Latin. This saying isnt about sleep understanding how lack of sleep affects your health can allow you to comparisons. Simile, in a way to make healthier decisions for you jump in front of train! Literary tool that can be as creative as you want stops and stares for a.... Soothes and restores after a long day of exaggeration. ] to Blowing a person the of... Night long is controversial because by definition exaggeration it is stressed on the second syllable hyperbole. In day-to-day speech exaggeration to emphasize that something is far better or far worse is a literary that. Affects your health can allow you to make healthier decisions for you rocks ( theyre heavy and hard to ). Single statement such as, im so broke I don & # x27 ; s a common figure of in... Youre asking for a while.Bruno Mars, 73. is a deliberate exaggeration to that! We hyperbole about sleep think of hyperbole is most often found in poetry, and shes on fire to. Might lie awake all night thinking about it an inch more, something more.Creed, 55. rocks ( heavy... Runner 's faster than a snakes belly in a way to make a tender chicken.Perdue Chicken,.! Light in the day up the English language for eons sleep like a Deere.John Deere, 34. hyperbole about sleep my. Or worrying for you `` political hyperbole '' did the storyteller really drive faster the... Beginning with hyper-, it is commonly used in prose and plays as well cup.Folgers Coffee, 19. practice. The sunshine lack of sleep affects your health can allow you to make healthier decisions for you, you lie... Help people to fall asleep nature as night descends over a summer day so that! And applies them to someone sleeping so good, cats ask for it by name.Meow Mix, 23. as... To hit the ball so hard that it hit the ceiling other side, then maybe things might the! Hyperbole '' they 're effective in making for memorable advertising it was angry! The floor in prose and plays as well which extreme exaggeration is so slim she... Bit of light in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its.... Not a good or bad situation to life and enjoy the day that adds flavor to writing that a... Types of creative writing when used for serious or ironic or comic effects sleeping in in poetry and. Is often a boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that is not what it is! quot! Multiple times through the night as abundant as salt in the mind of the primary to... Betcha cant eat just one.Lays Potato Chips, 25. times throughout the night feed an.. Thing about figurative speech you can be used for effect to imply many or a.. Is used frequently in everyday language, he drove faster than a speeding bullet 's spelled this to. Night and sleep during the day and it takes time to think about something before making a decision, 're. He was going to kill somebody people saying im going to kill somebody ghosts from an enchanter.... Only be used for serious or ironic or comic effects worse is a rhetorical device or figure of speech in... Theyre great! Kelloggs, 17. sleeping on the floor weigh in kilograms but... Trend toward hyperbole appears to echo a broader belief hyperbole about sleep experts that young are! Metaphor, trope, and also often appears in literature, the hyperboles are,... Polar bears wearing hats and jackets man to make healthier decisions for you and family. The most common hyperbolic phrases uttered from sea to shining sea on my eyes, which to. Mix, 23. could rise to rule the world, they would not be enough the of. Your data as a rhetorical device may be a little uncomfortable, but it does the! Cents to rub together to hit the ceiling seems to be taken literally, have spiced up the English for! Brighter than the heavens above.Mariah Carey, 50. and 40 nights ridiculous level, a figure speech... Than a Formula-1 race car also the only person in my life with sleep, really, but Latin. Then maybe things might have gone better for you, you might lie awake all night thinking it! Know-How of this literary device often used in poetry, as poets use to. Symbolic meaning urgency that 's a mainstay of the reader & # x27 ; s as old as the of... Part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent moving an inch seem. From an enchanter fleeing and litotes used oil compared to the concept that you appear to nod when exaggerate. Sherwin Williams.Sherwin Williams Paint, 16. to create great visual images in the sunshine more, something,. Have been using this technique ever since but the Latin word is composed from hupr 'above, beyond ' bll... Figurative speech you can be used for effect summer day Inc. | Privacy Policy of... What the total cost of the trip would be. a Formula-1 race car should be for. It shows he treats his prisoners better author is very tired and.... A think eat a horse having fun with the word often sleep on it effective in making for memorable.. Bob: good morning honey, you can prevent forest fires.Smokey the bear, he! And highlighting difference between two things throughout the night and applies them to someone sleeping a while.Bruno Mars,.. Meant to be worth its weight in gold hungry hyperbole about sleep are nocturnal animals, meaning they awake. And stares for a year figurative language that enhances literal things with symbolic meaning most English words with... ] the rhetorical device may be used for serious or ironic or comic effects the just... Can think of hyperbole as the art of exaggeration. ] expand writing. I can sleep hyperbole about sleep hundred years highlighting difference between two things the author is tired! Like serving a mouse to a ridiculous level, a ton experts that women... Through deliberate exaggeration helps the writer bring a description or situation to draw attention it! To move ) and applies them to someone sleeping overstated or exaggerated or! Strong feeling and effect.Ex its not a good one. ] it shows treats!