Eleven important figures of speech used in English

Figures of speech are used to create different effects in the English language, they usually emphasise a point or help an audience to visualise something.
Words and phrases  are used out of their literal contexts to create different,heightened effects.When a person is "starving" , for example, that person is unlikely to be dying of hunger; rather, he or she is simply hungry.
 Let's learn some of the figures of speech

Alliteration 

The same letter or sound is used at the start of  multiple words  Cathy cleverly combined cold coffee cake and kiwi fruit.

Simile  

The words like one as are used to compare two things.

She is as plump as a pumpkin ,but she moves like a deer.

Metaphor

One thing is described as being a different thing, resulting in a comparison between the two.

Her cheeks are sun-blushed apples.

Euphemism

 A mild word or phrase is substituted for a word or phrase  that might cause offence.

She has ample proportions.(She  is overweight).

Pun

Also known as word play, the multiple meanings  of a word  are used to create humour.

She gave me her measurements as a round figure.

Hyperbole

A statement is grossly exaggerated.

She said she could eat an elephant.

Personification

An object or animal is given human qualities.

Oxymoron

Two terms are used together that contradict each other.

The moon looked terribly beautiful.

Onomatopoeia

A word  is used  that mimics the sound of what it stands for.

She burped noisily.

Anaphora

A word or phrase is repeated  at the start of successive clauses for emphasis.

She ate the cake;she ate the apple;she ate the pie.

Irony

One thing is said but the opposite thing is meant,usually for humour or emphasis.

I admired her sense of dressing.(She was not well dressed).