- Definition of Hyperbole. Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning “over-casting,” is a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
- Common Examples of Hyperbole. My grandmother is as old as the hills. Your suitcase weighs a ton! She is as heavy as an elephant! I am dying of shame.
- Short Examples of Hyperbole. A ton of worry was lifted from the beggar’s back when he received the alms. He saw a man as tall a power poll.
- Hyperbole Examples in Literature. In American folk lore, Paul Bunyan’s stories are full of hyperboles. ...
- Function of Hyperbole. The above arguments make clear the use of hyperbole. In our daily conversation, we use hyperbole to create an amusing effect, or to emphasize our meaning.
What are the 10 examples of hyperbole?
- ”I've heard that a million times”
- ”You've got a head the size of a pin”.
- "I just ran a million miles"
What are some examples of hyperbole?
Other Keywords
- Agenda, n. -- the underlying intentions or motives of a particular person or group
- Hyperbole, n. -- exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
- Objective, adj. -- (of a person or their judgment) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts
- Parody, n. ...
- Satire, n. ...
- Subjective, adj. ...
What is an example of hyperbole in a sentence?
What are 5 examples of hyperbole?
- I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
- She’s as old as the hills.
- I walked a million miles to get here.
- She can hear a pin drop a mile away.
- I died of embarrassment.
- He’s as skinny as a toothpick.
- She’s as tall as a beanpole.
- It’s raining cats and dogs.
What does the word hyperbole mean?
Hyperbole noun. a figure of speech in which the expression is an evident exaggeration of the meaning intended to be conveyed, or by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse, than they really are; a statement exaggerated fancifully, through excitement, or for effect.
What is hyperbole in literature?
Why do people use hyperbole?
Why is hyperbole used in lyrics?
How does hyperbole work in writing?
Does hyperbole encourage consumers to buy?
Is hyperbole a literary device?
Is there exaggeration in speech?
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What are the 5 example of hyperbole?
Examples of HyperboleI'm so hungry, I could eat a horse.My feet are killing me.That plane ride took forever.This is the best book ever written.I love you to the moon and back.The pen is mightier than the sword.I've told you this 20,000 times.Cry me a river.
What is a hyperbole easy definition?
Definition of hyperbole : extravagant exaggeration (such as "mile-high ice-cream cones")
What is the best example of hyperbole?
Are you sitting down? These examples of hyperbole are the bomb!I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.She's as old as the hills.I walked a million miles to get here.She can hear a pin drop a mile away.I died of embarrassment.He's as skinny as a toothpick.She's as tall as a beanpole.It's raining cats and dogs.More items...•
What is hyperbole give 3 examples in sentences?
Here are some examples of hyperbole There's enough food on the table to feed an entire army! I'm so hungry, I could eat an elephant. It took forever to climb the hill. My legs felt like jelly after riding the rollercoaster.
What is an example of hyperbole in literature?
A great example of hyperbole in literature comes from the narrator's opening remarks in the American folktale Babe the Blue Ox. It comically gets across just how cold it was. "Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue.
Is raining cats and dogs a hyperbole?
"It's raining cats and dogs" is an idiomatic expression and not a hyperbole.
How do you use the word hyperbole in a sentence?
Hyperbole sentence exampleI suppose using such hyperbole makes him feel good about himself. ... This isn't mere hyperbole. ... My aunt is a bit of a drama queen, and she uses hyperbole in almost every sentence. ... Hyperbole is unacceptable when speaking in court.More items...
Hyperbole Examples - Softschools.com
1. My father drives 1,000 miles per hour! 2. I ate a ton of food for dinner. 3. Mom, if I don't get some dinner soon, I will starve to death!
What are some examples of hyperbole?
Many advertising campaigns and slogans feature hyperbole as a way to attract customers to their products. Here are some examples of hyperbole in well-known advertisements: 1 When you’re here, you’re family. (Olive Garden) 2 Breakfast of champions (Wheaties) 3 The king of beers (Budweiser) 4 The best a man can get (Gillette) 5 When there is no tomorrow (FedEx) 6 Nothing runs like a Deere. (John Deere) 7 Tastes so good, cats ask for it by name. (Meow Mix) 8 Taste the rainbow (Skittles) 9 america runs on Dunkin’ (Dunkin’ Donuts) 10 Red Bull gives you wings (Red Bull)
What is hyperbole in literature?
Hyperbole is often a boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally true. In rhetoric and literature, hyperbole is often used for serious, comic, or ironic effect. For example, lyrics to The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Thomas W. Blackburn contain hyperbole:
How does hyperbolic loveickness affect the reader?
First, readers can interpret the hyperbolic lovesickness as the poet’s method of describing the way infatuation and desire, especially if unrequited, robs people of their reason and logic. This passion and preoccupation can figuratively feel like illness or madness that grows exponentially and is without a cure. In this sense, the intended effect of hyperbole as a literary device would be relatively serious. Second, readers can interpret this hyperbolic lovesickness as the poet’s way of ironically expressing how people feel when infatuated or impassioned. In this case, Shakespeare would be satirizing such love and romantic poetry as well through hyperbole, emphasizing the significance of the final couplet.
Why is hyperbole used in tall tales?
Instead, hyperbole is used to exaggerate Davy Crockett’s frontier experience and make him seem larger than life . Hyperbole is a frequently used literary device in tall tales, legends, and folk stories. The audience is aware that such claims are to emphasize the traits of the characters and not to be taken literally.
What is hyperbole in everyday speech?
Common Examples of Hyperbole in Everyday Speech. Many people use hyperbole as a figure of speech to make something seem larger or more important than it actually is. Such exaggeration or distortion can help express strong emotion, emphasize a point, or even evoke humor.
Why does Catherine use hyperbole in Shue's play?
In Shue’s play, the character Catherine utilizes hyperbole to reveal to the audience her perception of her brother’s intelligence and ability. Such an extremely exaggerated statement not only indicates the witty humor of the playwright, but also creates an absurd and memorable image for the audience.
What is hyperbole in Shakespeare's sonnet?
In this Shakespearean sonnet, the poet utilizes hyperbole as a literary device to describe his love and desire for his beloved. The poet exaggerates his feelings to the point of claiming that they make him ill and mad beyond cure. Shakespeare realizes that his audience understands that the poet does not literally mean what he is saying. However, the sentiment behind such hyperbole can be interpreted in two ways.
What is an example of hyperbole?
— Lawrence W. Levine, The Unpredictable Past, 1993 “enough food to feed a whole army” is a common example of hyperbole
How is hyperbole pronounced—and why?
This word doesn't behave the way we expect a word that's spelled this way to behave. It begins with the prefix hyper-, which we know in words like hyperlink (and in the adjective hyper itself), but instead of having the accent, or emphasis, on the first syllable—HYE-per-link—it has the accent on the second syllable: hye-PER-buh-lee. And then there's that bole. It should sound just like the word bowl, right? Nope. Instead it's two syllables: buh-lee .
What does "hyperbola" mean in Latin?
Latin, from Greek hyperbolē excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw — more at devil
What does the macron mean in hyperbole?
It has a line, called a macron, over the final e: hyperbolē. The macron tells us that the vowel is pronounced like ee . The fact that hyperbole is pronounced in a way counter to the usual workings of English pronunciation gives a hint as to the word's history in the language.
Where does hyperballein come from?
That noun does come to us from Greek (by way of Latin), but from the Greek verb hyperballein, meaning "to exceed," not from the name of the Athenian demagogue.
What is a hyperbole?
What is hyperbole? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations intended to emphasize a point, rather than be taken literally. For example, in the hyperbolic statement, ...
Why is hyperbole used?
. . It is in common use, as much among the unlearned as among the learned; because there is in all men a natural propensity to magnify or extenuate what comes before them, and no one is contented with the exact truth.
Why Do Writers Use Hyperbole?
Hyperbole has been used since the days of ancient Greece, and its use has been criticized for just as long. Aristotle himself pronounced hyperbole worthy of use only by "angry" and "undisciplined" people. Around the year A.D. 95, though, the Roman rhetorician Quintilian wrote the following eloquent defense of hyperbole:
What is the difference between simile and hyperbole?
Hyperbole focuses on exaggeration in order to emphasize a point. Simile focuses on a comparison to provide vivid description and make a reader see something in a new way. That way, if you think a figure of speech is hyperbole and simile simultaneously, you can explain why it's both.
What is the hyperbole in Cat's Cradle?
In Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut uses hyperbole to describe his character Felix Hoenikker, a fictional scientist who helped invent the atomic bomb. As in Slaughterhouse Five, hyperbole allows Vonnegut to write about violence on an enormous scale, and to describe the twisted genius who invented the bomb with vividness and emotion. In the following example, the novel's narrator talks with Dr. Hoenniker's former research supervisor in search of clues to Hoenniker's personality:
Why is hyperbole important?
Hyperbole gives them an opportunity to compensate for the fact that true, lived experiences often can't be satisfactorily reproduced in spoken or written language. Quintilian's defense of this figure of speech is quite profound—he argues that hyperbole isn't intended to deceive, or to express an exaggerated form of the truth, but instead to stand in for truths that are inexpressible.
Why is hyperbole used in literature?
Because of its ability to express larger-than-life emotion, hyperbole is common in novels, poetry, politics and advertising slogans.
What is hyperbole in speech?
Updated December 30, 2018. A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect; it's an extravagant statement. In adjective form, the term is hyperbolic. The concept is also called overstatement .
How to write hyperbolic statements?
When composing hyperbolic statements, stay away from cliches, as those are just tired and overused—the opposite of fresh language. The description you create needs to bring forth surprise or delight in your audience at the image portrayed by the comparison or description. 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. Humor writing is complex, and it takes time to put just the right words together for the maximum effect.
What is over exaggeration in speech?
Hyperbole, or over-exaggeration, is rife in common, everyday informal speech, from saying things like your book bag weighs a ton, that you were so mad you could have killed someone, or that you could have eaten an entire vat of that delicious dessert. Mark Twain was a master at it.
Can you use hyperbole in a letter?
You wouldn't use hyperbole in formal writing, such as a business memo, a letter to a business, a scientific report, an essay, or an article for publication. It could have its place in fiction or other types of creative writing when used for effect. A little goes a long way when making use of tools like hyperbole.
Is hyperbole everywhere?
Hyperbole is everywhere, from a conversation about a good meal you ate, to comedy acts, to literature.
Is hyperbole in advertising?
Hyperbole is all over the place in advertising. Just think of a negative attack ad in a political campaign that sounds as if the world will cease to exist should so-and-so take office. Hyperbole in ads can be visual, like in images of former wide receiver Isaiah Mustafa for Old Spice or cheeky commercial clips for Snickers. No, wearing Old Spice deodorant will not make you as manly as an NFL or Olympic athlete, and being hungry does not transform Boogie into Elton John, unable to rap (cured by eating a Snickers bar). Viewers know these claims are exaggerations, but they're effective in making for memorable advertising.
What is the definition of hyperbole?
Lastly, hyperbolic language is a great vehicle for comedy. Exaggeration allows people to get creative with what they are trying to communicate in amusing ways. What is an example of hyperbole as comedic delivery?
What is hyperbole in literature?
Hyperbole is a literary device used to draw emphasis through extreme exaggeration. Hyperbole is not meant to be taken literally, but rather understood as a means of communicating something specific. Those who hear or read the hyperbole should understand that it is an exaggeration.
What is a hyperbole used for?
The most common reason it is used in both literature, film, and everyday conversation is to describe a feeling.
What is hyperbole in writing?
Hyperbole is one of the most common literary devices and figures of speech used in everyday language. Keep an eye out for how people use this in everyday conversations whether it be to describe a feeling, emphasize a point, or make a joke. It’ll teach you how to use hyperboles effectively in the stories you write.
How to use "exaggeration" in a sentence?
Another way this is used is to emphasize a point. Exaggeration makes it clear how much a person believes in a statement. In everyday conversation, we might say, “He is as tall as a building” to describe a really tall person.
How do you use hyperbole?
For example, you are too hungry and decided to order two meals at a time. What you will usually say is, “I am so hungry I could eat a horse” but of course you do not really mean eating a horse. It is just a representation of how hungry you are. With that, you can tell that hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize real situations. Below are some common examples of hyperbole expressions that are used in daily communication.
What does the statement above mean?
The statement above means that a student might have homework with all his subjects that’s why he exaggerated it with a ton of homework to do. Students usually use this hyperbole when they want to emphasize how bombarded they are with homework at school.
What is an example of a statement?
Example statement: My classmate borrowed some money from me yesterday that is why I do not have two cents to spare right now.
What are some examples of hyperbole?
Examples from daily life 1 'She was dying of laughter!' Nobody will actually die of laughter. Hyperbole just tells us that the person was laughing really hard. 2 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!' It's unlikely that somebody would want to or could eat a horse. Hyperbole is used to emphasise just how hungry the person is. It's more interesting than just saying 'I'm really hungry.' 3 'I'm giving it two hundred per cent' This isn't possible but the fact that it is impossible emphasises how much effort someone is willing to make.
What is hyperbole in writing?
Hyperbole is exaggerating for a purpose – it is not meant to be taken literally and it's used to emphasise a point.
Why do people use hyperbole?
Hyperbole is used to emphasise just how hungry the person is. It's more interesting than just saying 'I'm really hungry.'. 'I'm giving it two hundred per cent' This isn't possible but the fact that it is impossible emphasises how much effort someone is willing to make.
Does hyperbole end all sounds?
It is unlikely that all sounds actually ended but hyperbole emphasises how lonely and sad the speaker feels.
What is hyperbole in literature?
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. It is the opposite of understatement. You can find hyperbole examples in literature and everyday speech
Why do people use hyperbole?
But you use the phrase to show people you’re extremely hungry. Hyperbole is used in literature, rhetoric and everyday speech. You wouldn’t want to use it in nonfiction works, like reports or research papers. Still, it’s perfect for creative writing and communication, especially when you want to add color to a character or humor to a story.
Why is hyperbole used in lyrics?
Similar to a well-delivered speech, hyperbole can help paint a vivid picture or express a strong emotion in the lyrics of a song .
How does hyperbole work in writing?
Hyperbole in writing and speech can add a dramatic or serious effect to a statement depending on how it’s used. To make sure your hyperbole adds the emphasis you are looking for, keep a few things in mind:
Does hyperbole encourage consumers to buy?
If used properly, hyperbole can encourage consumers to buy products. There has been limited research into this area, but according to a 2007 study by Mark A. Callister, Ph.D. & Lesa A. Stern, Ph.D., The Role of Visual Hyperbole in Advertising Effectiveness, found that "hyperbolic ads produce more ad liking than nonhyperbolic ads."
Is hyperbole a literary device?
While you use hyperbole in everyday speech all the time, it’s also a great literary device for songs, speeches and advertising. See a few successful examples of hyperbole.
Is there exaggeration in speech?
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. In truth, you wouldn’t be able to eat a whole horse.
Hyperbole Definition
Hyperbole Examples
- Hyperbole in Literature
Hyperbole often appears in literature, particularly prose literature like novels and stories. - Hyperbole in Politics
When described in hyperbolic terms, people and things can seem larger-than-life. For this reason, politicians who want to project a sense of confidence regarding a particular issue, or stir up sentiments for or against something—whether it's a candidate, an opponent, or an idea— often u…
Why Do Writers Use Hyperbole?
- Hyperbole has been used since the days of ancient Greece, and its use has been criticized for just as long. Aristotle himself pronounced hyperbole worthy of use only by "angry" and "undisciplined" people. Around the year A.D. 95, though, the Roman rhetorician Quintilian wrote the following eloquentdefense of hyperbole: Writers and people in general exaggerate accounts of their experi…
Other Helpful Hyperbole Resources
- The Wikipedia Page on Hyperbole: A briefexplanationof hyperbole as a literary device and rhetorical strategy.
- The Dictionary Definition of Hyperbole: A basic definition and etymology of the term—it comes from the Greek hyper, "beyond" and ballein, "to throw."
- The 10 Greatest Hyperboles of All Time: Anarticle from ThoughtCo listing 10 great hyperbole…
- The Wikipedia Page on Hyperbole: A briefexplanationof hyperbole as a literary device and rhetorical strategy.
- The Dictionary Definition of Hyperbole: A basic definition and etymology of the term—it comes from the Greek hyper, "beyond" and ballein, "to throw."
- The 10 Greatest Hyperboles of All Time: Anarticle from ThoughtCo listing 10 great hyperboles that span genres and centuries.
- The best Disney hyperboles: A videoshowing examples of hyperbole from Disney movies.
