FIGURE OF SPEECH

1. Simile direct comparison He is as cool as a cucumber.

(tỉ dụ, so Function words: like, as … as
sánh) /ˈsɪm.ə.li/
2. Indirect implied comparision He is an old fox.
- dead metaphor: fixed expression,  He is very wicked.
idiom She has a heart of gold.
- live metaphor: consciously,  She is very kind and generous.
intentionally by the speaker Have you digested the lesson yet?
Metaphor (ẩn
No function words  Have you careful understood the
dụ) /ˈmet̬ .ə.fɔːr/
2 ways: lesson yet?
- put 2 different species on the He bottled up his feeling.
same rank  He hid his feeling.
- applies a feature of one species
for another
3. Say the opposite of one’s thought The butter is as soft as a marble piece.
Usually use the opposite  The butter is not soft at all.
Irony (mỉa
adjectives for the object He is so intelligent that no examiner
mai) /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/
has agreed to pass him so far.
 He is rather stupid.
4. Use a part for the whole and vice This work requires an intelligent brain.
versa  This work requires an intelligent
person.
The war has robbed 2,000 souls of the
Synecdoche
village.
(cải dung) /sɪ
 The war has robbed 2,000 people of
ˈnek.də.ki/
the village.
The United States won the cup.
 The team from the United States
won the cup.
5. A word or phrase is used to stand The pen is mightier than the sword.
Metonymy in a for another word  Written words are mightier than the
(hoán dụ) /mə violence.
ˈtɑː.nə.mi/ He tried his best to win her heart
 He tried his best to win her love.
6. Thing/idea/animal is given human The wind whispered through dry grass.
attributes  The wind made a noise through dry
Personification grass.
(nhân cách hóa) /pɚ The flower danced in the gentle breeze.
ˌsɑː.nə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/  The flower swayed beautifully in the
gentle breeze.

7. Overstatement or exaggeration /ɪɡ I’ve told you a million times.

ˌzædʒ.əˈreɪ.ʃən/  I’ve told you many times.
Hyperbole It was so cold that I saw polar bears
(cường điệu) /haɪ wearing jackets.
ˈpɝː.bəl.i/  It was really cold outside.
I am so hungry. I could eat a horse.
 I am extremely hungry.
8. Litotes Double negatives or positive The ice cream was not too bad.
(phép nói statement is expressed by negating  The ice cream was not too bad.
 its opposite expressions. I cannot disagree with your point of
view.
giảm) /ˈlaɪ.tə.tiːz/
I totally agree with your point of
view.
9. Euphemism The use of pleasant, mild, Let someone go
(uyển ngữ, nói tránh) comforting, or indirect expression  fire someone
/ˈjuː.fə.mɪ.zəm/ for one that is taboo, negative, Pass away
offensive or too direct  die

1. When you take that course, plan to study 30 hours a day.

 “study 30 hours a day” is a hyperbole means “study many hours a day”.
2. You have to pay the earth for such a masterpiece!
 “pay the earth” is a hyperbole means “pay a lot of money”.
3. My brother was boiling mad.
 “boiling mad” is a hyperbole/ metaphor means “extremely angry”.
4. The ship was lost with all hands.
 “hands” is a synecdoche means “sailors”.
5. The tree branch moaned (than vãn) as I swung from it.
 “moaned” is a personification means “made a noise”.
6. You are becoming a little thin on top.
 “a little thin on top” is a euphemism means “bald”.
7. He has a heart of stone.
 “a heart of stone” is a metaphor means “merciless” (tàn nhẫn).
8. The weather is as cool as a summer day in the Sahara.
 “as cool as a summer day in the Sahara” is an irony means “not cool at all”.
9. That knife will take a bite out of your hand if you don't handle it safely.
 “take a bite out of your hand” is a personification means “the knife is very sharp”.
10. The White House will be announcing the decision around noon today.
 “The White House” is a metonymy means “the US government”.
11. His parents bought him a new set of wheels.
 “a new set of wheels” is a synecdoche means “a new car”.
12. Joe cried a little when he lost the thousand dollars.
 “cried a little” is a litotes means “cried a lot”.
13. Your comments on politics are not useless.
 “not useless” is a litotes means “useful”.
14. Miss O'Shay, our teacher, is in the family way.
 “in the family way” is a euphemism means “pregnant”.
15. They are enjoying adult beverages (đồ uống).
 “adult beverages” is a euphemism means “alcoholic drinks”.
16. My little brother is really a night owl.
 “a night owl” is a metaphor means “stays up late”.
17. This car goes faster than the speed of light.
 “speed of light” is a hyperbole means “very fast”.
18. He has many mouths to feed.
 “mouths” is synecdoche means “people”.
19. This wall is as hard as tofu.
 “as hard as tofu” is an irony means “not hard at all”.
20. Life is a dream.
 “a dream” is a metaphor means “beautiful/short/easy”.
21. He shall think differently, the musketeer (lính ngự lâm) threatened, when he feels the point of my
steel (thép).
 “the point of my steel” is a synecdoche means “my sword”.
22. The boss let 10 employees go yesterday.
 “let 10 employees go” is a euphemism means “fired 10 employees”.
23. We can't lend you any money; we don't have two cents to rub together.
 “don’t have two cents to rub together” is a hyperbole means “don’t have any money”.
24. The ocean danced in the moonlight.
 “danced” is a personification means “looked beautiful”.
25. He wanted to set sail on the ocean of love but he just wasted away in the desert.
 “set sail on the ocean of love but he just wasted away in the desert” is a metaphor means “love
without return/ unrequited love”.
26. He's as nice as a lion to his prey (con mồi).
 “as nice as a lion to his prey” is an irony means “not nice at all”.
27. The computer in the classroom was an old dinosaur.
 “an old dinosaur” is a metaphor means “out of date”.
28. Always remember that he is no fool.
 “no fool” is a litotes means “intelligent”.
29. I had a ton of homework.
 “a ton of homework” is a hyperbole means “a lot of homework”.
30. He is always tired and emotional.
 “tired and emotional” is a euphemism means “drunk”.
31. The phone awakened with a mighty (hùng mạnh) ring.
 “awakened” is a personification means “rang suddenly and loudly”.
32. This chair is as comfortable as sitting on nails.
 “as comfortable an sitting on nails” is an irony means “not comfortable at all”.
33. We are tired to death of such movies.
 “tired to death of” is a hyperbole means “very bored with”.
34. The Pentagon will be revealing (biểu lộ) the decision later on in the morning
 “The Pentagon” is a metonymy means “Department of Defense”.
35. That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was riding on a dinosaur.
 “riding on a dinosaur” is a hyperbole means “long time ago”.
36. Her brain is the size of a pea.
 “the size of a pea” is a metaphor means “not intelligent”.
37. He is spending his time at a Correctional center.
 “a Correctional center” is a euphemism means “prison”.
38. Who brought fire and sword into our country?
 “fire and sword” is a metonymy means “war”.
39. A million dollars is not a little amount.
 “not a little amount” is a litotes means “a large amount”.
40. I am purchasing a pre-enjoyed (pre-loved) vehicle.
 “pre-enjoyed (pre-loved)” is a euphemism means “secondhand”.
41. Will you marry a pre-enjoyed person?
 “pre-enjoyed” is a euphonism means “used to get marriage”.
42. I found the fifty-two pounds of books you left for me to carry. Your kindness really moved me.
 “Your kindness” is an irony means “You were not kind to me at all”.
43. The man is a demon (ma quỷ) for work.
 “a demon for work” is a metaphor means “an energetic person who works very hard”/
44. The wind howled angrily (hút lên giận giữ) around the house all night.
 “howled angrily” is a personification means “blew strongly”.
45. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in.
 “what a cave” is a metaphor means “small and uncomfortable room”.
46. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
 “the City Hall” is a metonymy means “the city’s Mayor”
47. We'll just have to go our separate ways.
 “go our separate ways” is a metaphor means “life is a journey”.
48. Keep overeating like that and pretty soon you'll weigh a thousand pounds.
 “weigh a thousand pounds” is a hyperbole means “gain a lot of pounds/get too fat”.
49. Alice came in gently, like a May breeze.
 “like a May breeze” is a simile means “is as young, fresh, sweet and warm as a breeze signaling the
beginning of a summer”.
50. Your explanation is as clear as mud.
 “as clear as mud” is an irony means “not clear at all”.
51. Her long hair was a flowing golden river.
 “a flowing golden river” is metaphor means “beautiful long blond hair”.
52. The children were flowers grown in concrete gardens.
 “flowers grown in concrete garden” is a metaphor means “children grew up in really hard
situations, but have grown up and bloomed”
53. His cotton candy words did not appeal to her taste.
 “His cotton candy words” is a metaphor “his sweet words”.
54. Man does not live by bread alone.
 “bread” is a synecdoche means “necessaries or things needed for living”
55. We now live under the same roof.
 “roof” is a synecdoche means “house”
56. (13)