A well-worn or stereotyped expression
Actions speak louder than words
All’s well that ends well
The grass is always greener on the other side
Cliché
Using more words than necessary
Saying ‘the thing you use to open a bottle’ instead of ‘corkscrew’
Euphemisms
Circumlocution
A word or phrase used in speech but not dignified by formal writing or speech
Everyday: Gonna, wanna, y’all, wassup (or what’s up?), lemme
Regional: Flat out, bloody, sick, knackered
Colloquialism
Two words joined together, often used to make up a name
Closed: Sunflower, notebook, airport, butterfly, basketball
Hyphenated: Mother-in-law, state-of-the-art, know-it-all
Open: Ice cream, living room, hot dog, full moon, real estate, and school bus
Compound Words
The emotional association which many words have; they mean different things to different people
‘Childish’ hasn’t negative connotations while ‘childlike’ has positive connotations, frugal vs cheap, difficult vs challenging, aroma vs stench
Connotation
The object or concept a word stand for, used for defining/giving proof
Blue = the colour, rose = the flower, chef = person who prepares food
Denotation
The omission from a sentence of words and phrases necessary for grammatical completeness, but not for meaning, using …
…
Ellipsis
Repetition of vowel sounds within words
The rain in Spain is plain
She sees bees by trees
I might fly high tonight
Assonance
In descending order, to spoil the effect of climax
“He lost his parents, his hobs, and his old shoes
After years of research, endless tests, and burnt toast, she finally made breakfast.
Anticlimax
Shortening of words in informal speech and writing
Can’t, don’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t, could’ve, etc.
Contractions
A brief description of worthwhile support; proverbs are usually these
Actions speak louder than words
Not all those who wander are lost
The road to hell is paved with adverbs
Epigram
Expressions or words which are a ‘nicer’ way of saying something
Passed away instead of died, let go instead of fired, between jobs for unemployed
Euphemism
A deliberate exaggeration for effect
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”, “my feet are killing me,” and “I’ve told you a million times”
Hyperbole
A special use of a word or expression
“Raining cats and dogs”
“Once in a blue moon”
“Cost an arm and a leg”
Idiom
A change in the natural order of words in a sentence, usually to emphasise the first word
“I have never seen such a beautiful sunset” turns into “Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset”
“A box of chocolates was on the doorstep” turns into “On the doorstep was a box of chocolates”
Inversion
Intended meaning is the opposite of that expressed
Situational irony - A fire station burning down
Verbal irony - “What a perfect day for a drive!” when in a traffic jam
Dramatic irony - A horror movie character walking into a house the audience knows is dangerous
Irony
A form of understatement where a double negative is used to affirm a point
“Not bad” = good
“He is no fool” = he is clever
“That wasn’t the best” = that was mediocre
Litotes
This makes comparisons but these are direct
“The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas”
“Life is a rollercoaster”
“The classroom was a zoo”
Metaphor
The mentioning of one or two things so closely associated that the mention of the first suggests the second
“The crown will find an heir” - “The Crown” = British monarchy
“The wheel decided the outcome” - “The wheel” = Gameshow roulette tool
“Love” =”Heart”
Metonymy
Newly coined words
Internet, smog, brunch, selfie, hangry, Brexit
Neologism
Words which recreate the sound they describe
Boom, crash, bam, pow, buzz, hiss, meow, bang
Onomatopoeia
A rhetorical figure in which the effect is produced by apparent self-contradiction
Jumbo shrimp, deafening silence, alone together, seriously funny, bittersweet, open secret, original copy, perfect imperfections
Oxymoron
A statement that apparently contradicts accepted facts but holds some truth
Having to be old enough to be hired, but having to have experience to be hired.
Less is more.
Failure is the key to success.
I always lie.
Paradox
Imitation of another person’s style, or work, used to make fun of that word
Like a “Saturday Night Live” sketch or fake newscasts
Parody
