But when the size, shape, dimensions, characteristic features of the object are not overrated, but intentionally underrated, we deal with understatement.
She wore a pink hat, the size of a button. (J. Reed)
The little woman, for she was of pocket size, crossed her hands solemnly on her middle. (J. Galsworthy)
She was a sparrow of a woman. (Ph. Larkin)
Oxymoronis a phrase that combines 2 words that seem to be the opposite of each other.
A neon sign reads “Welcome to Reno – the biggest little town in the world.” (A. Miller)
Their bitter-sweet union did not last long. (A. Cronin)
She was a damned nice woman, too. (E. Hemingway)
He behaved pretty lousily to Jan. (D. Cusack)
Ironyis a stylistic device by which the words and phrases are used to express a meaning opposite to their direct meaning. The context is arranged so that the qualifying word or phrase reverses the direction of evaluation, and the word positively charged is understood by the reader as a negative qualification.
She turned with the sweet smite of an alligator. (J. Steinbeck)
“I have nothing to add except my thanks for your politeness,” said Miss Murdstone. “Bah! Stuff and nonsense!” said my aunt. “Don’t talk to me!”
“How exquisitely polite,” exclaimed Miss Nurdstone. “Overpowering, really!” (Ch. Dickens)
Several months ago a magazine named ‘Playboy’ which concentrates editorially on girls, books, girls, art, girls, music, fashion, girls and girls, published an article about old-time science-fiction. (“Morning Star”)
Pun is based on the interaction of 2 well-known meanings of a words or phrase.
– Did you hit a woman with a child?
– No, Sir, I hit her with a brick.
Zeugma is the use of a word in the same grammatical but different semantic relations to 2 adjacent words in one context, the semantic relations being on the one hand literal, on the other, transferred.
She let him carry umbrella and her impossible character.
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Examples
Metaphor
1. The clock had struck, time was bleeding away.
2. There had been rain in the night and now all the trees were curtseying to a fresh wind.
3. Another night, the heat of my room sent me out into the streets.
4. The laugh in her eyes died out and was replaced by something else.
5. The slash of sun on the wall above him slowly knifes down, cuts across his chest, becomes a coin on the floor and vanishes.
6. The music came to him across the now bright, now dull, slowly burning cigarette of each man’s life, telling him its ancient secret of all men intangible, unfathomable defying long-winded description.
Personification
1. All the time the big Pacific Ocean suffered sharp pains down below and tossed about to prove it.
2. The moon held a finger to her lips.
Metonymy
1. It was a representative gathering – science, politics, business
2. He drank one more glass (of whisky)
3. She bought some china.
4. We have two Renoirs.
5. He is the sharpest pen in our redaction.
6. They hate skinheads.
Irony
1. It is delightful to find oneself in a foreign country without a penny in one’s pocket!
2. Stoney smiled the sweet smile of an alligator.
Zeugma
1. There comes a period in every man’s life, but she’s just a semicolon in his.
2. “Have you been seeing any spirits?” inquired the old gentleman. “Or taking any?” added Bob Allen.
Pun
1. – What is the difference between a schoolmaster and an engine – driver?
– One trains the mind and the other minds the train.
Epithet
1. The room was old and tired.
2. I-am-not-that-kind-of-girl look.
3. The giant of a man.
4. He gave us a marvelously radiant smile.
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