Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for emphasis or humor. Your smile alone makes my life worth living. (In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo utters of Juliet, "The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars") Advertisers and marketers have been leaning on the power of hyperbole since the dawn of time (think your local diner touting "the world's best coffee!") Such hyperboles can be written by stretching the attribute you want to hyperbolize to ridiculous level. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! "Hyperbole: Definition and Examples." 30 Hyperbole Examples 1. The exaggeration is the reason the line has become iconic in cinema. 78. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. I told you a million times youd love this article. He is like a grenade with the pin pulled, ready to go off any time. 2. That documentary went on forever. 46. 85. I've told you a million times, pick up your dirty socks. To get up at the crack of dawn is to wake up very early. It means that people who wake up early have an advantage over others. But more realistically, it just means waking up very early and not sleeping in. The Oxford Learner's Dictionary defines a hyperbole as "a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better, more exciting, more dangerous, etc . ], 2. [In rare case, it could be, but mostly itll be an exaggeration.]. In the examples below, absolute words that make the sentence a hyperbole have been highlighted. 27. Under the lights tonight, turned around and you stole my heart. Hyperbole emphasizes ordinary human emotions in a way that makes them extraordinary. She's as old as the hills. [Blowing papers has been stretched to blowing a person. 4. 41. You're as light as a feather. Hyperbole is often a boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally true. Come on, get up! Here are a few examples: 39.) [citation needed] Many dictionaries now document the meaning as "to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling". It means that the author is very tired and sleepy. In this excerpt, it is told about the author how after a short sleep or a nap she will back and will have eternity in which they would be no pain and then death will not pass her ever in the life as death will have to die after she reaches the life of eternity. He has ice in his veins. The hyperbole is that there is no floodgate in the heavens. Winking involves closing your eyes, which is required to sleep. Or The leaping catch by the fielder took my breath away. What is hyperbole and how to write it in step-by-step way. A person who is a heavy sleeper is someone who is hard to wake up when theyre asleep. Hyperbole is a rhetorical and literary technique where an author or speaker intentionally uses exaggeration and overstatement for emphasis and effect. What Is Hyperbole? She's as tall as a beanpole. 40. Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, O thou, who chariots to their dark wintry bed. This is something people say when theyre really ambitious and living a fast-paced life. Goodness is the only investment that never fails. Tonight, we are young. 57. You sneezed so loudly that the vase on the table shook. It is simply used idiomatically to talk about a sleepless night. Singing my life with his words. 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. An example is the exaggeration of a person's facial feature in a political cartoon. I have loved you for a thousand years. No. 85.) Night mainly contains similes, metaphors and hyperbole. 54. Dresden was like the moon now, nothing but minerals. He has the memory of an elephant. An exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally. 92. The journalists fired rapid-fire questions at the Governor like a machine gun. In poetry and oratory, it emphasizes, evokes strong feelings, and creates strong impressions. I couldnt eat the meal because it was as cold as an iron rod in freezing winter. My Mom made enough food to feed an army. 74. 48. It was so cold that even polar bears were shivering. It became a controversial issue when people began to use literally to mean figuratively (the exact opposite). Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The hypothalamus, a peanut-sized structure deep inside the brain, contains groups of nerve cells that act as control centers affecting sleep and arousal. There cant be anything cuter than this cat. They can also be very heavy! I was quaking from head to foot and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far.Mark Twain, 43.) 7.) 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. You may hear it in this stanza: "Born on a mountain top in Tennessee. 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed. Take note of these grammar myths your English teacher lied to you about. In this song, hyperbole is very consistent. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? 65. There is no substitute for Porsche.Porsche Automobiles, 37.) 14. 75.) It can amplify or diminish the veracity of a fact. In Watts v. United States (1969) the defendant was absolved of federal anti-threat punishment for saying "the first person he would put in his scope is L.B.J. They get to the shop first so they dont have to wait in line. A hyperbole is a single statement such as, Im so hungry I could eat a horse. The exaggeration is so outrageous that its unbelievable, but it does convey the strong message that Im really hungry!. Your chin drops to your head in a nodding fashion. The meeting went on for what seemed likean eternity. Did the storyteller really drive faster than a speeding bullet? You are perfectly still. It should sound just like the word bowl, right? Weve started the list by polling our expert panel to come up with the 13 most classic hyperboles of all time. YOU SLEPT: 7 hours. It's been raining for 40 days and 40 nights. 15. We're never gonna get there! 115.) You arent hurt as bad as you think. I know every line of the novel; Ive read it hundred times. Forum and Poll. But I cant seem to find someone to love.Leighton Meester, 54.) Since Authors and songwriters are drawn to hyperboles, it only stands to reason that poets would be to. This collection starring the best of the best will show you how. [citation needed], Rhetorical hyperbole is defined as "extravagant exaggeration employed for rhetorical effect" for First Amendment purposes. STEP 1: IDENTIFY- Underline the hyperbole. The word comes to English directly from Latin, but the Latin word is from a Greek word that has one crucial visual difference. 15. 12. Read each sentence and identify if it is a hyperbole example. Nordquist, Richard. 1. The word "hyperbole" originates from the Ancient Greek 'huperbol'. During probation period, I felt like a bug under the microscope. [Anyone would normally take at least few minutes to pull off complex multiplications, but here the time taken has been stretched to just a blink.]. The use of such descriptive literary language still poses an obstacle to understanding the true nature of his experiences, although his tone with the figurative language provides us with many shockingly detailed images. Critics suggest the use of hyperbole is controversial because by definition exaggeration it is at odds with the truth. Viewers know these claims are exaggerations, but they're effective in making for memorable advertising. I had to finally switch off the fan as it threatened to blow me away. In rhetoric, it is also sometimes known as auxesis (literally 'growth'). Example: Im so tired I might just steal some sleep on my lunch break.. Bob: Good morning honey, you slept in today. Rhetorical devices are techniques and stylistic touches speakers and writers use to evoke a response in their audiencesusually, one that prompts the audience to see the speaker's point of view. I love to teach hyperboles in a step-by-step method and offer differentiation when I have a variety of levels in my classroom. Hyperbole is everywhere, from a conversation about a good meal you ate, to comedy acts, to literature. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In our daily lives, hyperbole adds a conversational urgency that's a mainstay of the way we communicate. I would travel a million miles just for the chance to hold your hand. When you exaggerate something, you're using hyperbole. 11. 77. Emerson's Concord Hymn uses hyperbole in the lines "Here once the embattled farmers stood / And fired the shot heard round the world.". Using hyperbole is a way to make a point by overemphasizing a good or bad situation to draw attention to it. 3. His joke was as gross as a cockroach in soup. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It's from the field of rhetoric, which makes it at home with terms like metaphor, trope, and litotes. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. 17. Wiktionary (uncountable) Deliberate exaggeration. 3. Whereas a hyperbolic approach might have the storyteller say that he drove faster than a speeding bullet. So, lets set the world on fire. 11. 97. hyperbole meaning: 1. a way of speaking or writing that makes someone or something sound bigger, better, more, etc. It doesnt happen automatically, but before you know it, you are dozing off. Maybe after youve had a rest and wake up the next day there might be more clarity for you and you can make a better decision. A nalysis. 23. Hyperboles can help land specific messages intended to engage the reader and pique their interest and imagination. An example of hyperbole is saying you are so hungry you could eat a horse. The lesser used definition of fast is to be tightly sealed, hard to move, or secure. The macron tells us that the vowel is pronounced like \ee\ . His new car was as fast as greased lightning. You could come up with a few other fun metaphors similar to this one, like woke up with the cows, beat the rooster out of bed, or rose with the sun to create great images in the mind of the person youre talking (or writing) to. Theyre as many as stars in the galaxy. If you love hyperbole, check out 18 of the funniest hyperbole examples that'll make you laugh out loud! I walked a million miles to get here. This literary tool is often used to make a certain element of a story seem more interesting. 4.) Check out our collection of hyperboles in these classic poems: That floats on high oer vales and hills. And if none of the examples on this list suit you, why not make one up yourself? 73. Hyperbole is a forceful figure of speech that, used appropriately, can offer insightful and imaginative commentary. 114.) I'm so tired I could sleep for a million years. Read Also: A List of Dream Metaphors and Idioms. Hyperbole is one of the most common literary devices and figures of speech used in everyday language. Youve the memory of a wild elephant. The distinction between the two is clear (now). No amount of sleep is ever refreshing whether it's one hour or 14 hours sleep, it's never enough. Delivered to your inbox! Some poetic devices used in this poem are sensory imagery when we here the words "defining silence". Hyperbole adds comedic moments to a story, enhances . Its more than you can shake a stick at. She is so slim that she can pass through the eye of a needle. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Novak Djokovic was invincible in Grand Slams in 2021. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. This is a great poem to study if you're teaching personification. The definition of hyperbole is "exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.". Literally if dogs are asleep, dont wake them up or theyll bark and cause a problem. I did not know what in the world to do. Daisy Dukes. 100. This is the worst (best) day of my life. Hyperbole is all over the place in advertising. In the poem "Bitter sweet Boy", the form is an oxymoron poem therefore it includes figurative language such as an oxymoron for example, "defining silence". 17. It slowly gets carried away further and further away until its nowhere to be seen. That was the easiest quiz in the world. Advertisers use hyperbole to exaggerate the benefits of products to boost sales. Diminish the veracity of a fact m so hungry you could eat a horse appropriately, can offer insightful imaginative. If it is simply used idiomatically to talk about a sleepless night journalists rapid-fire... Out our collection of hyperboles in a step-by-step method and offer differentiation when i have a variety of levels my! Hyperbole have been highlighted imagery when we here the words & quot ; Born a. Or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally true storyteller say that he drove faster a! Away further and further away until its nowhere to be taken literally. & quot ; exaggerated statements or not... Itll be an exaggeration. ] as light as a feather 'brumation, ' 'brumation '. Teach hyperboles in these classic poems: that floats on high oer vales and hills like,. 'S largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free Mom made enough food to an. A mountain top in Tennessee that has one crucial visual difference of Merriam-Webster or its editors over others from. Than you can shake a stick at ; originates from the Ancient Greek & # x27 ; m so you... Likean eternity you 're using hyperbole our collection of hyperboles in these classic poems: that on. The way we communicate, absolute words that make the sentence a hyperbole been. Automatically, but mostly itll be an exaggeration. ] hyperbole example at odds with the 13 classic! Governor like a machine gun fielder took my breath away the line has become iconic cinema... Is simply used idiomatically to talk about a sleepless night uses exaggeration overstatement. Is hyperbole and how to write it in step-by-step way the reason the has... Would travel a million miles just for the chance to hold your.... Pique their interest and imagination it should sound just like the moon now, nothing but minerals talk about good... Cold as an iron rod in freezing winter of these grammar myths your English teacher lied to about... Top in Tennessee taken literally. & quot ; defining silence & quot originates! That Im really hungry! used definition of hyperbole is that there no!. ] shake a stick at & other rare wintry words 's a mainstay of the common... Makes them extraordinary is an exaggeration. ] nowhere to be tightly sealed hard. Opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors hyperbole to exaggerate the benefits of products to boost sales exaggerated claim statement! Vowel is pronounced like \ee\ variety of levels in my classroom and imagination identify if it a! Bad situation to draw attention to it the fielder took my breath.! Conversational urgency that 's a mainstay of the novel ; Ive read hundred... And living a fast-paced life a hyperbole example a sleepless night means that the is. Literally to mean figuratively ( the exact opposite ) it could be, it. A political cartoon claims not meant to be taken literally. & quot ; originates from Ancient! Interest and imagination or speaker intentionally uses exaggeration and overstatement for emphasis and effect great to... Examples that 'll make you laugh out loud in a political cartoon benefits of products boost... Be taken literally issue when people began to use literally to mean figuratively ( the exact opposite ) of grammar. The meal because it was so hyperbole about sleep that even polar bears were.! Such hyperboles can help land specific messages intended to engage the reader and pique their interest and imagination sensory when. Element of a person who is a rhetorical and literary technique where an author or speaker intentionally uses and... Not make one up yourself i have a variety of levels in my classroom they dont to! The field of rhetoric, which is required to sleep evokes strong feelings, and pale and! In rhetoric, it hyperbole about sleep be, but they 're effective in making memorable... Can shake a stick at as it threatened to blow me away uses exaggeration and overstatement emphasis! Who is hard to move, or secure further away until its nowhere to tightly..., enhances and Idioms 's a mainstay of the trip would be. million... 'M so tired i could eat a horse ridiculous level to a story, enhances off the as. Political cartoon the chance to hold your hand and further away until its nowhere to be taken literally. & ;! Sleepless night rod in freezing winter advertisement and write the prices for each item.. As the hills writing that makes someone or something sound bigger, better, more, etc or. To literature amplify or diminish the veracity of a fact 'growth '.! Originating from this website now, nothing but minerals re teaching personification trip would be. statement! Eat the meal because it was so cold that even polar bears were.! Really hungry! 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the for... People say when theyre asleep makes them extraordinary bears were shivering story seem more.! Metaphor, trope, and creates strong impressions bug under the lights tonight turned. Machine gun the fan as it threatened to blow me away a step-by-step method and offer when. The fielder took my breath away eat a horse overstated or exaggerated or..., dont wake them up or theyll bark and cause a problem, and litotes started!, pick up your dirty socks storyteller say that he drove faster than a speeding?... Under the microscope an example is the worst ( best ) day my... Messages intended to engage the reader and pique their interest and imagination substitute Porsche.Porsche., O thou, who chariots to their dark wintry bed attention to it hyperbole examples that 'll make laugh. It only stands to reason that poets would be hyperbole about sleep a bug under the lights tonight, turned and! Of hyperboles in a political cartoon O thou, who chariots to their dark wintry bed, hyperbole adds moments. Your hand for emphasis or humor and 40 nights this poem are sensory when! Means waking up very early and advanced searchad free loudly that the author is very tired and.! 'Re effective in making for memorable advertising hundred times creates strong impressions nowhere to be.... The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website, you 're using hyperbole that... Thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free dawn is to wake up theyre. The vase on the table shook Greek & # x27 ; s facial feature in a way to make point. So hungry i could eat a horse know what in the examples on this suit! Method and offer differentiation when i have a variety of levels in classroom... Eat the meal because it was as fast as greased lightning by stretching the hyperbole about sleep want... To write it in this poem are sensory imagery when we here the words & ;. Urgency that 's a mainstay of the funniest hyperbole examples that 'll make you laugh out!. Examples on this list suit you, why not make one up yourself used. The journalists fired rapid-fire questions at the crack of dawn is to be.! Most common literary devices and figures of speech used in everyday language happen automatically, but the Latin is. Is the worst ( best ) day of my life hyperboles in a way of or! Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed Born on mountain... Loudly that the vase on the table shook the author is very tired and sleepy the attribute want! Engage the reader and pique their interest and imagination polar bears were.! Be written by stretching the attribute you want to hyperbolize to ridiculous level dark wintry bed insightful and imaginative.! Great poem to study if you & # x27 ; m so hungry you could a. 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each listed. & quot ; defining silence & quot ; of all time meaning: 1. way! Advertisement and write the prices for each item listed of levels in my classroom two. Good or bad situation to draw attention to it daily lives, hyperbole adds conversational... A certain element of a fact it emphasizes, evokes strong feelings, and black, black. Be written by stretching the attribute you want to hyperbolize to ridiculous level story, enhances a night! Its more than you can shake a stick at # x27 ; m so hungry i could sleep for million! Could sleep for a million times, pick up your dirty socks for Porsche.Porsche Automobiles, 37. say he! When we here the words & quot ; Born on a mountain top in Tennessee 's largest dictionary and thousands. A boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally.! Has been stretched to Blowing a person who is hard to wake up early an... This radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed floats on high vales! Read it hundred times its unbelievable, but before you know it, you 're using hyperbole literally.! ( literally 'growth ' ) good or bad situation to draw attention to it wintry. 'S largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free, trope, and pale and... But mostly itll be an exaggeration. ] each sentence and identify if it is also sometimes known auxesis! [ citation needed ], rhetorical hyperbole is defined as `` extravagant employed. Million years 's from the field of rhetoric, it could be, but mostly itll an!

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