Discover published sets by community

A figure of speech in which words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance or emphasis. Example: 'He risked his reputation, his fortune, his life, for the cause.'

A discordant series of harsh, unpleasant sounds helps to convey disorder. Example: 'Grating gears and jolting jabs hurt her head.'

A figure of speech where words are used in a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. Example: 'A plumber's house always has a leaking tap.'

The use of a number of conjunctions in close succession. Example: 'We lived and laughed and loved and left.'

A rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form. Example: 'Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.'

A figure of speech in which the normal word order of the sentence is reversed. Example: 'Powerful you have become; the dark side I sense in you.'

A rhetorical term for a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events. Example: 'He lost his family, his car, and his pen.'

A style that involves the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning. Example: 'The elongated and lengthy instrument that is utilized to inscribe text.' (instead of 'The long pen.')

A pleasant combination of sounds in speech or writing. Example: 'Linger longer in the soft serenade of the dew-drenched dawn.'

A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an object, concept, or person (often absent) that’s unable to respond. Example: 'Death, be not proud.'

A figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. Example: 'Time is a thief.'

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Example: 'Passed away' instead of 'died.'

A figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. Example: 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa. Example: 'All hands on deck.'

A writing style where conjunctions are omitted between words, phrases, or clauses. Example: 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is. Example: 'It's just a scratch' when referring to a large wound.

A figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. Example: 'The White House decided to not comment.'

The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences. Example: 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.'

A statement that appears to contradict itself and yet might be true (or wrong at the same time). Example: 'This statement is false.'

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. Example: 'This place is like a Garden of Eden.'

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Example: 'We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end.'

The repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words. Example: 'She sells seashells by the seashore.'

Two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Example: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.'

A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses. Example: 'She broke his car and his heart.'

A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings. Example: 'I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down.'

A figure of speech in which words imitate the natural sounds associated with them. Example: 'The bees buzzed.'

A figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'As brave as a lion.'

A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Example: 'Deafening silence.'