 Smiley-Face Tricks 
Figurative Language
Techniques to make your reader smile!
SIMILE
A comparison between two unlike things using
the word “like,” “as,” or occasionally “than.”
My little brother Sam is like a constant shadow, always lurking
around behind me.
Our sub Mr. Wickman is as tall as a skyscraper.
I’m faster than a fighter jet in battle when I’m rollerblading.
METAPHOR
A direct comparison between two unlike things,
stating that one thing is another, or implying
that it is.
My life is a twisting road with a surprise around each corner.
Homework is a bloody-fanged beast eating away my free time.
I’m in the autumn of my life; all is colorful, but only briefly!
Are the Following Examples
Metaphors or Similes?
My students are bright, shining stars.
METAPHOR
Monday mornings are an enemy to be defeated.
METAPHOR
Life is an amazing labyrinth; you never know
what will be around the corner.
METAPHOR
My sister’s bedroom looks like Hurricane Irene
walloped it!
SIMILE
Their laughter is a gift from angels.
METAPHOR
I’m a rocket on fire when I’m on my quad.
METAPHOR
We sneaked down the stairs quieter than a
falling feather.
SIMILE
Veins are highways for our blood.
METAPHOR
A great book is like hanging out with a best
friend.
SIMILE
Those clouds look like mounds of breezy, white
cotton candy.
SIMILE
Our teacher’s eyes are lasers that never miss the
mark when looking for classroom mischief.
METAPHOR
NOW, MORE TECHNIQUES…
Which Technique is Being Used?
• Personification?
• Hyperbole?
• Onomatopoeia?
FIRST, SOME REFRESHERS!
ONOMATOPOEIA
The use of words to mimic sounds.
Who’s rapping and knocking on the door?
Is that bacon sizzling?
Cockroaches scuffled across the floor in science class.
PERSONIFICATION
Giving human qualities to non-human things;
the quality must be something it cannot
naturally do.
My iphone is tired and sore from all my texting.
The flag stood tall and proud on the site of
the former twin towers on 9/11.
HYPERBOLE
An almost outrageous exaggeration,
usually for comic effect.
I hate my nose because it’s the size of Texas!
We love Ireland so much, our blood is green.
My backpack is grumpy and tired from the
heavy load of books in its belly.
PERSONIFICATION
Standing in my garden, all I could hear was the
humming and buzzing of bees.
ONOMATOPEIA
I have a million things to do today!
HYPERBOLE
It’s so cold today that even icicles are shivering.
Brrrrrr!
HYPERBOLE
(PERSONFICATION, TOO!)
My wilted flowers were begging for water.
PERSONFICATION
Our coach is so furious that his face looks ready
to burst open like an overripe tomato!
HYPERBOLE
(A SIMILE, TOO!)
We quickly shooshed down the slope on the newly
fallen snow.
ONOMATOPOEIA
My scissors attacked the paper with vengeance!
PERSONIFICATION
Gravel scrunched under our feet as we trudged
along the eerie, isolated road.
ONOMATOPOEIA
Their attitude is so awful, it smells like garbage!
HYPERBOLE
(AND SIMILE)
Which Technique is Being Used?
• Alliteration?
• Assonance?
FIRST, SOME REFRESHERS!
ALLITERATION
The repetition of consonant sounds.
Tall evergreen trees tilted to and fro gracefully in the timid breeze.
I suffered a slippery fate after stepping on soap.
Many monkeys were munching on mangoes.
ASSONANCE
Repetition of vowel sounds.
All right! Let’s fight, fight, fight with all our might!
Let’s go and face our foe, so our reputation will grow.
Are the Following Examples:
• Alliteration?
• Assonance?
Why did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?
Who pickled them before they were picked? This is
puzzling!
ALLITERATION
“Stamp your feet to kill defeat!” our coach yelled.
ASSONANCE
A foolish frog fell off a lily pad while fanning itself.
ALLITERATION
I saw a fox in socks eating lox while sitting on a box.
ASSONANCE
HYPHENATED MODIFIER
A string of hyphenated words that,
together, act as an adjective.
Sam is a keep-your-secrets-safe type of loyal friend.
Mrs. Nicodemi is a strict, will-not-tolerate-foolishness teacher.
The day before the big science test I was
in a oh-my-goodness-I’m-going-throw-up panic!
Ms. Hart had her I’m-not-listening-to-another ridiculous-excuse face on this morning.
What word is the hyphenated modifier
an adjective for?
(official term: modifying)
We are a can’t-be-beat-by-anyone hockey team!
What word is the hyphenated modifier
an adjective for?
(official term: modifying)
When Using  Tricks,
Avoid Clichés
A cliché is tired, worn-out phrase that
most people within a culture
or geographic region are familiar with.
What Does Each Cliché Mean?
I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Let’s just cut to the chase!
Can you read between the lines?
Let’s not reinvent the wheel.
In order to solve this dilemma, we’ll need to think outside the box.
We’ll need to hit the ground running!
My hair is a rat’s nest today.
Let’s save the best for last.
Why is it when boys cause trouble, some people say that boys will be boys?
More…
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It was all in a day’s work.
I’ll help you at the drop of a hat.
I’m as snug as a bug in a rug in this sleeping bag.
You are barking up the wrong tree.
Can you understand where I’m coming from?
It goes without saying that you’re expected to work
hard!
• Why don’t we start with a clean slate?
SO…
AND USE ORIGINAL: