1)
Simile：(明喻）It
is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike
elements having at least one quality or characteristic (特性)in
common. To make the comparison, words like as, as...as, as if and
like are used to transfer the quality we associate with one to the
other. For example, As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good
news from a far country.
2)
Metaphor：(暗喻）It
is like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike
elements, but unlike a simile, this comparison is implied rather
than stated. For example, the world is a stage.
3) Analogy: (类比）It is
also a form of comparison, but unlike simile or metaphor which
usually uses comparison on one point of resemblance, analogy draws
a parallel between two unlike things that have several common
qualities or points of resemblance.
4) Personification: (拟人）It gives
human form of feelings to animals, or life and personal
attributes(赋予) to inanimate(无生命的) objects, or to ideas and
abstractions(抽象). For example, the wind whistled through the
trees.
5) Hyperbole: (夸张） It is the
deliberate use of overstatement or exaggeration to achieve
emphasis. For instance, he almost died
laughing.
6) Understatement: (含蓄陈述） It is
the opposite of hyperbole, or overstatement. It achieves its effect
of emphasizing a fact by deliberately(故意地) understating it,
impressing the listener or the reader more by what is merely
implied or left unsaid than by bare statement. For instance, It is
no laughing matter.
7) Euphemism: (委婉） It is the
substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive(无冒犯) expression for
one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. For instance,
we refer to "die" as " pass away".
8) Metonymy (转喻） It is a figure of
speech that has to do with the substitution of the mane of one
thing for that of another. For instance, the pen (words) is
mightier than the sword (forces).
9) Synecdoche (提喻） It
is involves the substitution of the part for the whole, or the
whole for the part. For instance, they say there's bread and work
for all. She was dressed in silks.
10) Antonomasia (换喻）It
has also to do with substitution. It is not often mentioned now,
though it is still in frequent use. For example, Solomon for a wise
man. Daniel for a wise and fair judge. Judas for a
traitor.
11) Pun: (双关语） It is a play on
words, or rather a play on the form and meaning of words. For
instance, a cannon-ball took off his legs, so he laid down his
arms. (Here "arms" has two meanings: a person's body; weapons
carried by a soldier.)
12) Syllepsis: (一语双叙） It has two
connotations.
In the first
case, it is a figure by which a word, or a particular form or
inflection of a word, refers to two or more words in the same
sentence, while properly applying to or agreeing with only on of
them in grammar or syntax(句法). For example, He addressed you and
me, and desired us to follow him. (Here us is used to refer to you
and me.)
In the
second case, it a word may refer to two or more words in the same
sentence. For example, while he was fighting, and losing limb and
mind, and dying, others stayed behind to pursue education and
career. (Here to losing one's limbs in literal; to lose one's mind
is figurative, and means to go mad.)
13) Zeugma: (轭式搭配） It is a single
word which is made to modify or to govern two or more words in the
same sentence, wither properly applying in sense to only one of
them, or applying to them in different senses. For example, The sun
shall not burn you by day, nor the moon by night. (Here noon is not
strong enough to burn)
14) Irony: (反语） It is a figure of
speech that achieves emphasis by saying the opposite of what is
meant, the intended meaning of the words being the opposite of
their usual sense. For instance, we are lucky, what you said makes
me feel real good.
15) Innuendo: (暗讽） It is a mild form
of irony, hinting in a rather roundabout (曲折)way at something
disparaging(不一致) or uncomplimentary(不赞美) to the person or
subject mentioned. For example, the weatherman said it would be
worm. He must take his readings in a bathroom.
16) Sarcasm: (讽刺） It
Sarcasm is a strong form of irony. It attacks in a taunting and
bitter manner, and its aim is to disparage, ridicule and wound the
feelings of the subject attacked. For example, laws are like
cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps break
through.
17) Paradox: (似非而是的隽语） It is a
figure of speech consisting of a statement or proposition which on
the face of it seems self-contradictory, absurd or contrary to
established fact or practice, but which on further thinking and
study may prove to be true, well-founded, and even to contain a
succinct point. For example more haste, less speed.
18) Oxymoron: (矛盾修饰） It is a
compressed paradox, formed by the conjoining(结合) of two
contrasting, contradictory or incongruous(不协调) terms as in
bitter-sweet memories, orderly chaos(混乱) and proud
humility(侮辱).
19) Antithesis: (对照） It is the
deliberate arrangement of contrasting words or ideas in balanced
structural forms to achieve emphasis. For example, speech is
silver; silence is golden.
20) Epigram: (警句） It
states a simple truth pithily(有利地) and pungently(强烈地). It is
usually terse and arouses interest and surprise by its deep insight
into certain aspects of human behavior or feeling. For instance,
Few, save the poor, feel for the poor.
21) Climax: (渐进） It is derived from
the Greek word for "ladder" and implies the progression of thought
at a uniform or almost uniform rate of significance or intensity,
like the steps of a ladder ascending evenly. For example, I came, I
saw, I conquered.
22) Anti-climax or bathos: (突降）It is
the opposite of Climax. It involves stating one's thoughts in a
descending order of significance or intensity, from strong to weak,
from weighty to light or frivolous. For instance, But thousands
die, without or this or that, die, and endow(赋予) a college, or a
cat.
23) Apostrophe： (顿呼） In this figure
of speech, a thing, place, idea or person (dead or absent) is
addressed as if present, listening and understanding what is being
said. For instance, England! awake! awake!
awake!
24) Transferred Epithet: (转类形容词）
It is a figure of speech where an epithet (an adjective or
descriptive phrase) is transferred from the noun it should rightly
modify(修饰) to another to which it does not really apply or
belong. For instance, I spent sleepless nights on my project.
25) Alliteration: (头韵）
It has to do with the sound rather than the sense of words for
effect. It is a device that repeats the same sound at frequent
intervals(间隔) and since the sound repeated is usually the initial
consonant sound, it is also called "front rhyme". For instance, the
fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, the furrow followed
free.
26) Onomatopoeia: (拟声） It is a
device that uses words which imitate the sounds made by an object
(animate or inanimate), or which are associated with or
suggestive(提示的) of some action or
movement
Selected
from Figures of Speech
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