Craig White's Literature Courses

Terms / Themes


Hyperbole

Oxford English Dictionary

1a. Rhetoric. A figure of speech consisting in exaggerated or extravagant statement, used to express strong feeling or produce a strong impression, and not intended to be understood literally.

1656    J. Smith Myst. Rhetorique 58   Scriptural Examples of Hyperbole‥Deut. 9. 4, Cities fenced up to heaven‥Joh. 21. 25, The whole world could not contain the books.

Other examples:

I've told you a million times, don't exaggerate.

The whole world was staring at me

If I don't get these jeans, I will DIE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

x

[ ]x