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By speaking we can communicate ideas literally or figuratively. When we speak in the literal sense, our intention is that the ordinary meaning of the words is understood. For example, by saying it's bad at heart we mean someone who has a heart problem.
On the other hand, when speaking in figurative sense it is hoped to convey an idea different from that which can be understood by the usual meaning of words. To build a new meaning, a real or imaginary similarity is used.
The figurative sense is built from rhetorical resources such as analogy, euphemism and metaphor, and it is usually necessary to know the context of the sentence to understand it. For example, when saying the same phrase, “it's bad at heart"In a figurative sense we can refer to a person who has just suffered a love disappointment.
Figurative language is very common in everyday life, as well as in poetic, journalistic and fiction literature. It is also very common in popular sayings. However, it is totally avoided in legal and scientific texts.
Figurative language depends, for the transmission of its message, on the interpretation of the receiver. It is not a precise or rigorous language, while the scientific and legal texts are intended to convey a single, precise message that does not give rise to different interpretations.
It can serve you:
- Sentences with literal meaning
- Literal sense and figurative sense
Examples of sentences in a figurative sense
- When she arrives, the room lights up. (He is glad of the arrival of a person.)
- It got taller overnight. (It grew very quickly)
- Don't hang out with that man, he's a pig. (He's a bad person)
- My neighbor is a snake. (He's a bad person)
- The news was a bucket of cold water. (The news came unexpectedly and caused an unpleasant sensation)
- That party was a cemetery. (The mood of the party, instead of being festive, was sad.)
- He put it between a rock and a hard place. (He left no choice)
- Dead the dog, the rabies is gone. (It is necessary to eliminate the cause of the problem to eliminate the problem)
- Weed never dies. (Problematic people who stay around for a long time.)
- Don't ask the elm for pears. (You should not have out of place demands or expectations)
- Barking dog does not bite. (People who speak but do not act.)
- With you bread and onion. (When there is love, material possessions are not necessary)
- My heart leapt out of my chest. (You experienced a violent or intense emotion)
- He entered the locker room, exhausted. (He arrived very tired)
- I don't have a penny left. (Spend a lot of money)
- This business is a goose that lays golden eggs. (It will pay off.)
- For your professional career, only you can choose the path. (Each one chooses their career path)
- A lot of water passed under the bridge. (A long time passed.)
- That daughter stayed to dress saints. (The daughter remained single)
- She is a monkey dressed in silk. (When someone wants to pretend to be something they are not.)
- She has eyes of heaven. (You have nice eyes)
- I have butterflies in my stomach. (I'm in love)
- Your son is a bottomless barrel. (Eat too much)
- The line between opinion and insult is very thin. (The limit is not clear)
- All the vultures have already gathered. (People who hope to take advantage of the situation approached)
- Don't lose your head for love. (Don't act reasonably.)
- A screw fell out. (He lost his mind.)
- That woman is a hottie. (She is beautiful)
- You have to put the batteries. (You have to put energy and determination)
- We are blown away (We are battered)
- I'm dying of thirst. (I'm very thirsty)
- It is an inexhaustible mine of knowledge. (He has a lot of knowledge that we can take advantage of)
- He was touching the sky with his hands. (He reached a very intense joy)
- His eyes bulged. (I was very surprised)
- Neither the dog fired me. (That expression can be used to mean "no one fired me," even if there is no dog at the site.)
- The bride and groom are in the clouds. (They are very happy)
- He is deaf to claims. (He doesn't pay attention to them)
- I speak to the stones. (Nobody listens to me)
- It is giving pearls to pigs. (Offer something valuable to someone who cannot appreciate it)
- I was left without the bread and without the cake. (I lost two chances because I couldn't decide between them)
- The devil as old as the devil. (Age gives wisdom)
- Not a soul was left. (There was no one)
- I don't want you to say a peep. (Do not say anything)
- If you want the rose, you must accept the thorns. (It is necessary to tolerate negative situations that inevitably occur associated with positive situations)
- Words are taken by the wind. (It is better to put the agreements in writing)
- We haven't seen each other in a century. (They haven't seen each other for a long time)
- We ate a cow. (They ate a lot)
- I had to bite my tongue. (I had to shut up what I was thinking.)
- They arrived with all the plans already cooked. (They had everything ready)
- They are in the spring of life. (They are young)
- It can help you: Ambiguity
