Humanities › English Top 20 Figures of Speech Quiz Select the figure of speech most clearly illustrated by the short passage (Luciano Lozano/Getty Images) English English Grammar An Introduction to Punctuation Writing By Richard Nordquist Richard Nordquist English and Rhetoric Professor Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester B.A., English, State University of New York Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on May 01, 2018 1. Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. (Langston Hughes, "Mother to Son") synecdoche metaphor irony pun Correct Wrong 2. Turn off your television sets. Turn them off now! Turn them off right now! Turn them off and leave them off. Turn them off right in the middle of this sentence I'm speaking to you now. (Peter Finch as television anchorman Howard Beale in Network, 1976) antithesis litotes anaphora understatement Correct Wrong 3. Substituting the word “euthanasia” for “mercy killing" or "killing the terminally ill" hyperbole euphemism assonance oxymoron Correct Wrong 4. I had so much homework last night that I needed a pickup truck to carry all my books home! synechdoche onomatopoeia pun hyperbole Correct Wrong 5. Let's just say that Bozo the Clown is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. paradox litotes apostrophe chiasmus Correct Wrong 6. The chug-a, chug-a, chug-a of the train echoed down the hill, while a cloud of smoke rose up to the blue western sky. simile metonymy anaphora onomatopoeia Correct Wrong 7. But the prisoner would not answer, he only lay with wide, dark, bright, eyes, like a bound animal. (D. H. Lawrence, England, My England) oxymoron euphemism anaphora personification Correct Wrong 8. You have a lot of work to do, so I'll lend you a hand. assonance apostrophe irony synecdoche Correct Wrong 9. Pitching pennies with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a pitter-patter of rain outside the Pitti Palace. (James Thurber, Lanterns and Lances, 1961) chiasmus alliteration pun oxymoron Correct Wrong 10. O Western wind, when wilt thou blow That the small rain down can rain? Christ, that my love were in my arms, And I in my bed again! (Anonymous, "O Western Wind") litotes paradox apostrophe anaphora Correct Wrong The wind is being addressed as though it is capable of understanding, which makes this verse an example of apostrophe. 11. The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart. (Benjamin Franklin) hyperbole chiasmus litotes anaphora Correct Wrong 12. We talked with each other about each other Though neither of us spoke — (Emily Dickinson) metonymy paradox synecdoche personification Correct Wrong 13. The earth laughs beneath my heavy feet At the blasphemy in my old jangly walk (Billy Corgan, "Thirty-three") euphemism simile antithesis personification Correct Wrong 14. I dig my toes into the sand. The ocean looks like A thousand diamonds strewn Across a blue blanket. (Incubus, "Wish You Were Here") chiasmus simile onomatopoeia synecdoche Correct Wrong 15. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. (Genesis 3:19) simile irony metonymy assonance Correct Wrong Using metonymy allows a writer to describe something indirectly by referring to other similar or associated elements. 16. Why do we wait until a pig is dead to cure it? pun personification anaphora synecdoche Correct Wrong Puns are also known as "Dad jokes." 17. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." antithesis litotes simile understatement Correct Wrong In the opening of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses antithesis to contrast opposing ideas with balanced phrases. 18. My wishes raced through the house high hay And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, . . . (Dylan Thomas, "Fern Hill") simile irony metonymy assonance Correct Wrong Writers use assonance, the repetition of similar vowel sounds, for emphasis and to show relatedness or cohesion. 19. "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room." (Peter Sellers as President Merkin Muffley in Dr. Strangelove, 1964) chiasmus litotes antithesis irony Correct Wrong Irony, the opposite of what is expected. 20. Prospective buyers are advised not to rely heavily on the front brakes, which are not connected. (advertisement for a replica 1925 Rolls-Royce WWI Armored Car) antithesis simile anaphora understatement Correct Wrong Top 20 Figures of Speech Quiz You got: % Correct. moodboard / Getty Images Good start! You can use these resources to learn more about common figures of speech: Learn About Metaphors Learn About Similes Learn About Puns Learn About Irony Share Your Results Top 20 Figures of Speech Quiz You got: % Correct. Image by cuppyuppycake / Getty Images Nice job! Here are some resources on less common figures of speech that you might find interesting: Learn About Euphemisms Learn About Hyperbole Learn About Oxymorons Learn About Understatement Share Your Results Top 20 Figures of Speech Quiz You got: % Correct. Kan Taengnuanjan / EyeEm / Getty Images Terrific work! You're a star of the figure of speech world. Interested in learning more? Check out these articles: Smashing Examples of Onomatopeoia All About Alliteration The Best Hyperbole Definition Ever The Other Kind of Apostrophe Share Your Results Top 20 Figures of Speech Quiz You got: % Correct. TEK IMAGE / Getty Images Wow! You are beyond awesome and that is an understatement. Interested in learning even more about figures of speech? Check out these articles: You say Antimetabole, I say Chiasmus Going to bed is an example of Metonymy. The Best Hyperbole Definition Ever The Other Kind of Apostrophe Share Your Results