LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS REVIEW (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

2013

FIGURES OF SPEECH and Idiomatic Expressions Figurative language is the opposite of literal language. Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language means something different to (and usually more than) what it says on the surface: He ran fast. (literal) He ran like the wind. (figurative) Exercise 1 Identify what kind of figure of speech is defined. Encircle the letter of the correct answer. 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") (a) synecdoche (c) irony (b) metaphor (d) pun 2. Why should white people be running all the stores in our community? Why should white people be running the banks of our community? Why should the economy of our community be in the hands of the white man? Why? (Malcolm X) (a) antithesis (c) anaphora (b) litotes (d) understatement 3. Substituting the word euthanasia for mercy killing" or "killing the terminally ill" (a) hyperbole (c) assonance (b) euphemism (d) oxymoron 4. I had so much homework last night that I needed a pickup truck to carry all my books home! (a) synechdoche (c) pun (b) onomatopoeia (d) hyperbole 5. Let's just say that Ms. Hilton is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. (a) paradox (c) apostrophe (b) litotes (d) chiasmus 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. (a) simile (c) anaphora (b) metonymy (d) onomatopoeia 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) (a) oxymoron (c) anaphora (b) euphemism (d) personification 8. You have a lot of work to do, so I'll lend you a hand. (a) assonance (c) irony (b) apostrophe (d) synecdoche 9. Pitching pennies with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a pitter-patter of rain outside the Pitti Palace. (James Thurber, Lanterns and Lances, 1961) (a) chiasmus (c) pun (b) alliteration (d) oxymoron 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") (a) litotes (c) apostrophe (b) paradox (d) anaphora 11. The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart. (Benjamin Franklin) (a) hyperbole (c) litotes (b) chiasmus (d) anaphora 12. We talked with each other about each other Though neither of us spoke (Emily Dickinson) (a) metonymy (c) synecdoche (b) paradox (d) personification 13. The earth laughs beneath my heavy feet At the blasphemy in my old jangly walk (Billy Corgan, "Thirty-three") (a) euphemism (c) antithesis (b) simile (d) personification 27 | P a g e

LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS REVIEW (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

2013

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") (a) chiasmus (c) onomatopoeia (b) simile (d) synecdoche 15. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. (Genesis 3:19) (a) simile (c) metonymy (b) irony (d) assonance 16. Why do we wait until a pig is dead to cure it? (a) pun (c) anaphora (b) personification (d) synechdoche 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, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities) (a) antithesis (c) simile (b) litotes (d) understatement 18. My wishes raced through the house high hay And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, . . . _ (Dylan Thomas, "Fern Hill") (a) simile (c) metonymy (b) irony (d) assonance 19. And he was rich, yes, richer than a king, And admirably schooled in every grace: In fine--we thought that he was everything To make us wish that we were in his place. So on we worked and waited for the light, And went without the meat and cursed the bread, And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet in his head. - (E. A. Robinson, "Richard Cory") (a) chiasmus (c) antithesis (b) litotes (d) irony 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) (a) antithesis (b) simile (c) anaphora (d) understatement

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LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS REVIEW (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

2013

ALLITERATIVE EXPRESSIONS Alliteration is the repeated use of the same letter or sound, usually the first letter of successive words. It is often used in poetic language such as borne on the swollen, swaying, and swishing seas. You can also find this in publicities like Buy Browns Best British Biscuits and newspaper headlines Fighting Football Fans Face Fines. Exercise 2 Put each one in its correct place in the sentences below.

ship-shape mish-mash

rat race chit-chat

wishy-washy brickbats

1. Tired of the ceaseless pressure of the competitive business world, he decided to leave the ______________ and take over a small newsagents shop in the country. 2. A politician must be strong enough to withstand the ______________ which are constantly directed at him by the media. 3. Hes a serious, rather cold man. He likes to get to the point straightaway in conversation and not waste time in idle ______________. 4. I like to see everything neat and tidy, everything in its place. I like to keep everything ______________. 5. Michael Wilsons latest play is a confusing mixture. It is neither a comedy, a serious work nor a musical, but a ______________ of all three. 6. A companys annual report must be clearly written and contain only the necessary facts. A report that is vague and ______________ is useless and makes a bad impression.

creepy-crawly

sob-story

zigzag

dilly-dally

7. Go and get some biscuits from the shop and come straight back. Dont ______________ on the way. 8. Its too steep to climb straight up the side of the hill. Most people ______________ to make it easier. 9. He tried to get money from me by telling a ______________ about losing his job and being ill, but I didnt believe him. 10. If little Louise sees a beetle or a spider, she creams, Theres a ______________! EUPHEMISMS It is the substitution of an inoffensive term (such as "passed away") for one considered offensively explicit ("died"). To avoid referring to directly unpleasant, embarrassing or personal matters we often prefer to use more indirect words or phrases, which are called euphemisms. It is opposite is called dysphemism. Exercise 3 Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the euphemisms, in italics, with more simple, direct words or phrases. 1. Im afraid Mrs. Wild passed away last night. ___________________________________________________ 2. Excuse me, wheres the nearest public convenience? ___________________________________________________ 3. Senior citizens are entitled to free bus travel. ___________________________________________________ 4. Sadly, my grandmother is no longer with us. ___________________________________________________ 5. In the middle of the exam I had to answer a call of nature. ___________________________________________________ 6. His hat had seen better days. ___________________________________________________ 7. We had to have our dog put to sleep. ___________________________________________________ 8. The state has an obligation to assist the less privileged members of the community. ___________________________________________________ Direction: The following sentences are very direct. Rewrite them, replacing the parts in italics with euphemisms. E.g. Shes very old. Shes not as young as she was. 9. Hes fat and ugly. ___________________________________________________ 10. Im going to vomit. 29 | P a g e

LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS REVIEW (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

2013

___________________________________________________ 11. Shes a terrible cook. ___________________________________________________ 12. You were drunk last night. ___________________________________________________ 13. This work is very careless. ___________________________________________________ 14. Grandpa can hardly walk. ___________________________________________________ 15. You owe us money. ___________________________________________________ PROVERBS A proverb is a short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form. Or, as defined by Miguel de Cervantes, "a short sentence based on long experience." Exercise 4 Match each of the following common proverbs with the most appropriate situation from the list below. A. B. C. D. Actions speak louder than words. Dont look a gift horse in the mouth. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Dont count your chickens before hatched. E. Blood is thicker than water. F. Prevention is better than cure. G. One good turn deserves another. H. Make hay while the sun they are shines.

1. Yes, youll probably pass the exam, but dont depend on it till you hear the result. ________________________________ 2. Make the most out of life while you can, while youre young and without any big responsibilities. ________________________________ 3. Well, the cassette recorder he gave you may have a few detects, but you shouldnt complain. It cost you nothing. ________________________________ 4. Im not impressed by fine speeches. Why doesnt the government do something? ________________________________ 5. Dont wait till youve got flu. Try not to catch it. ________________________________ 6. If youre in a foreign country, you should get used to the customs there. ________________________________ 7. Ill probably lose my job by going there to help him, but hes in trouble and he is my brother. ________________________________ 8. Yes, of course Ill help you. You lent me a hand last week. ________________________________ Directions: Instructions as above. A. B. C. D. Nothing venture, nothing gain. It never rains but it pours. Once bitten, twice shy. A bad workman blames his tools. E. Too many cooks spoil the broth. F. Its no use crying over spilt milk. G. Pride comes before a fall. H. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

9. Well, its a pity but its in the past now and theres nothing we can do about it. ________________________________ 10. Oh, my God, Ive got tickets for the wrong day and they ruined my suit at the cleaners and my wallet was stolen and I forgot my wifes birthday. ________________________________ 11. My wifes spending a week with her parents. I do miss her. ________________________________ 12. Im not investing my money in that company again. I lost everything last time I did. ________________________________ 13. Ask her out to dinner. If you dont, youll never know if she likes you. 14. He was over-confident. He thought he couldnt go wrong, but then he got complacent and failed the allimportant exam. ________________________________ 15. Do we really need so many of us to do this job? Wont we get in some others way? ________________________________ 16. Its not my fault I havent finished typing this yet. Its not a very good machine and the stuff I have to copy is very difficult to read. ________________________________ 30 | P a g e

LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS REVIEW (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

2013

IDIOMS Idioms on Animals Exercise 5 Put each of the following phrases in its correct place in the sentences. crocodile tears dark horse wild-goose chase puppy fat dog-collar zebra crossing stag party bookworm wolf-whistles dog-eared

1. Hes always reading. Hell read anything. Hes a real ______________. 2. Hes a very informal priest. He rarely wears a ______________. 3. Little Johnnies parents were worried that he was very big, but the doctor told them not to worry as it was only ______________. 4. He expressed his sympathy but I dont think hes really sorry. It was just ______________. 5. Some girls appreciate ______________ but others are embarrassed by them. 6. The safest place to cross the road is at the ______________. 7. Sorry I cant invite you, Mary, said Peter, but its a ______________. 8. Jim is the favourite to win the race, but I think Adrian is a ______________ who could win and surprise everyone. 9. I went all over the place trying to get what I wanted but I had no success at all. It was a ______________. 10. After a book has been used a lot, it tends to get a bit______________. bird's eye view fly on the wall 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. donkeys years cats eyes parrot fashion

Id love to be a ______________ when the American and Russian leaders meet for a private talk. From that mountain youll get a ______________ of the town and lake. Harry and I are old friends. Weve known each other for ______________. In the old days children learnt their lessons ______________, scarcely knowing what they are saying. Down the middle of the road, reflecting the cars headlights, are the ______________.

Idioms on Colors Exercise 6 Put each of the following phrases in its correct place in the sentences below. out of the blue a black sheep a Black Maria in black and white to catch someone red-handed once in a blue moon to have green fingers in the red red tape green with envy

1. The offer of a job sounded very good on the phone but I shant believe it till I have it _____________________. 2. I must remind you that this is a non-smoking office. I suspect that some of you have been smoking. If I happen _____________________, Im afraid it will mean dismissal. 3. The prisoners were taken from the court to the prison in _____________________. 4. To import firearms into Britain youll have to fill in a lot of forms. Theres a lot of _____________________. 5. If you want to be a successful gardener, of course youve got _____________________. 6. The rest of the family were respectable, honest people but he was always in trouble. Im afraid he was _____________________. 7. When I saw him in a new sports car, I was _____________________. 8. Tourists often go to the British Museum but most Londoners only go _____________________. 9. The firm is _____________________. It owes a lot of money. 10. I had lost touch with Jack, and then one night he arrived at my flat right _____________________. What a surprise! IDIOMS ON FICTIONAL LANGUAGE IN EVERYDAY LANGUAGE Exercise 7 Put each one in its correct place in the sentence below. 31 | P a g e

LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS REVIEW (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

2013

Robin Hood James Bond Peter Pan Scrooge

Sherlock Holmes Robinson Crusoe Billy Hunter

Man Friday Superman Tarzan

1. During the war he was sent on dangerous secret missions abroad. Very exciting! He was a sort of ________________. 2. I think Ben should go on a diet and get more exercise. Hes beginning to look like ________________. 3. He still has very youthful enthusiasms, and hes as slim and fit as he was 20 years ago. Hes a ________________. 4. There are times when most of us would like to escape from all the pressures of city life and live a simpler, basic kind of ________________ existence. 5. Come on! Ive never met anyone so reluctant to spend money, you ________________! 6. Hes not very practical. What he needs is someone to look after him and do everything for him. He needs a ________________ 7. The firm is doing very badly and facing bankruptcy. I dont think it can survive. We dont just want a new director. We want a ________________. 8. Well, yes, he was a criminal and he stole a lot of money, but he helped a lot of people with it. He was a bit of a ________________. 9. How on earth did you guess his nationality, occupation, and all those other things about him just from his appearance? Youre a proper ________________. 10. Hes a body-builder and weight-lifter. Have you seen him in swimsuit? He looks like ________________.

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