 Figures of Speech. A figure of speech refers to a word or phrase, used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect. Below we will take a look at the 10 most common figures of speech in English. A figure of speech is used to make writing more interesting, as it expresses something in another way than its literal meaning. Here are the 10 most common figures of speech in English. Metaphor. A metaphor is a comparison between two different things, which share something in common. For example, The world is your oyster. Metonymy. This refers to a phrase that is replaced with another phrase with a similar meaning used to describe something in an indirect manner, such as, I remain loyal to the crown. Automatopeia. Automatopeia is a word that resembles the sound it describes, for example, the clock ticks loudly. Oxymoron. An oxymoron is when two words in the same sentence contradict one another, such as, the girl next door is pretty ugly. Paradox. A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself, for example, deep down, Sophia is really shallow. Simile. A phrase that compares something to something else using the words like or as, for example, her hair was as golden as the sun. Synecdoche. When only part of something is expressed to relate to the whole, it's called a synecdoche. For example, he just got some new wheels. Understatement. An understatement is a statement that is made to be less important than what is actually conveyed, for example, I only have four million dollars. If you like this video, please subscribe by clicking that button down here and click on any of the videos here on the left for more interesting teaching tips for getting certified to teach English abroad and online.